Is San Juan Safe, Pros and cons of living in San Juan

Is it Safe to Live in San Juan?

San Juan experiences a violent crime rate of 8.686 per 1,000 residents annually (as reported by CrimeGrade.org). While the city is considered safer than only 5% of U.S. cities, specific neighborhoods offer varying levels of safety, with southern areas generally being the safest (as reported by CrimeGrade.org). Your chance of being a victim of violent crime can range from 1 in 82 in the northeast to 1 in 186 in the south (as reported by CrimeGrade.org).

Property crime rates in San Juan are lower than the national and New Mexico state averages (as reported by FBI Uniform Crime Reports). In 2024, San Juan County reported 1,821 arrests for property crimes, with a rate of 1,403 per 100,000 people (as reported by FBI Uniform Crime Reports). This rate has seen a decrease over recent years, with 2,069 arrests reported in 2020 (as reported by FBI Uniform Crime Reports).

Neighborhood Safety

Safety in San Juan can vary significantly by neighborhood, making it essential to research specific areas before settling down. Some residents consider the southern parts of the city to be the safest (as reported by CrimeGrade.org). For those concerned about safety, it is advisable to stick to well-traveled neighborhoods and remain aware of your surroundings (as reported by DoorProfit).

Crime Trends

Violent crime rates in San Juan have seen a decrease in recent years, falling below previous four-year averages for the county, state, and nation (as reported by FBI Uniform Crime Reports). However, the city’s violent crime rate is higher than the Puerto Rico state average and the national average (as reported by CrimeGrade.org). The total projected cost of crime in San Juan for 2025 is estimated at over $258 million, translating to approximately $745 per resident (as reported by CrimeGrade.org).

Pros and Cons of Living in San Juan

Cost of Living

San Juan offers a cost of living that is approximately 30.4% lower than New York City, excluding rent (as reported by Numbeo). Rent in San Juan is also significantly lower, averaging about 68.4% less than in New York (as reported by Numbeo). A family of four can expect estimated monthly costs of around $4,164, excluding rent, while a single person’s estimated monthly costs are about $1,207, also excluding rent (as reported by Numbeo).

Housing Market

The median home price in San Juan Municipio, PR is approximately $146,176, with a median rent of $595 (as reported by Map AI). However, other sources indicate a median listing price of $654,500 and a median rent of $2,250 in San Juan, PR (as reported by Realtor.com®). The housing market in the 00911 ZIP code, for instance, shows a median listing price of $1.76 million and a median rent of $4,300 per month (as reported by Realtor.com®).

Job Market and Salaries

The average annual salary in San Juan is around $51,059, with an hourly rate of approximately $25 (as reported by SalaryExpert). ZipRecruiter data suggests an average annual pay for hourly workers in San Juan of $54,704, or about $26.30 per hour (as reported by ZipRecruiter). Salaries can vary widely, with most hourly roles falling between $51,000 and $56,900 annually (as reported by ZipRecruiter).

Climate and Environment

San Juan boasts a tropical monsoon climate with a year-round growing season (as reported by Wikipedia). The average temperature hovers around 81°F (27.2°C), with temperatures reaching 90°F (32°C) or higher on approximately 79 days annually (as reported by Wikipedia). Rainfall averages about 56.35 inches per year, distributed relatively evenly throughout the months, though January, February, and March are typically the driest (as reported by Wikipedia).

Demographics and Education

San Juan’s population is overwhelmingly Hispanic, with 98.2% identifying as such (as reported by Data USA). The median age in San Juan is approximately 46.5 years, which is slightly higher than the national average (as reported by Census Reporter). The San Juan Unified School District, located in Carmichael, CA, has a student-teacher ratio of 23 to 1, with 29% of students proficient in math and 39% in reading according to state test scores (as reported by Niche).

Climate in San Juan

San Juan experiences a tropical monsoon climate, characterized by warm temperatures and high humidity throughout the year. The average annual temperature is approximately 81°F (27.2°C), with daily temperatures rarely dipping below 72°F or exceeding 89°F (as reported by Vertex AI Search and Wikipedia). There is not a distinct hot or cold season, as the temperature variation throughout the year is minimal (as reported by Vertex AI Search).

Rainfall in San Juan averages about 56.35 inches annually, with rain occurring on an average of 161 days per year (as reported by Wikipedia). Despite the frequent rain, the city receives ample sunshine, averaging around 2,970 hours of sunlight per year (as reported by Wikipedia). The wettest months tend to be during the northern summer, particularly if winds come from the south (as reported by Wikipedia).

The water temperature in San Juan is warm year-round, with the warmest period from August to November, averaging above 83°F (as reported by Vertex AI Search). The coolest water temperatures are from January to April, with an average of below 80°F (as reported by Vertex AI Search).

Education in San Juan

The San Juan Unified School District serves a large student population, with approximately 38,488 students in grades K-12 (as reported by Niche). This district has a student-teacher ratio of 23 to 1 (as reported by Niche). State test scores indicate that 29% of students are proficient in math and 39% are proficient in reading (as reported by Niche).

Within the district, individual schools receive varied ratings. For example, Del Dayo Elementary School has a rating of 5 out of 5, while Pershing Elementary School is rated 4 out of 5 (as reported by Niche). San Juan School, a public magnet school in San Juan Bautista, CA, serves 337 students in grades K-8 and has a student-teacher ratio of 19 to 1 (as reported by Niche).

Demographics of San Juan

San Juan’s population is predominantly Hispanic, making up 98.2% of the residents (as reported by Data USA and Census Reporter). The most common ethnic groups are “Two Races Including Other (Hispanic)” at 111,000 people, followed by “Other (Hispanic)” at 99,000 people, and “White (Hispanic)” at 74,000 people (as reported by Data USA).

The median age in San Juan is around 46.5 years, which is slightly higher than the national average of 39.2 years (as reported by Census Reporter). The population is also slightly older than the San Juan-Bayamón-Caguas, PR Metro Area’s median age of 45.2 years (as reported by Census Reporter). Females constitute a slightly larger portion of the population, making up 55% of residents (as reported by Census Reporter).

Major Employers in San Juan

Information regarding specific major employers in San Juan, Puerto Rico, is not readily available in the provided search results. However, general salary information indicates that companies in the San Juan area offer average hourly wages around $19 to $36, depending on the employer and role (as reported by Salary.com and ERI Economic Research Institute). For instance, San Juan County in the United States has an average annual salary of $74,295 (as reported by ERI Economic Research Institute).

Unemployment Rate in San Juan

The unemployment rate for the San Juan-Caguas-Guaynabo, PR area was reported as 4.4% in preliminary data for April 2026 (as reported by Bureau of Labor Statistics). This figure is not seasonally adjusted (as reported by Bureau of Labor Statistics). For Puerto Rico as a whole, the unemployment rate was 5.6% in January 2026 (as reported by Bureau of Labor Statistics).

Median Home Price and Rent in San Juan

The median home price in San Juan Municipio, PR is approximately $146,176, with a median rent of $595 (as reported by Map AI). However, Realtor.com® indicates a median listing price of $654,500 and a median rent of $2,250 for San Juan, PR (as reported by Realtor.com®). In the 00911 ZIP code, the median listing price is $1.76 million, and the median rent is $4,300 per month (as reported by Realtor.com®).

Average Salary in San Juan

The average salary in San Juan, Puerto Rico, is reported to be around $51,059 annually, or approximately $25 per hour (as reported by SalaryExpert). ZipRecruiter data suggests an average annual pay of $54,704 for hourly workers in San Juan, which equates to about $26.30 per hour (as reported by ZipRecruiter). The salary range for most hourly roles typically falls between $51,000 and $56,900 per year (as reported by ZipRecruiter).

Average Temperature and Rainfall in San Juan

San Juan experiences a tropical climate with average temperatures consistently around 81°F (27.2°C) year-round (as reported by Wikipedia). High temperatures typically reach 89°F (31.7°C) during the day, while lows average around 72°F (22.2°C) (as reported by Vertex AI Search). Rainfall is abundant, averaging about 56.35 inches annually, distributed across approximately 161 days (as reported by Wikipedia). The driest months are generally January, February, and March (as reported by Wikipedia).

School Ratings in San Juan

The San Juan Unified School District has an overall Niche grade of B- (as reported by Niche). This district serves K-12 students and has a student-teacher ratio of 23:1 (as reported by Niche). State test scores show that 29% of students are proficient in math and 39% are proficient in reading (as reported by Niche).

Individual schools within the district receive varied ratings. For instance, Del Dayo Elementary School is rated 5 out of 5, and Pershing Elementary School is rated 4 out of 5 (as reported by Niche). San Juan School, a public magnet school, has a C grade overall and serves grades K-8 (as reported by Niche).