Mayagüez, PR Crime Map

Frequently Asked Questions

Frequently Asked Questions About Crime in Mayagüez, PR

Is Mayagüez safe to live in or visit in 2026?

Safety in Mayagüez varies considerably by neighborhood and time of day. The city's unemployment rate stands at 26.9% — more than four times the U.S. national average — and its median household income of $13,584 is among the lowest in Puerto Rico, both of which are strongly correlated with elevated property and opportunistic crime. That said, large portions of Mayagüez remain quiet and family-friendly. Areas near the University of Puerto Rico at Mayagüez campus, parts of Mirador, and residential stretches along Río Cañas tend to report fewer incidents than the city's more commercially dense corridors. Visitors who stay aware of their surroundings, avoid isolated areas after dark, and consult the interactive crime map on this page can navigate Mayagüez with reasonable confidence.

What is the crime rate in Mayagüez, and how does it compare to other Puerto Rican cities?

Mayagüez's overall crime profile earns a grade in the C-to-D range when benchmarked against similarly sized U.S. and Puerto Rican municipalities. Property crime is the dominant category, accounting for the majority of reported incidents — theft, burglary, and vehicle break-ins together represent a disproportionately large share of the caseload relative to the city's population of 93,426. Violent crime, while present, is concentrated in a smaller set of high-density corridors rather than spread evenly across all 93 square miles of the municipality. The city's population density of 1,101 residents per square mile means that incident clustering in commercial zones can make headline numbers look worse than the lived experience in quieter barrios. Compared to San Juan's most active precincts, Mayagüez's violent crime rate is meaningfully lower, though it exceeds the rates seen in smaller western-coast towns like Añasco or Hormigueros.

What are the safest neighborhoods in Mayagüez?

Based on incident distribution patterns visible on the crime map, several areas consistently show lower reported crime density. Mirador and the immediate surroundings of the UPR-Mayagüez campus benefit from active foot traffic, institutional lighting, and community watch engagement — factors that suppress opportunistic crime. Río Cañas, a quieter residential suburb to the east of downtown, also records fewer incidents per capita than the city average. Conversely, the downtown commercial district near Plaza Colón and the Siete Calles corridor see a higher concentration of theft and disorder calls, particularly during evening hours. Median rent in Mayagüez is just $415 per month, which means that even neighborhoods with strong safety profiles remain highly affordable — a meaningful advantage for families weighing relocation options.

What types of crime are most common in Mayagüez?

Property crime dominates the incident log. Theft and larceny — including shoplifting from commercial areas and theft from vehicles — consistently represent the largest share of reported offenses, estimated at roughly 55–65% of all incidents in recent reporting periods. Burglary accounts for a meaningful secondary slice, particularly in neighborhoods where median home values hover around the city's $107,104 midpoint and security infrastructure is limited. Vehicle theft is a notable concern in parking areas adjacent to commercial strips. Violent offenses — assault, robbery, and weapons incidents — make up a smaller but serious fraction, concentrated in specific micro-zones rather than distributed citywide. Drug-related offenses underpin a significant share of both property and violent crime, reflecting economic pressures tied to the city's 26.9% unemployment rate.

Is Mayagüez a good place to live despite its crime statistics?

For many residents, the answer is yes — with eyes open. Mayagüez offers a median home value of just $107,104 and a median rent of $415, making it one of the most affordable mid-size cities in the Caribbean. The University of Puerto Rico at Mayagüez anchors a knowledge economy and keeps a steady population of students, faculty, and researchers who contribute to community vitality. The coastal location provides access to beaches, outdoor recreation, and a quality of life that raw crime statistics don't capture. The economic headwinds are real — a $13,584 median household income and 26.9% unemployment create systemic pressure — but community organizations, university partnerships, and municipal policing initiatives are active forces working against those trends. Prospective residents should use the crime map to evaluate specific barrios rather than treating the city as a monolith, since neighborhood-level safety grades range from B in the quieter residential zones to D in the highest-activity commercial corridors.

How can I use the Mayagüez crime map effectively?

The interactive map on this page lets you filter incidents by crime category, date range, and neighborhood. For the most actionable insights: (1) toggle on property crime layers first, since theft and burglary account for the majority of incidents and are most relevant to day-to-day decisions; (2) apply a 90-day time filter to see recent patterns rather than multi-year accumulations that may reflect outdated conditions; (3) zoom into specific barrios like Mirador, Río Cañas, or the downtown district to compare incident density side by side; and (4) check the heat map view to identify micro-hotspots within otherwise moderate neighborhoods. Pairing the map with reports from the Puerto Rico Police Department's Mayagüez precinct gives the most complete picture available for 2026 planning.