South region · Puerto Rico
Villalba
~34 mi from San JuanInland
Villalba is an inland town in Puerto Rico’s South region, situated in the central part of the island about 34 miles from San Juan. It lies northeast of Juana Díaz, south of Orocovis, and west of Coamo, and is organized into six barrios plus Villalba Pueblo, covering an area of 35.6 square miles with 21,556 people (Census estimate, 2020–2024).
Originally known as Villa Alba, the town was founded in 1917 and is part of the Ponce Metropolitan Statistical Area, tying its economic and social life to the larger Ponce area. Its inland, hilly setting is reflected in outdoor spots such as the Camino a la Torre de Observación.
For visitors
Visitors are drawn to Villalba's inland, central-mountain setting and outdoor spots like the Camino a la Torre de Observación.
- Hiking
- Outdoors
- Fiestas patronales
For living hereResidents live in an inland town organized into six barrios, with close economic and social ties to the nearby Ponce metropolitan area.Living in Villalba: rent, commute, schools & safety
At a glance
- Region
- South
- Setting
- Inland
- Distance
- ~34 mi from San Juan
- Population
- 21,556 (Census estimate, 2020–2024)
- Founded
- 1917
- Median rent
- $517/mo
- Median income
- $26,286/yr
- Area
- 35.6 sq mi (92.3 km²)
- Fiestas patronales
- Our Lady of Mount Carmel · July 16
- Guide spots
- 1
- Stories, last 30 days
- 7
- Water & power
- Water by sector · Power outages
- Living here
- Rent, commute, schools & safety
Right now in Villalba
Road closures in Villalba
No closures reported in Villalba as of 1:08 PM AST on Thu, Nov 12.
Water rationing in Villalba
No rationing plan names Villalba. None of the plans the Puerto Rico Aqueduct and Sewer Authority (AAA) has published includes the town, as of Nov 12. Repairs and breaks cut service sector by sector: search your sector
Power outages in Villalba
Not among the 7 towns with the most interruptions on LUMA’s morning reading of Nov 12, when 0.5% of customers island-wide were without power. Villalba was on that list on none of the last 7 mornings. Outages right now, town by town
News from Villalba
Latest stories
Strong Thunderstorm Warning Issued for Villalba and Nearby Towns
Woman Shot in Villalba Medical Office Remains in Critical Care at Trauma Hospital
Expert Urges Workplace Gender-Violence Protocols After Villalba Shooting
Woman Shot in Villalba Was Heading to Report Stalker the Same Day
Youth from Juvenile Institution Trained in Barismo and Agronegocios
Things to do in Villalba
Nature spots
Camino a la Torre de Observación
Hiking route
Camino a la Torre de Observación is a hiking route located in Villalba. The route leads to a tower, suggesting a scenic destination.
Outdoors and sports
Trails in and near Villalba
2 trails start in Villalba; the nearest two in other towns are within 7 mi of the town center, as the crow flies.
- In VillalbaLago Toa VacaEasy 0.4 mi each way, 25 to 35 minToa Vaca lakeWalk inCommunity-mapped
- In VillalbaCamino El BoloEasy 0.8 mi each way, 45 min to 1 h 5 minNot confirmed: ask firstCommunity-mapped
- In Jayuya, 7 mi awayLos Tres PicachosHard 1.3 mi each way, 1 h 50 min to 2 h 40 minThe three peaksNot confirmed: ask firstCommunity-mapped
- In Ponce, 7 mi awayCamino Cerro de PuntaModerate 0.7 mi each way, 45 min to 1 h 10 minCerro de Punta pathWalk in, no bookingCommunity-mapped
Sports in Villalba
Local results
Bills and recovery money
Recovery money in Villalba
$60.6 million committed by FEMA to 165 projects filed under Villalba since 2001: $2,813 per resident, 30th of 78 towns.
Every project located in Villalba, the island-wide agencies’ included
38% paid out: Puerto Rico's Central Office for Recovery, Reconstruction and Resiliency (COR3), which pays out the federal disaster recovery money, has paid $43.1 million of the $114 million committed.
38%50.4% paid out on the town government’s own rebuilding: $24.9 million of $49.4 million, the projects it runs itself, as of Oct 14, 2026. Our FEMA story charts this figure for every town.
50.4%- (Non-Compliant) MVIL010 Villalba Elderly CenterPublic buildings$7.7 million
- Fund Sharing Project -MVIL011 Villalba Sports ComplexParks and other$7.3 million
- (Hazard Mitigation change) Donor / Fund Sharing Project -MVIL007 Stadium Herminio CintronParks and other$3.7 million
The town government’s largest projects in implementation, and what has been paid
- (Non-Compliant) Villalba Elderly Center$3.9M of $7.7M50%
- Project PW-01689$330K of $3.7M9%
- Project PW-00829$1.6M of $2.3M72%
- Debris Alternative Procedures Public Assistance Alternative Procedures$1.6M of $1.6M100%
Every town and the island-wide agencies
FEMA Public Assistance data, as of Nov 11, 2026. Obligated by FEMA: committed to the project and drawn as the work is done. Paid out: COR3’s transparency portal, as of Nov 4, 2026.
Living in Villalba
Crime in Villalba
18 violent crimes and 0 homicides reported to the Puerto Rico Police Bureau (PRPD) in Villalba, January 1 – September 30, 2026; in 2025, 23.2 violent crimes per 10,000 people, in the second-highest fifth of towns.
- Homicides
- 0 YTD
- Violent crimes
- 18 YTD
- All serious crimes
- 34 YTD
- Violent crimes per 10,000 people (2025)
- 23.2
Flood zones in Villalba
FEMA’s flood map sets who must carry flood insurance, street by street. Check an address in Villalba
Phone alerts for Villalba
Our weekly reads: Daily Water Watch · Grid Watch · Safety Watch
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