1st Advantage MortgageIn Hawaii County, Hawaii, the typical household earns $78,639 a year and the typical rent is $1,510. Borrow only what the expense needs, pick the shortest affordable term, and walk away from any lender asking a Hawaii County applicant for an upfront fee.
On this page
- Hawaii County by the numbers
- Hawaii County's most unusual numbers
- Paychecks and income spread in Hawaii County
- Hawaii County industries and commutes
- Renting and owning in Hawaii County
- Cities, towns and CDPs in Hawaii County
- Counties near Hawaii County
- People and households in Hawaii County
- Local borrowing considerations for Hawaii County
- Room for a loan payment in Hawaii County
- Four steps for Hawaii County borrowers
- Licensing and complaints for Hawaii County
- Keep exploring
- Frequently asked questions
Hawaii County by the numbers
Roughly 205,769 residents live in Hawaii County, Hawaii, 2nd by population among the state's 5 counties and county equivalents. It covers 4,028 square miles of land, or about 51 people per square mile. No metropolitan area includes Hawaii County in the 2023 federal delineation, so its numbers stand on their own rather than as part of a metro. The Census Bureau counts 54 places in the county (0 incorporated, 54 census-designated); the largest is Hilo, with about 50,404 residents, or 24% of the county.
Hawaii County's most unusual numbers
Where Hawaii County lands at the extremes of Hawaii's county rankings:
- The share of workers who work from home: 12.1% in Hawaii County, the highest of 5 in Hawaii. Remote workers should have W-2s or contracts ready to show income.
- Homeownership: 74% in Hawaii County, the highest of 5 in Hawaii. Most households here own, so home equity is often an alternative to weigh.
- Few Hawaii counties match Hawaii County on median age: 44.3 here, 40.9 for the state, ranking the highest of 5. Older borrowers often rely on fixed incomes, so a fixed payment helps.
Paychecks and income spread in Hawaii County
Hawaii County households have a median income of $78,639 (ACS 2020 to 2024), which ranks 4th of 5 in Hawaii.
| Household income | Hawaii County | vs Hawaii |
|---|---|---|
| Under $35,000 | 23.7% | +7.8 pts |
| $35,000 to $99,999 | 36.9% | +3.1 pts |
| $100,000 to $199,999 | 26.6% | -5.1 pts |
| $200,000 or more | 12.7% | -5.7 pts |
On the low end, 24% of Hawaii County households report under $35,000; at the top, 39% report $100,000-plus. Census counts 14.9% of Hawaii County residents in poverty, against 10.0% across Hawaii. Income inequality, measured by the Gini index, comes to 0.480 here. For a borrower in Hawaii County, the county median is only context: a lender looks at the income you can document, so pay stubs, benefit letters or tax returns matter more than any average.
Hawaii County industries and commutes
By the Census industry count, 23% of employed Hawaii County residents work in education and health care and 15% in arts, lodging and food service. Relative to Hawaii (1%), agriculture, forestry and mining is 2 points bigger in Hawaii County (3%). The survey's unemployment rate for Hawaii County averages 6.0% over 2020 to 2024 (state: 4.9%). Long commutes are common here: 19% of workers spend 45 minutes or longer getting to work. 4.8% of households have no vehicle.
| Where residents work | Hawaii County | Difference from Hawaii |
|---|---|---|
| Education and health care | 23.2% | +0.6 pts |
| Arts, lodging and food service | 14.8% | 0.0 pts |
| Retail trade | 11.7% | +1.0 pts |
| Professional and administrative services | 10.8% | 0.0 pts |
| Construction | 8.7% | +1.3 pts |
| Public administration | 6.9% | -1.8 pts |
Industry shapes paperwork. Salaried and public jobs are easy to verify, while hourly, tipped, commission or contract earners in Hawaii County should have bank statements and tax returns ready.
Renting and owning in Hawaii County
A typical Hawaii County rental runs $1,510 a month including utilities, which is 23% below Hawaii. Cost-burdened renters, paying 30%-plus of income: 52% in Hawaii County, 57% statewide. Median value $519,300; median income $78,639; ratio 6.6. The ownership rate is 74%.
| Housing | Hawaii County | Hawaii statewide | Hawaii County vs state |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median gross rent | $1,510/mo | $1,971/mo | 23% lower |
| Median home value | $519,300 | $839,100 | 38% lower |
| Owners | 74% | 63% | +11.0 pts |
| Rent-burdened renters | 52% | 57% | -5.0 pts |
| Burdened owners | 38% | 40% | -2.1 pts |
| Mobile homes | 0.4% | 0.3% | +0.1 pts |
| Vacant units | 18% | 13% | +5.1 pts |
With 74% of Hawaii County homes owner-occupied, equity is a real alternative for many readers; just remember a missed HELOC payment puts the home at risk. With rent burdens at 52%, keep any Hawaii County loan to the smallest amount that solves the problem.
Cities, towns and CDPs in Hawaii County
Here are the 14 most populous of the county's 54 Census places, with income and rent from the same 2020 to 2024 survey. About 94% of Hawaii County residents live in one of the 54. Holualoa has the highest median household income on the list ($115,972) and Eden Roc the lowest ($24,771), counting places with at least 500 residents. Rent is cheapest in Eden Roc ($594) and steepest in Waikoloa Beach Resort ($3,501). From Hilo to the smallest crossroads, Hawaii County residents share this guide.
| Place | Type | Population | Median income | Median rent | From county center |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hilo | CDP | 50,404 | $81,779 | $1,427 | 28 mi |
| Kailua | CDP | 21,818 | $88,211 | $1,754 | 32 mi |
| Hawaiian Paradise Park | CDP | 13,203 | $88,348 | $1,310 | 34 mi |
| Kaiminani | CDP | 11,465 | $110,560 | $1,202 | 34 mi |
| Waimea | CDP | 9,286 | $100,198 | $1,867 | 30 mi |
| Waikoloa Village | CDP | 7,543 | $81,703 | $2,177 | 31 mi |
| Kahaluu-Keauhou | CDP | 5,150 | $96,212 | $1,901 | 30 mi |
| Hawaiian Ocean View | CDP | 4,431 | $45,043 | $1,506 | 39 mi |
| Ainaloa | CDP | 4,094 | $58,918 | $1,358 | 33 mi |
| Hawaiian Beaches | CDP | 3,947 | $29,295 | $1,658 | 38 mi |
| Hawaiian Acres | CDP | 3,872 | $91,120 | $1,351 | 30 mi |
| Mountain View | CDP | 3,756 | $69,299 | $1,375 | 21 mi |
| Holualoa | CDP | 3,434 | $115,972 | $2,041 | 28 mi |
| Captain Cook | CDP | 3,419 | $108,675 | $2,164 | 26 mi |
A CDP is a named community without its own municipal government.
Counties near Hawaii County
Maui County is closest, 112 miles from center to center; the sixth, Marin County, is 2338 miles off. Hawaii County's $78,639 median trails 5 of the six and beats 1; the range runs $73,750 (Kalawao County) to $149,091 (Marin County). The list crosses into California, where different lending rules and regulators apply.
| County | Distance | Median income | Median rent | Owners |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hawaii County | - | $78,639 | $1,510/mo | 74% |
| Maui County, HI | 112 mi | $97,161 | $1,916/mo | 66% |
| Kalawao County, HI | 147 mi | $73,750 | $1,271/mo | 0% |
| Honolulu County, HI | 217 mi | $106,195 | $2,083/mo | 60% |
| Kauai County, HI | 319 mi | $97,668 | $1,870/mo | 69% |
| San Francisco County, CA | 2315 mi | $140,970 | $2,476/mo | 38% |
| Marin County, CA | 2338 mi | $149,091 | $2,668/mo | 65% |
People and households in Hawaii County
Degree holders: 31% of adults over 25. The uninsured rate is 4.5%, against 3.6% for Hawaii.
| Residents | Hawaii County | Difference from Hawaii | Difference from middle U.S. county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 44.3 | +3.4 yrs | +2.8 yrs |
| Bachelor's or higher | 31.4% | -4.7 pts | +9.3 pts |
| No high school diploma | 6.8% | 0.0 pts | n/a |
| No health insurance | 4.5% | +0.9 pts | -3.3 pts |
| No vehicle | 4.8% | -3.4 pts | -0.6 pts |
| Work from home | 12.1% | +2.5 pts | +3.4 pts |
| Poverty rate | 14.9% | +4.9 pts | +1.8 pts |
| Unemployment (ACS) | 6.0% | +1.1 pts | +1.6 pts |
| Trip time | Share |
|---|---|
| Under 15 min | 29.3% |
| 15 to 29 min | 31.8% |
| 30 to 44 min | 19.7% |
| 45 to 59 min | 8.7% |
| 60+ min | 10.4% |
Local borrowing considerations for Hawaii County
Where the Hawaii County numbers stand out, and why it matters for a loan:
- Long drives. With 19% of commutes over 45 minutes, tires and repairs are fixed costs in many Hawaii County budgets.
- Hawaii County rent burden. 52% of renters are cost-burdened; ask your landlord about a payment plan before borrowing for rent.
- Combining balances. It helps when total cost falls and the cards stay paid down (consolidation).
Room for a loan payment in Hawaii County
Here is the Hawaii County median household run through a simple DTI check. Your numbers will differ.
- Start: $6,553 gross per month ($78,639 / 12)
- Median rent: $1,510, or 23 cents of every gross dollar
- $849: what a 36% ratio leaves once rent is paid
- With a 43% ceiling, about $1,308 remains for car, card, student and any new loan payments
Car, student loan and card payments come out of that room first. Try your own numbers in the calculator.
Four steps for Hawaii County borrowers
Quick steps for Hawaii County:
- Price the Hawaii County expense first and borrow that amount, no more.
- Line up offers side by side: APR, fees in dollars, total cost.
- A Hawaii license check takes minutes; do it first.
- Ask a Hawaii County credit union about member loans.
Licensing and complaints for Hawaii County
Licensing happens at the state level, so a lender working with Hawaii County borrowers answers to the Hawaii Division of Financial Institutions. Banks and credit unions have their own regulators, and the CFPB takes complaints about any lender. Statewide data and rules: Hawaii guide.
Keep exploring
Statewide:
Frequently asked questions
Where does Hawaii County rank on income in Hawaii?
4th of 5, with a median of $78,639. The state median is $100,389.
Is Hawaii County expensive for renters?
Median rent is $1,510 against $1,971 statewide, and 52% of renter households are cost-burdened.
Should Hawaii County homeowners use home equity instead?
Maybe, but weigh the risk: 74% of Hawaii County homes are owner-occupied, and a home-equity loan or line is secured by the house while a personal loan usually is not.
I live near Hilo. Which guide is mine?
This one. Hilo and the rest of Hawaii County have no separate city guide.
Are Hawaii County applicants treated differently?
No. Everyone answers the same questions and is screened on the same objective points; lending partners set their own criteria under fair-lending laws.