1st Advantage MortgageHonolulu County households have a median income of $106,195 and median rent of $2,083 a month (ACS 2020 to 2024). A loan makes sense only if its total cost beats your alternatives and the payment fits your budget. Check the lender's Hawaii license first.
On this page
- Getting oriented in Honolulu County
- Employment and commuting in Honolulu County
- Income in Honolulu County compared with Hawaii
- Renting and owning in Honolulu County
- The communities that make up Honolulu County
- Neighboring counties at a glance
- Room for a loan payment in Honolulu County
- Local borrowing considerations for Honolulu County
- Honolulu County households compared
- Checking a lender's license in Hawaii
- A Honolulu County borrower's checklist
- Related local guides
- Frequently asked questions
Getting oriented in Honolulu County
Honolulu County is home to about 1,001,146 people, according to the Census Bureau's 2020 to 2024 American Community Survey, which makes it the 1st most populous of 5 county-level areas in Hawaii. Packed into 601 square miles, that is close to 1,666 residents for every square mile of land. It is one of the counties that make up the Urban Honolulu, HI metropolitan statistical area (OMB, 2023). Of the 55 Census places inside Honolulu County, Honolulu leads by population with about 345,482; 0 of the 55 are incorporated.
Employment and commuting in Honolulu County
Education and health care employs 24% of working residents, the largest share; arts, lodging and food service is next with 13%. ACS puts five-year average unemployment at 4.7% in Honolulu County. 17% of commuters travel 45 minutes or more each way, and 9% work from home.
| Industry (employed residents 16+) | Honolulu County | Gap to Hawaii |
|---|---|---|
| Education and health care | 23.7% | +1.1 pts |
| Arts, lodging and food service | 13.0% | -1.8 pts |
| Professional and administrative services | 10.8% | 0.0 pts |
| Retail trade | 10.4% | -0.3 pts |
| Public administration | 9.7% | +1.0 pts |
| Construction | 7.0% | -0.4 pts |
Industry shapes paperwork. Salaried and public jobs are easy to verify, while hourly, tipped, commission or contract earners in Honolulu County should have bank statements and tax returns ready.
Income in Honolulu County compared with Hawaii
Half of Honolulu County households take in less than $106,195 a year and half take in more, 6% above the Hawaii median of $100,389.
| Yearly household income | Honolulu County | Gap to Hawaii |
|---|---|---|
| Under $35,000 | 14.3% | -1.7 pts |
| $35,000 to $99,999 | 32.8% | -1.0 pts |
| $100,000 to $199,999 | 32.9% | +1.2 pts |
| $200,000 or more | 20.0% | +1.6 pts |
About 14% of households earn under $35,000, while 53% clear $100,000. 9.2% of residents fall below the federal poverty line (statewide: 10.0%). The Gini index of income inequality is 0.441 (0 is perfect equality). For a borrower in Honolulu 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.
Renting and owning in Honolulu County
A typical Honolulu County rental runs $2,083 a month including utilities, which is 6% above Hawaii. 58% of renting households spend 30% or more of income on rent, and 29% spend half or more. With a median value of $897,500, a typical Honolulu County house costs 8.5 times what the median household earns in a year. The ownership rate is 60%.
| Measure | Honolulu County | Hawaii | Median U.S. county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median gross rent | $2,083/mo | $1,971/mo | $877/mo |
| Median home value | $897,500 | $839,100 | $185,300 |
| Owners | 60% | 63% | 75% |
| Rent-burdened renters | 58% | 57% | 45% |
| Burdened owners | 40% | 40% | n/a |
| Vacant units | 9% | 13% | n/a |
When half or more of renters are already stretched, a new payment needs a stress test: what happens if a paycheck is a week late?
The communities that make up Honolulu County
55 Census places fall mainly inside Honolulu County; the 14 biggest are below. They account for 985,139 residents, leaving about 2% of the county in unincorporated, unnamed areas. Incomes vary by place: $177,143 at the median in Maunawili, $64,970 in Makaha. Median rent ranges from $1,227 in Ewa Villages to $3,501 in Hickam Housing. City guides exist for the linked Honolulu County places; everyone else in the county can use this page.
| Place | Type | Population | Median income | Median rent | From county center |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Honolulu | CDP | 345,482 | $86,504 | $1,823 | 25 mi |
| East Honolulu | CDP | 51,360 | $159,518 | $3,313 | 33 mi |
| Pearl City | CDP | 44,547 | $118,112 | $2,316 | 16 mi |
| Waipahu | CDP | 40,482 | $103,895 | $1,658 | 13 mi |
| Kailua | CDP | 39,640 | $148,582 | $3,093 | 30 mi |
| Kaneohe | CDP | 37,355 | $125,613 | $2,269 | 27 mi |
| Mililani Town | CDP | 27,668 | $127,363 | $2,384 | 12 mi |
| Ewa Gentry | CDP | 26,563 | $135,684 | $2,580 | 14 mi |
| Kapolei | CDP | 22,232 | $128,324 | $2,311 | 12 mi |
| Mililani Mauka | CDP | 21,278 | $138,942 | $2,350 | 13 mi |
| Makakilo | CDP | 20,735 | $118,550 | $2,276 | 11 mi |
| Wahiawa | CDP | 17,996 | $87,143 | $1,546 | 12 mi |
| Ocean Pointe | CDP | 17,085 | $149,767 | $3,424 | 15 mi |
| Schofield Barracks | CDP | 16,270 | $80,388 | $3,230 | 9 mi |
Neighboring counties at a glance
The six counties whose centers lie closest to Honolulu County's, from 81 to 2373 miles away. 1 of the six report a higher median household income than Honolulu County; San Francisco County is highest at $140,970 and Aleutians East Borough lowest at $65,365. Some neighbors are in Alaska and California. Lender licensing is state by state, so a loan for a Honolulu County resident follows Hawaii rules.
| County | Distance | Median income | Median rent | Owners |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Honolulu County | - | $106,195 | $2,083/mo | 60% |
| Kalawao County, HI | 81 mi | $73,750 | $1,271/mo | 0% |
| Kauai County, HI | 104 mi | $97,668 | $1,870/mo | 69% |
| Maui County, HI | 111 mi | $97,161 | $1,916/mo | 66% |
| Hawaii County, HI | 217 mi | $78,639 | $1,510/mo | 74% |
| Aleutians East Borough, AK | 2343 mi | $65,365 | $979/mo | 64% |
| San Francisco County, CA | 2373 mi | $140,970 | $2,476/mo | 38% |
Room for a loan payment in Honolulu County
The debt-to-income ratio is the main affordability test lenders use. Applied to Honolulu County's medians:
- Monthly gross at the median, Honolulu County: $8,850
- Less median rent of $2,083, which is 24% of it
- 36% debt-to-income limit: $1,103 left for all other debt payments
If your rent is above $2,083, the room shrinks dollar for dollar.
Local borrowing considerations for Honolulu County
Where the Honolulu County numbers stand out, and why it matters for a loan:
- Higher earners. 53% of households clear $100,000; shop at least three lenders and pick the shortest term.
- 58% rent-burdened. A payment on top of high rent needs a cushion; size it with the calculator.
- Advance-fee offers. No legitimate lender asks a Honolulu County borrower to pay first (scam signs).
Honolulu County households compared
College graduates make up 38% of the adult population. About 3% go without health insurance.
| Measure | Honolulu County | Hawaii statewide | Typical U.S. county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 39.8 | 40.9 | 41.5 |
| Bachelor's or higher | 38.5% | 36.1% | 22.2% |
| No high school diploma | 6.8% | 6.8% | n/a |
| No health insurance | 3.3% | 3.6% | 7.8% |
| No vehicle | 9.7% | 8.2% | 5.4% |
| Work from home | 9.2% | 9.6% | 8.7% |
| Poverty rate | 9.2% | 10.0% | 13.2% |
| Unemployment (ACS) | 4.7% | 4.9% | 4.4% |
| One-way commute | Share of Honolulu County workers |
|---|---|
| Under 15 min | 22.4% |
| 15 to 29 min | 35.5% |
| 30 to 44 min | 25.1% |
| 45 to 59 min | 8.9% |
| 60+ min | 8.2% |
Checking a lender's license in Hawaii
No county office licenses personal lenders. For Honolulu County, check the Hawaii Division of Financial Institutions. Problems with a lender can also go to the CFPB. The Hawaii guide covers state rules in more detail.
A Honolulu County borrower's checklist
A short checklist for Honolulu County borrowers:
- Size the loan to the bill, not to the most a lender offers.
- Compare the total repaid on every offer, not just the payment.
- A Hawaii license check takes minutes; do it first.
- Read the final agreement; it must match the offer.
Related local guides
City guides inside Honolulu County, and the statewide guide:
Frequently asked questions
How much do households in Honolulu County earn?
The median is $106,195; 53% earn $100,000 or more and 14% under $35,000. A lender uses your own documented income, not this figure.
How much is rent in Honolulu County?
Median gross rent, utilities included, is $2,083 a month; 58% of renters spend 30% or more of income on it.
Which towns does the Honolulu County guide cover?
Every community in the county, unincorporated areas included. The largest of its 55 Census places: Honolulu, East Honolulu, Pearl City, Waipahu, Kailua.
Is the fit check different in Honolulu County?
No. It is identical everywhere, and it never looks at your neighborhood.
Where can someone in Honolulu County check a lender's license?
With the Hawaii Division of Financial Institutions. If a lender is unlicensed or asks for a fee before funding, walk away.