1st Advantage MortgageIn Kalawao County, Hawaii, the typical household earns $73,750 a year and the typical rent is $1,271. 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 Kalawao County
- How much Kalawao County households make
- Kalawao County housing compared with Hawaii
- Work, industries and travel time in Kalawao County
- Neighboring counties at a glance
- What a median Kalawao County budget can carry
- Kalawao County households compared
- Local borrowing considerations for Kalawao County
- Steps before you apply in Kalawao County
- Lender oversight for Kalawao County
- More guides for Kalawao County
- Frequently asked questions
Getting oriented in Kalawao County
With an estimated 67 residents (ACS 2020 to 2024), Kalawao County ranks 5th of 5 in Hawaii for population. Spread over 12 square miles, that works out to roughly 5.6 residents per square mile. For statistical purposes it belongs to the Kahului-Wailuku, HI metro area, as delineated by the Office of Management and Budget in July 2023. The Census Bureau lists no separate place within Kalawao County; its residents live in unincorporated areas covered by this county guide. With so few households sampled, Kalawao County estimates can move a lot between releases.
How much Kalawao County households make
Kalawao County households have a median income of $73,750 (ACS 2020 to 2024), which ranks 5th of 5 in Hawaii.
| Band | Kalawao County | Compared with Hawaii |
|---|---|---|
| Under $35,000 | 35.0% | +19.0 pts |
| $35,000 to $99,999 | 60.0% | +26.2 pts |
| $100,000 to $199,999 | 5.0% | -26.7 pts |
| $200,000 or more | 0.0% | -18.5 pts |
Some 35% of households here live on less than $35,000 a year; 5% have six-figure incomes. 22.7% of residents fall below the federal poverty line (statewide: 10.0%). Income inequality, measured by the Gini index, comes to 0.283 here. None of these numbers decides a Kalawao County application. Lenders weigh your own documented income against your own debts.
Kalawao County housing compared with Hawaii
A typical Kalawao County rental runs $1,271 a month including utilities, which is 36% below Hawaii. Rent takes 30% or more of income for 21% of renter households here. The ownership rate is 0%. Half the housing stock was built before 1938.
| Home costs | Kalawao County | Hawaii | U.S. middle county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median gross rent | $1,271/mo | $1,971/mo | $877/mo |
| Owners | 0% | 63% | 75% |
| Rent-burdened renters | 21% | 57% | 45% |
| Vacant units | 63% | 13% | n/a |
Renters cannot borrow against a house, which narrows the choice to unsecured loans, cards and help from creditors; compare total cost, not just the payment.
Work, industries and travel time in Kalawao County
The biggest employer of Kalawao County residents, by industry, is professional and administrative services at 31% of workers, followed by public administration (27%). Professional and administrative services stands out: 31% of workers here, versus 11% statewide. 15% of commuters travel 45 minutes or more each way, and 6% work from home. 15.0% of households have no vehicle.
| Where residents work | Kalawao County | Difference from Hawaii |
|---|---|---|
| Professional and administrative services | 30.6% | +19.8 pts |
| Public administration | 26.5% | +17.8 pts |
| Construction | 14.3% | +6.9 pts |
| Education and health care | 8.2% | -14.5 pts |
| Retail trade | 8.2% | -2.6 pts |
| Arts, lodging and food service | 6.1% | -8.6 pts |
Where long drives are the norm, a car repair is one of the most common surprise bills. A small repair fund can keep a breakdown from turning into a loan.
Neighboring counties at a glance
Six nearby counties, 35 to 2342 miles away by the straight-line distance between their centers. San Francisco County leads the group on income ($140,970), Mendocino County trails ($68,092), and Kalawao County out-earns 1 of the six. Some neighbors are in California. Lender licensing is state by state, so a loan for a Kalawao County resident follows Hawaii rules.
| County | Distance | Median income | Median rent | Owners |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kalawao County | - | $73,750 | $1,271/mo | 0% |
| Maui County, HI | 35 mi | $97,161 | $1,916/mo | 66% |
| Honolulu County, HI | 81 mi | $106,195 | $2,083/mo | 60% |
| Hawaii County, HI | 147 mi | $78,639 | $1,510/mo | 74% |
| Kauai County, HI | 184 mi | $97,668 | $1,870/mo | 69% |
| San Francisco County, CA | 2320 mi | $140,970 | $2,476/mo | 38% |
| Mendocino County, CA | 2342 mi | $68,092 | $1,317/mo | 62% |
What a median Kalawao County budget can carry
Lenders compare monthly debt payments with gross monthly income, the debt-to-income ratio. For a Kalawao County household at the medians it works out like this; treat it as an illustration only.
- Median income divided by twelve: $6,146 before taxes
- Rent at the median, $1,271, takes 21% of that
- With a 36% ceiling, about $942 remains for car, card, student and any new loan payments
- At 43%, room after rent is $1,372 a month
Two-income households and single earners in Kalawao County land in very different places on this math, so run it for your own budget.
Kalawao County households compared
College graduates make up 22% of the adult population. About 5% go without health insurance.
| Kalawao County | Hawaii | U.S. county median | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 39.5 | 40.9 | 41.5 |
| Bachelor's or higher | 22.4% | 36.1% | 22.2% |
| No high school diploma | 19.4% | 6.8% | n/a |
| No health insurance | 4.5% | 3.6% | 7.8% |
| No vehicle | 15.0% | 8.2% | 5.4% |
| Work from home | 6.1% | 9.6% | 8.7% |
| Poverty rate | 22.7% | 10.0% | 13.2% |
Local borrowing considerations for Kalawao County
A few patterns in the Kalawao County data, and the practical point behind each:
- Free help first. 23% of residents live below the poverty line; utility, rent and food programs cost nothing to repay (free options).
- Advance-fee offers. No legitimate lender asks a Kalawao County borrower to pay first (scam signs).
- Combining balances. It helps when total cost falls and the cards stay paid down (consolidation).
Steps before you apply in Kalawao County
Quick steps for Kalawao County:
- Borrow the amount the job needs; extra cash adds interest.
- Compare the total repaid on every offer, not just the payment.
- Only work with lenders licensed for Hawaii borrowers.
- Pick the shortest term whose payment still fits.
Lender oversight for Kalawao County
Before sharing details with a lender, a Kalawao County resident can confirm its license with 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.
More guides for Kalawao County
The Hawaii guide covers the whole state.
Frequently asked questions
What does a typical Kalawao County household make?
About $73,750 a year at the median (ACS 2020-24), 27% below the Hawaii median.
What do renters pay in Kalawao County?
$1,271 a month at the median, about 21% of median household income.
Does my county matter to the questionnaire?
Only your state does. Whether you live in Kalawao County or elsewhere in Hawaii, the same rules apply.
Is there a Kalawao County office that licenses lenders?
No, licensing is statewide. In Hawaii it is the Hawaii Division of Financial Institutions.