1st Advantage MortgageKauai County households have a median income of $97,668 and median rent of $1,870 a month (ACS 2020 to 2024). Whatever your own numbers, compare written offers on APR, fees and total cost, and verify the lender is licensed in Hawaii before sharing details.
On this page
- Kauai County, HI: the basics
- Jobs and commutes in Kauai County
- What Kauai County households earn
- Kauai County housing compared with Hawaii
- The counties around Kauai County
- Towns and communities in Kauai County
- What a median Kauai County budget can carry
- People and households in Kauai County
- Borrowing situations common in Kauai County
- Who licenses lenders for Kauai County residents
- Steps before you apply in Kauai County
- Nearby and statewide guides
- Frequently asked questions
Kauai County, HI: the basics
Roughly 73,731 residents live in Kauai County, Hawaii, 4th by population among the state's 5 counties and county equivalents. It covers 620 square miles of land, or about 119 people per square mile. It sits outside every metropolitan statistical area in the July 2023 OMB delineation. Of the 24 Census places inside Kauai County, Kapaa leads by population with about 11,094; 0 of the 24 are incorporated.
Jobs and commutes in Kauai County
Arts, lodging and food service employs 19% of working residents, the largest share; education and health care is next with 18%. Arts, lodging and food service stands out: 19% of workers here, versus 15% statewide. The survey's unemployment rate for Kauai County averages 3.8% over 2020 to 2024 (state: 4.9%). Long commutes are the exception here: 12% of workers spend 45 minutes or longer getting to work.
| Sector | Kauai County | Compared with Hawaii |
|---|---|---|
| Arts, lodging and food service | 19.4% | +4.7 pts |
| Education and health care | 17.8% | -4.8 pts |
| Professional and administrative services | 11.4% | +0.6 pts |
| Retail trade | 11.2% | +0.5 pts |
| Construction | 7.8% | +0.4 pts |
| Public administration | 7.3% | -1.4 pts |
If your hours swing with the season or with overtime, size a loan payment against your base pay, not your best month.
What Kauai County households earn
Kauai County households have a median income of $97,668 (ACS 2020 to 2024), which ranks 2nd of 5 in Hawaii.
| Income band | Share in Kauai County | Difference from Hawaii |
|---|---|---|
| Under $35,000 | 16.3% | +0.4 pts |
| $35,000 to $99,999 | 35.1% | +1.3 pts |
| $100,000 to $199,999 | 33.2% | +1.5 pts |
| $200,000 or more | 15.4% | -3.1 pts |
Some 16% of households here live on less than $35,000 a year; 49% have six-figure incomes. Census counts 9.1% of Kauai County residents in poverty, against 10.0% across Hawaii. Income inequality, measured by the Gini index, comes to 0.446 here. If your income is irregular, as it often is with tips, gig work or seasonal jobs, plan around your leaner months rather than the Kauai County median.
Kauai County housing compared with Hawaii
Median gross rent, utilities included, comes to $1,870 in Kauai County versus $1,971 statewide. By the Census definition, 52% of Kauai County renters are cost-burdened. Home values center on $873,200, or 8.9 years of median income. Owners occupy 69% of homes.
| Home costs | Kauai County | Hawaii | U.S. middle county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median gross rent | $1,870/mo | $1,971/mo | $877/mo |
| Median home value | $873,200 | $839,100 | $185,300 |
| Owners | 69% | 63% | 75% |
| Rent-burdened renters | 52% | 57% | 45% |
| Burdened owners | 43% | 40% | n/a |
High rent burdens leave little slack. If you are borrowing to consolidate, make sure the new payment is lower than the ones it replaces.
The counties around Kauai County
The six counties whose centers lie closest to Kauai County's, from 104 to 2344 miles away. 2 of the six report a higher median household income than Kauai County; Aleutians West Census Area is highest at $135,500 and Aleutians East Borough lowest at $65,365. The list crosses into Alaska, where different lending rules and regulators apply.
| Neighbor | Distance | Income | Rent | Own |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kauai County | - | $97,668 | $1,870/mo | 69% |
| Honolulu County, HI | 104 mi | $106,195 | $2,083/mo | 60% |
| Kalawao County, HI | 184 mi | $73,750 | $1,271/mo | 0% |
| Maui County, HI | 215 mi | $97,161 | $1,916/mo | 66% |
| Hawaii County, HI | 319 mi | $78,639 | $1,510/mo | 74% |
| Aleutians East Borough, AK | 2299 mi | $65,365 | $979/mo | 64% |
| Aleutians West Census Area, AK | 2344 mi | $135,500 | $1,982/mo | 33% |
Towns and communities in Kauai County
The table lists the 14 largest of 24 Census places in Kauai County, by population. Together all 24 hold about 71,009 people, so roughly 4% of residents live outside any named place. Poipu has the highest median household income on the list ($143,333) and Wailua the lowest ($69,167), counting places with at least 500 residents. Live in one of these Kauai County communities, or between them? This is your local guide.
| Place in county | Status | Population (ACS) | Median HH income | Monthly rent | Distance from center |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kapaa | CDP | 11,094 | $89,477 | $2,020 | 23 mi |
| Lihue | CDP | 7,901 | $92,850 | $1,956 | 23 mi |
| Wailua Homesteads | CDP | 5,431 | $89,717 | $1,990 | 21 mi |
| Hanamaulu | CDP | 4,972 | $82,358 | $1,652 | 23 mi |
| Kalaheo | CDP | 4,435 | $110,607 | $1,922 | 14 mi |
| Puhi | CDP | 4,362 | $137,292 | $2,443 | 20 mi |
| Kekaha | CDP | 3,768 | $84,375 | $2,248 | 3 mi |
| Kilauea | CDP | 3,146 | $91,984 | $1,318 | 24 mi |
| Anahola | CDP | 3,067 | $100,688 | $2,015 | 27 mi |
| Koloa | CDP | 2,907 | $77,868 | $1,654 | 17 mi |
| Lawai | CDP | 2,718 | $104,286 | $1,747 | 15 mi |
| Wailua | CDP | 2,697 | $69,167 | $2,310 | 24 mi |
| Hanapepe | CDP | 2,638 | $100,000 | $2,199 | 10 mi |
| Eleele | CDP | 2,522 | $118,438 | $1,244 | 11 mi |
CDPs are unincorporated communities the Census Bureau defines for counting.
What a median Kauai County budget can carry
Lenders compare monthly debt payments with gross monthly income, the debt-to-income ratio. For a Kauai County household at the medians it works out like this; treat it as an illustration only.
- Monthly gross at the median, Kauai County: $8,139
- Median rent: $1,870, or 23 cents of every gross dollar
- $1,060: what a 36% ratio leaves once rent is paid
Two-income households and single earners in Kauai County land in very different places on this math, so run it for your own budget.
People and households in Kauai County
30% of Kauai County adults 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or more. 4.0% of residents have no health coverage.
| Indicator | Kauai County | All of Hawaii | U.S. county median |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 43.1 | 40.9 | 41.5 |
| Bachelor's or higher | 30.1% | 36.1% | 22.2% |
| No high school diploma | 6.9% | 6.8% | n/a |
| No health insurance | 4.0% | 3.6% | 7.8% |
| No vehicle | 4.0% | 8.2% | 5.4% |
| Work from home | 8.6% | 9.6% | 8.7% |
| Poverty rate | 9.1% | 10.0% | 13.2% |
| Unemployment (ACS) | 3.8% | 4.9% | 4.4% |
| Commute length | Kauai County |
|---|---|
| Under 15 min | 30.6% |
| 15 to 29 min | 35.2% |
| 30 to 44 min | 22.7% |
| 45 to 59 min | 7.3% |
| 60+ min | 4.3% |
Borrowing situations common in Kauai County
Based on the Kauai County data above, these borrowing questions are most likely to matter locally.
- Six-figure budgets. For the 49% earning $100,000 or more, lifestyle creep, not approval, is the usual problem.
- Tight rental budgets. With 52% of Kauai County renters cost-burdened, test a new payment against a lean month.
- Getting ready. Gather pay stubs or benefit letters before you apply (checklist).
Who licenses lenders for Kauai County residents
Kauai County borrowers fall under statewide rules, enforced by the Hawaii Division of Financial Institutions. Federal complaints: consumerfinance.gov. The Hawaii guide covers state rules in more detail.
Steps before you apply in Kauai County
Quick steps for Kauai County:
- Price the Kauai County expense first and borrow that amount, no more.
- Compare the total repaid on every offer, not just the payment.
- Only work with lenders licensed for Hawaii borrowers.
- Never pay a fee up front to get a loan.
Nearby and statewide guides
For statewide rules and data, see the Hawaii guide.
Frequently asked questions
Is Kauai County a high-income county?
Its $97,668 median ranks 2nd of 5 Hawaii counties and compares with $65,681 for the median U.S. county.
How does Kauai County rent compare with Hawaii?
$1,870 locally versus $1,971 for the state, 5% below.
I live in a small Kauai County town. Is this my guide?
Yes. If your town has no city guide, this county page is the local one; it covers Kapaa, Lihue, Wailua Homesteads, Hanamaulu, Kalaheo and 19 more.
Can Kauai County residents use the questionnaire?
Yes. It asks the same questions in every Hawaii county, lists every requirement up front and does not affect your credit score.
Where can someone in Kauai 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.