City profile · California · Census ACS 2023

Hawaiian Gardens, CA

Population, income, housing, safety, climate and schools for Hawaiian Gardens - drawn straight from Census ACS, FBI UCR, NOAA, NCES, HUD and FEMA, refreshed on the 2024–2025 release cycle.

13,816
Residents
$76,025
Median income
$509,600
Median home
$3,236
Median rent (state)

Hawaiian Gardens - the verdict

Out of every US city with 1,000+ residents, Hawaiian Gardens places in the 57th percentile for household income and the 18th percentile for safety. Source: Census ACS + FBI UCR.

57th
percentile, household income
85th
percentile, home value
98th
percentile, median rent
18th
percentile, safety
📝 How we sourced this

Population, income, and housing-cost figures come from the U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey 5-year estimates (B-series tables). Crime data uses FBI UCR; climate uses NOAA Climate Normals; school counts come from NCES Common Core of Data; permits use the Census Building Permits Survey (BPS). See our methodology page for the full ETL pipeline and OMB / FIPS join keys.

Data Snapshot: Hawaiian Gardens, CA

California's Hawaiian Gardens is a small town, with 13,816 residents per the latest Census Bureau ACS figures. The typical household in Hawaiian Gardens brings in $76,025 a year, above the median for U.S. cities on this measure, with a poverty rate of 14.7%. Home values in Hawaiian Gardens run a median of $509,600, and the median resident age is 34.2 years. About 16.8% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher, while 61.1% of working-age residents are in the labor force.

In 2024, 17 residential building permits were authorized in Hawaiian Gardens (Building Boom), up 240% from five years earlier, per Census BPS data. Hawaiian Gardens's reported crime rate runs above the national norm: per-100,000 total crime stands at 2839.3 in FBI UCR data, above the national average (a voluntary reporting program, read this as reporting activity, not a definitive danger score).

California carries a cost-of-living premium: the state registers 110.7 on a 100-equals-national-average index (Well Above Average) per BEA Regional Price Parities 2024. Statewide, HUD pegs Fair Market Rent for a two-bedroom unit at $3,236 monthly. Statewide, average monthly utility bills in California run around $275, per EIA 2023 residential energy data. FEMA's National Risk Index rates natural-hazard exposure at 99.8 out of 100 (Very High).

Population

13,816 residents

Census ACS 2023 - California

Median Household Income

$76,025 /yr

Poverty 14.7%

Cost of Living Index (state)

110.7 (US=100)

Well Above Average - BEA RPP 2024, California average

How does Hawaiian Gardens compare to other US cities?

Hawaiian Gardens measured against every US city with 1,000+ residents, computed live from the same Census and FBI data shown throughout this page.

Household income 57% higher than other cities
Home value 85% pricier than other cities
Median rent 98% pricier than other cities
Safety 18% safer than other cities

"Safer than" reflects total crime rate from FBI UCR; the others use Census ACS estimates.

A national percentile can hide a lot of local variation: narrowed to California alone, Hawaiian Gardens ranks #349 of 441 California cities by lowest crime rate - a different, more locally useful comparison than stacking it against the entire country.

How we calculate these percentiles & ranks

For each metric we count every US city with population 1,000+ and a non-null value, then compute what share of them fall below Hawaiian Gardens's value: round(cities-below ÷ total × 100). Safety is inverted (percentile = share of cities with a higher crime rate) so a higher number always means safer. The in-state rank narrows that same crime-rate comparison to only the cities PlainCities tracks in California, breaking ties alphabetically. See the methodology page for the full source-to-figure lineage.

57thIncome percentile
18thSafety percentile

57th percentile nationally for median household income · 18th percentile for safety (lower crime rate). Source: Census ACS 2023 / FBI UCR 2023.

Hawaiian Gardens's profile vs. every US city

Income, affordability, and safety percentile

Hawaiian Gardens's percentile rank on 3 favorable-direction measures (income, affordability, safety) vs. every tracked US city -- higher on every axis is more favorable. Not a composite quality score, just the arithmetic mean of the axes shown. 3-axis radar comparing 1 series across Income, Affordability, Safety. IncomeAffordabilitySafety 28 Avg. percentile National median
Hawaiian Gardens's percentile rank on 3 favorable-direction measures (income, affordability, safety) vs. every tracked US city -- higher on every axis is more favorable. Not a composite quality score, just the arithmetic mean of the axes shown.

How Hawaiian Gardens's home value compares nationally

Median home value vs. every US city (population 1,000+)

$509,600 15th percentile more affordable than 15% of 15,600 US cities

$0–$25,000: 5 US cities (0%). Below this entry. $25,000–$50,000: 54 US cities (0%). Below this entry. $50,000–$75,000: 352 US cities (2%). Below this entry. $75,000–$100,000: 1,086 US cities (7%). Below this entry. $100,000–$125,000: 1,516 US cities (10%). Below this entry. $125,000–$150,000: 1,170 US cities (8%). Below this entry. $150,000–$175,000: 1,278 US cities (8%). Below this entry. $175,000–$200,000: 1,229 US cities (8%). Below this entry. $200,000–$225,000: 1,035 US cities (7%). Below this entry. $225,000–$250,000: 976 US cities (6%). Below this entry. $250,000–$275,000: 754 US cities (5%). Below this entry. $275,000–$300,000: 712 US cities (5%). Below this entry. $300,000–$325,000: 521 US cities (3%). Below this entry. $325,000–$350,000: 526 US cities (3%). Below this entry. $350,000–$375,000: 465 US cities (3%). Below this entry. $375,000–$400,000: 393 US cities (3%). Below this entry. $400,000–$425,000: 317 US cities (2%). Below this entry. $425,000–$450,000: 300 US cities (2%). Below this entry. $450,000–$475,000: 307 US cities (2%). Below this entry. $475,000–$500,000: 250 US cities (2%). Below this entry. $500,000–$525,000: 160 US cities (1%). This entry sits in this band. $525,000–$550,000: 156 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $550,000–$575,000: 172 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $575,000–$600,000: 172 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $600,000–$625,000: 163 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $625,000–$650,000: 167 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $650,000–$675,000: 135 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $675,000–$700,000: 101 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $700,000–$725,000: 95 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $725,000–$750,000: 71 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $750,000–$775,000: 65 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $775,000–$800,000: 70 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $800,000–$825,000: 57 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $825,000–$850,000: 67 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $850,000–$875,000: 60 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $875,000–$900,000: 58 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $900,000–$925,000: 47 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $925,000–$950,000: 37 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $950,000–$975,000: 31 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $975,000–$1,000,000: 470 US cities (3%). Above this entry. $1,000,000–$1,025,000: 0 US cities (0%). Above this entry. Hawaiian Gardens $0 $1,025,000 every US city, bucketed by value

Each bar is a $25K-wide band; taller bars hold more US cities. The dashed line + filled bar mark this entry. Hover or tap any bar for its full count, share, and where it sits relative to this entry.

Source U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year Estimates · 2023

Income distribution context

Household income distribution - Hawaiian Gardens, CA Hawaiian Gardens, CA's reported median household income shown against the U.S. national quintile-share pattern (not Hawaiian Gardens, CA-specific quintile data). The Lorenz curve traces the national cumulative income share against cumulative population share, perfect equality is the diagonal; observed inequality bows below. $ Household Income Distribution Hawaiian Gardens, CA median $76,025/yr, vs. U.S. national quintile pattern QUINTILE SHARE OF AGGREGATE INCOME Lowest 20% 3.4% Second 20% 9.2% Middle 20% 15.1% Fourth 20% 23.2% Top 20% 49.1% LORENZ CURVE cumulative income vs. population 100% 0% 100% pop. 0%
Hawaiian Gardens, CA's median household income (Census ACS 5-year estimate) plotted against the U.S. national income-quintile distribution pattern for context; the quintile shares and Lorenz curve are national figures, not computed specifically for Hawaiian Gardens, CA. Diagonal = perfect equality.

Key socioeconomic indicators

Bachelor's degree or higher (adults 25+) 16.8%

Census ACS S1501, educational attainment

Poverty rate (households below FPL) 14.7%

Census ACS S1701, poverty status

Labor force participation (adults 16+) 61.1%

Census ACS S2301, share of working-age residents in the labor force

Population
13,816
Median Income
$76,025
Median Home Value
$509,600
Median Age
34.2
Poverty Rate
14.7%
Labor force participation
61.1%
Bachelor's Degree+
16.8%

Safety & Crime

Total Crime Rate
2839.3
per 100,000 residents
Violent Crime
736.4
per 100,000 residents
Property Crime
2102.9
per 100,000 residents

Reflects incidents reported to the FBI's Uniform Crime Reporting program — agency participation is voluntary and reporting completeness varies by jurisdiction and year, so this reflects reporting activity, not a definitive danger score. Not adjusted for tourism, commuter, or daytime population.

Schools

Total Schools
3
Public schools in this city

Population Change

Annual U.S. Census Bureau Population Estimates Program (PEP) estimates, 2020–2025

See the fastest-growing cities →
13,000 residents13,500 residents14,000 residents14,500 residents 202020212022202320242025 14,095 residents 13,373 residents ▼ -5.1%
Hawaiian Gardens's Census PEP population estimates, 2020–2025.

Housing Supply

Census Bureau Building Permits Survey (BPS) - annual residential permits authorized

📈 Building Boom
Total Permits (2024)
17
housing units authorized
Single-Family
17
detached homes
Multifamily
0
apartments & condos
Supply Intensity
1.2
permits per 1,000 residents

5-Year Permit Trend (2019–2024)

Year Total
2019 5
2020 0
2021 8
2022 7
2023 3
2024 17

Permit volume increased 240% from 2019 to 2024.

Commute Patterns

How workers travel to work, Census ACS 2023

Drive Alone
70.8%
Carpool
13.0%
Public Transit
1.6%
Walk
2.7%
Work from Home
11.2%
Other
0.7%

Based on 6,176 workers 16 and over.

Monthly Utility Costs

State-average estimates for California - EIA 2023 residential energy data

Electricity
$150
avg/month
Natural Gas
$55
avg/month
Water & Sewer
$70
avg/month
Total Utilities
$275
estimated/month

Estimates reflect California state averages. Actual costs vary by home size, usage, and local rates. Source: U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) 2023.

Living Costs & Risk

Cost of living is a California state average from BEA; rent and hazard risk are county-level figures from HUD and FEMA for the county Hawaiian Gardens sits in

Cost of Living Index
110.7
Well Above Average
US average = 100 · BEA RPP 2024
Typical 2-BR Rent
$3,236/mo
HUD Fair Market Rent
County-level FMR estimate
Natural Hazard Risk
99.8 / 100
Very High
FEMA NRI composite score (county)

Similar Cities in California

North Auburn
13,833 people
Auburn
13,758 people
Isla Vista
13,717 people
Oak Park
13,656 people
Mill Valley
14,064 people
King City
13,512 people

Cities of a Similar Size Nationwide

Population-matched peers from other states, closest to Hawaiian Gardens's 13,816 residents (Census ACS 5-Year 2023).

Waycross, GA
13,813 people
Halawa, HI
13,809 people
Bedford, IN
13,824 people
Newington, VA
13,824 people
Lumberton, TX
13,803 people
Bridgetown, OH
13,830 people

Cities with a Similar Household Income Nationwide

Median-household-income-matched peers from other states, closest to Hawaiian Gardens's $76,025 (Census ACS 5-Year 2023, table B19013).

Aberdeen, MD
$76,019 median income
Coats, KS
$76,016 median income
Mead, WA
$76,010 median income
Franklin Park, IL
$76,009 median income
Griffith, IN
$76,009 median income
Wakarusa, IN
$76,008 median income

Race & Ethnicity Composition

Race and ethnicity - Hawaiian Gardens, CA Race categories sum to one hundred percent per Census methodology. Hispanic or Latino is shown separately as an ethnicity overlay; it cuts across all race categories per OMB Directive 15. Race & Ethnicity Composition Hawaiian Gardens, CA - Census ACS, OMB race + ethnicity categories RACE, sums to 100% 15.1% 12.9% 42.9% 20.8% ETHNICITY, Hispanic or Latino (any race) 75.5% White 15.1% Black or African American 4.5% Asian 12.9% American Indian 3.7% Native Hawaiian 0.2% Some other race 42.9% Two or more races 20.8% Per OMB Directive 15: Hispanic/Latino ethnicity is reported separately from the race categories.
Race categories sum to 100%. Hispanic or Latino ethnicity is reported separately and cuts across race per Census/OMB methodology.

City-level race and ethnicity, Census ACS 5-year 2023 (tables B02001, B03001), OMB Directive 15 categories.

How Hawaiian Gardens compares to nearby California cities

Population + median household income, sourced from Census Bureau ACS 5-year B01001 (population) and B19013 (median household income).

City Population Median Household Income
Hawaiian Gardens (this city) 13,816 $76,025
North Auburn 13,833 $72,125
Auburn 13,758 $77,760
Isla Vista 13,717 $24,428
Census ACS 5-year FIPS CA FBI UCR NCES CCD Census BPS 2024 OMB Bulletin 23-01

What do people ask about Hawaiian Gardens, CA?

What is the population of Hawaiian Gardens, CA? +

Hawaiian Gardens, CA has a population of 13,816 according to U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates.

What is the median household income in Hawaiian Gardens, CA? +

Median annual household income in Hawaiian Gardens runs $76,025, based on Census ACS 2023 data.

What is the cost of living in Hawaiian Gardens? +

BEA does not publish a city-level cost-of-living figure for Hawaiian Gardens; the closest available measure is the California state average, a cost of living index of 110.7 (U.S. average = 100), rated "Well Above Average" based on BEA Regional Price Parities 2024 data. Costs within California vary by metro area.

Is Hawaiian Gardens, CA safe? +

Hawaiian Gardens has a total crime rate of 2839.3 per 100,000 residents, which is above the national average. This reflects incidents reported to the FBI UCR program, not a definitive safety score -- agency reporting is voluntary and completeness varies by jurisdiction.

What is the median home value in Hawaiian Gardens, CA? +

The median home value in Hawaiian Gardens is $509,600, according to Census ACS 2023 estimates.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year 2023, FBI UCR, NCES CCD, Census BPS 2024, Census ACS B08301/B08136, U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) 2023, BEA Regional Price Parities 2024, HUD Fair Market Rents 2026, FEMA National Risk Index.

Read our methodology - how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.

Primary sources: Census ACS, FBI UCR, NOAA Climate Normals, NCES.

Citation & verification links Data sourced from the U.S. Census Bureau. See our methodology for details. Retrieved and formatted by PlainCities Editorial

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Every figure on PlainCities is rendered directly from Census ACS source data, no number is typed in by an editor. This page draws directly on Census ACS source data, no figure is typed in by an editor. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error.