City profile · Hawaii · Census ACS 2023

Fern Forest, HI

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

880
Residents
$33,173
Median income
$173,800
Median home
$2,076
Median rent (state)

Fern Forest - the verdict

Out of every US city with 1,000+ residents, Fern Forest places in the 4th percentile for household income. Source: Census ACS.

4th
percentile, household income
35th
percentile, home value
84th
percentile, median rent
📝 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: Fern Forest, HI

880 people live in Fern Forest, Hawaii - a small town by U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates. Median household income here is $33,173 per year, in the lower quartile of U.S. cities for household income, with a poverty rate of 17.9%. Home values in Fern Forest run a median of $173,800, and the median resident age is 53.6 years. 18.8% of adults here have a bachelor's degree or higher; 37.2% of working-age residents are in the labor force.

Hawaii carries a cost-of-living premium: BEA Regional Price Parities 2024 puts Hawaii at 110.0 on a 100-equals-national-average scale (Well Above Average). A typical two-bedroom carries a HUD Fair Market Rent of $2,076 per month statewide. Statewide, average monthly utility bills in Hawaii run around $280, per EIA 2023 residential energy data. The average commute for Fern Forest workers runs 45.6 minutes, with 80.9% driving alone and 7.1% working from home. On FEMA's National Risk Index, this area rates 98.5 out of 100 for natural-hazard exposure (Very High).

Population

880 residents

Census ACS 2023 - Hawaii

Median Household Income

$33,173 /yr

Poverty 17.9%

Cost of Living Index (state)

110.0 (US=100)

Well Above Average - BEA RPP 2024, Hawaii average

How does Fern Forest compare to other US cities?

Where Fern Forest sits among all US cities (population 1,000+) on each measure, computed live from Census and FBI data.

Household income 4% higher than other cities
Home value 35% pricier than other cities
Median rent 84% pricier than other cities

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

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 Fern Forest'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 Hawaii, breaking ties alphabetically. See the methodology page for the full source-to-figure lineage.

4thIncome percentile

4th percentile nationally for median household income. Source: Census ACS 2023 / FBI UCR 2023.

How Fern Forest's home value compares nationally

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

$173,800 Among the most affordable more affordable than 65% 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%). This entry sits in this band. $175,000–$200,000: 1,229 US cities (8%). Above this entry. $200,000–$225,000: 1,035 US cities (7%). Above this entry. $225,000–$250,000: 976 US cities (6%). Above this entry. $250,000–$275,000: 754 US cities (5%). Above this entry. $275,000–$300,000: 712 US cities (5%). Above this entry. $300,000–$325,000: 521 US cities (3%). Above this entry. $325,000–$350,000: 526 US cities (3%). Above this entry. $350,000–$375,000: 465 US cities (3%). Above this entry. $375,000–$400,000: 393 US cities (3%). Above this entry. $400,000–$425,000: 317 US cities (2%). Above this entry. $425,000–$450,000: 300 US cities (2%). Above this entry. $450,000–$475,000: 307 US cities (2%). Above this entry. $475,000–$500,000: 250 US cities (2%). Above this entry. $500,000–$525,000: 160 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $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. Fern Forest $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 - Fern Forest, HI Fern Forest, HI's reported median household income shown against the U.S. national quintile-share pattern (not Fern Forest, HI-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 Fern Forest, HI median $33,173/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%
Fern Forest, HI'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 Fern Forest, HI. Diagonal = perfect equality.

Key socioeconomic indicators

Bachelor's degree or higher (adults 25+) 18.8%

Census ACS S1501, educational attainment

Poverty rate (households below FPL) 17.9%

Census ACS S1701, poverty status

Labor force participation (adults 16+) 37.2%

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

Population
880
Median Income
$33,173
Median Home Value
$173,800
Median Age
53.6
Poverty Rate
17.9%
Labor force participation
37.2%
Bachelor's Degree+
18.8%

Commute Patterns

How workers travel to work, Census ACS 2023

Average Commute Time
45.6 minutes
Drive Alone
80.9%
Carpool
0.0%
Public Transit
0.0%
Walk
12.1%
Work from Home
7.1%

Based on 282 workers 16 and over.

Monthly Utility Costs

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

Electricity
$220
avg/month
Water & Sewer
$60
avg/month
Total Utilities
$280
estimated/month

Estimates reflect Hawaii 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 Hawaii state average from BEA; rent and hazard risk are county-level figures from HUD and FEMA for the county Fern Forest sits in

Cost of Living Index
110.0
Well Above Average
US average = 100 · BEA RPP 2024
Typical 2-BR Rent
$2,076/mo
HUD Fair Market Rent
County-level FMR estimate
Natural Hazard Risk
98.5 / 100
Very High
FEMA NRI composite score (county)

Similar Cities in Hawaii

Waiahole-Waikane
879 people
Royal Hawaiian Estates
889 people
Punaluu
855 people
Volcano Golf Course
909 people
Naalehu
837 people
Mauna Loa Estates
931 people

Cities of a Similar Size Nationwide

Population-matched peers from other states, closest to Fern Forest's 880 residents (Census ACS 5-Year 2023).

Jacumba, CA
880 people
Franklin, ID
880 people
Borden, IN
880 people
Greenup, KY
880 people
Gibbon, MN
880 people
Havre North, MT
880 people

Cities with a Similar Household Income Nationwide

Median-household-income-matched peers from other states, closest to Fern Forest's $33,173 (Census ACS 5-Year 2023, table B19013).

Doyline, LA
$33,173 median income
Montpelier, LA
$33,173 median income
Damascus, VA
$33,173 median income
Denton, GA
$33,182 median income
Stamps, AR
$33,152 median income
Metcalfe, MS
$33,194 median income

Race & Ethnicity Composition

Race and ethnicity - Fern Forest, HI 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 Fern Forest, HI - Census ACS, OMB race + ethnicity categories RACE, sums to 100% 53.5% 6.5% 38.4% ETHNICITY, Hispanic or Latino (any race) 19.3% White 53.5% Black or African American 1.6% Asian 6.5% American Indian 0.0% Native Hawaiian 0.0% Some other race 0.0% Two or more races 38.4% 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 Fern Forest compares to nearby Hawaii cities

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

City Population Median Household Income
Fern Forest (this city) 880 $33,173
Waiahole-Waikane 879 $80,556
Royal Hawaiian Estates 889 $61,477
Punaluu 855 $88,611
Census ACS 5-year FIPS HI OMB Bulletin 23-01

What do people ask about Fern Forest, HI?

What is the population of Fern Forest, HI? +

Fern Forest, HI has a population of 880 according to U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates.

What is the median household income in Fern Forest, HI? +

The median household income in Fern Forest is $33,173 per year, based on Census ACS 2023 data.

What is the cost of living in Fern Forest? +

BEA does not publish a city-level cost-of-living figure for Fern Forest; the closest available measure is the Hawaii state average, a cost of living index of 110.0 (U.S. average = 100), rated "Well Above Average" based on BEA Regional Price Parities 2024 data. Costs within Hawaii vary by metro area.

What is the median home value in Fern Forest, HI? +

Fern Forest's median home value sits at $173,800, according to Census ACS 2023 estimates.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year 2023, 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.