Census-designated place · Hawaii
Hilo, Hawaii
Hilo, census-designated place, in Hawaii County, Hawaii. Hilo had 50,404 people in the ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates (±2,228). GEOID 1514650.
Residents, 2020-2024
50,404
±2,228 (90% margin)
2020 Census count: 44,186
Median household income
$81,779
±$7,098 (90% margin)
Hawaii: $100,389
Median home value
$483,000
±$14,775 (90% margin)
Hawaii: $839,100
Median gross rent
$1,427
±$89 (90% margin)
Hawaii: $1,971
Where is Hilo and what county is it in?
Hilo is a census-designated place: an unincorporated community the Census Bureau draws for counting, with no city government of its own, in Hawaii County, Hawaii. It covers 53.6 square miles of land, 824 residents per square mile in 2020.
Hilo is in the Hilo-Kailua, HI micropolitan statistical area (Census Bureau delineation, July 2023).
Source: 2024 Gazetteer and 2020 place-by-county files, U.S. Census Bureau · Census reference files
How many people live in Hilo, and is it growing?
The 2020-2024 American Community Survey puts Hilo's population at 50,404 (±2,228). The 2020 Census counted 44,186 residents.
The Census Bureau publishes yearly population estimates for incorporated places only; Hilo is a census-designated place, so its figures come from the ACS and the 2020 Census.
| Measure | Hilo | Hawaii County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total population | 50,404 ±2,228 | 205,769 | +5,348 |
| Households | 17,750 ±685 | 74,072 | +1,739 |
| Average household size | 2.76 ±0.10 | 2.74 | no clear change |
| Housing units | 19,265 ±687 | 90,735 | +907 |
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026); Census PEP Vintage 2025 (SUB-EST2025, CO-EST2025); 2020 Census P.L. 94-171 · Check it at data.census.gov
Who lives in Hilo?
The median resident of Hilo is 42.7 years old; 20.0% are under 18 and 22.7% are 65 or older. The largest group is non-Hispanic Asian residents at 34.2%, then non-Hispanic residents of two or more races at 26.4%. 11.0% of residents were born outside the United States.
| Measure | Hilo | Hawaii County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 42.7 ±1.3 | 44.3 | +2.4 |
| Under 18 years | 20.0% ±1.5 pts | 20.6% | – |
| 65 years and over | 22.7% ±1.5 pts | 23.8% | – |
| Male | 47.7% ±1.1 pts | 49.7% | – |
| Hispanic or Latino (any race) | 11.0% ±1.6 pts | 11.7% | no clear change |
| White alone, not Hispanic | 14.3% ±1.6 pts | 29.9% | −2.6 pts |
| Black or African American alone, not Hispanic | 0.7% ±0.5 pts | 0.8% | – |
| Asian alone, not Hispanic | 34.2% ±2.6 pts | 20.2% | no clear change |
| American Indian and Alaska Native alone, not Hispanic | 0.0% ±0.1 pts | 0.2% | – |
| Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander alone, not Hispanic | 12.7% ±1.8 pts | 11.7% | – |
| Two or more races, not Hispanic | 26.4% ±2.4 pts | 24.9% | – |
| Some other race alone, not Hispanic | 0.6% ±0.6 pts | 0.6% | – |
| Born outside the United States | 11.0% ±1.6 pts | 11.8% | +3.4 pts |
| Speak a language other than English at home (age 5+) | 22.7% ±1.9 pts | 22.6% | – |
| Civilian veterans (age 18+) | 6.8% ±0.9 pts | 7.3% | – |
| With a disability | 15.4% ±1.4 pts | 16.0% | – |
| No health insurance coverage | 2.9% ±0.8 pts | 4.5% | no clear change |
| High school graduate or higher (age 25+) | 94.2% ±1.2 pts | 93.2% | – |
| Bachelor's degree or higher (age 25+) | 34.6% ±2.1 pts | 31.4% | no clear change |
| Graduate or professional degree (age 25+) | 12.9% ±1.4 pts | 12.3% | – |
| Lived in the same house a year earlier | 87.5% ±2.0 pts | 89.3% | – |
| Moved from another state in the past year | 3.4% ±1.1 pts | 3.3% | – |
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) (Data Profiles DP02, DP05) · Check it at data.census.gov
What do households in Hilo earn?
Half of Hilo's 17,750 households earn less than $81,779 a year (±$7,098), against $78,639 in Hawaii County and $100,389 in Hawaii. In 2015-2019 it was $77,882 in 2024 dollars; the margins of error cannot tell the two periods apart. 14.5% of residents live below the poverty line.
| Measure | Hilo | Hawaii County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median household income | $81,779 ±$7,098 | $78,639 | no clear change |
| Mean household income | $111,359 ±$8,328 | $106,719 | – |
| Per capita income | $41,708 ±$3,038 | $39,739 | +$4,892 |
| People below the poverty line | 14.5% ±2.3 pts | 14.9% | no clear change |
| Children under 18 below the poverty line | 16.8% ±4.7 pts | 18.2% | −8.4 pts |
| Households receiving SNAP | 20.0% ±2.4 pts | 17.8% | – |
| Households with a computer | 94.9% ±1.6 pts | 95.5% | – |
| Households with a broadband subscription | 91.4% ±1.6 pts | 91.1% | – |
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) (Data Profile DP03) · Check it at data.census.gov
What does housing cost in Hilo?
Owners occupy 66.1% of Hilo's occupied homes and renters 33.9%. The median owner-occupied home is valued at $483,000 by its owner (±$14,775). The median renter pays $1,427 a month including utilities, and 41.1% of renters pay 35% or more of their income on rent.
| Measure | Hilo | Hawaii County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median home value (owner-occupied) | $483,000 ±$14,775 | $519,300 | +$77,856 |
| Median gross rent | $1,427 ±$89 | $1,510 | +$141 |
| Renters paying 35% or more of income on rent | 41.1% ±6.2 pts | 40.3% | no clear change |
| Median monthly owner costs, with a mortgage | $2,060 ±$116 | $2,157 | – |
| Owner-occupied homes | 66.1% ±2.7 pts | 74.0% | +5.4 pts |
| Renter-occupied homes | 33.9% ±2.7 pts | 26.0% | – |
| Housing units | 19,265 ±687 | 90,735 | +907 |
| Homeowner vacancy rate | 0.3% ±0.5 pts | 1.4% | – |
| Rental vacancy rate | 6.5% ±2.7 pts | 10.6% | – |
| Single-family detached homes | 77.4% ±2.5 pts | 77.0% | – |
| Mobile homes | 0.4% ±0.4 pts | 0.4% | – |
| Built 2020 or later | 0.7% ±0.4 pts | 1.2% | – |
| Built 2010 to 2019 | 6.2% ±1.6 pts | 8.7% | – |
| Built 1939 or earlier | 5.2% ±1.3 pts | 3.7% | – |
| Households with no vehicle | 8.9% ±1.8 pts | 4.8% | – |
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) (Data Profile DP04) · Check it at data.census.gov
How do people in Hilo work and get to work?
71.8% of Hilo's workers drive alone and 8.9% work from home. The average trip to work takes 20.3 minutes. The unemployment rate in 2020-2024 averaged 6.9%.
| Measure | Hilo | Hawaii County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| In the labor force (age 16+) | 59.4% ±1.9 pts | 56.5% | – |
| Unemployment rate | 6.9% ±1.7 pts | 6.0% | no clear change |
| Drove alone to work | 71.8% ±3.0 pts | 68.2% | – |
| Carpooled | 13.5% ±2.2 pts | 14.8% | – |
| Public transportation | 0.9% ±0.5 pts | 0.7% | – |
| Walked | 2.3% ±0.7 pts | 1.9% | – |
| Worked from home | 8.9% ±2.0 pts | 12.1% | +2.9 pts |
| Mean travel time to work | 20.3 min ±1.4 | 27.4 min | +1.9 min |
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) (Data Profile DP03) · Check it at data.census.gov
What census tracts are in Hilo?
9 census tracts lie mostly in Hilo, and 1 more reaches into it (2020 census blocks). Their median household incomes run from $44,080 (Tract 203) to $128,182 (Tract 208.01).
| Tract | Residents, 2020-2024 | Median household income |
|---|---|---|
| Tract 208.02Hawaii County | 7,978 | $97,408 |
| Tract 206Hawaii County | 7,053 | $82,644 |
| Tract 205Hawaii County | 6,567 | $65,972 |
| Tract 209Hawaii County | 5,481 | $113,856 |
| Tract 207.01Hawaii County | 5,200 | $76,629 |
| Tract 208.01Hawaii County | 5,216 | $128,182 |
| Tract 207.02Hawaii County | 4,896 | $89,063 |
| Tract 203Hawaii County | 4,656 | $44,080 |
| Tract 204Hawaii County | 3,259 | $51,212 |
| Tract 202.02Hawaii County | 2,185 | $66,605 |
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026); 2020 block assignment files (tract share = share of the tract's census blocks in Hilo) · Census block assignment files
How does Hilo compare with other places in Hawaii?
Hilo ranks 98th of 125 places in Hawaii with 1,000 or more residents and a reliable estimate, by median household income.
| Measure | Rank | Of |
|---|---|---|
| Population (ACS 2020-2024) | 3rd | 126 |
| Residents per square mile | 79th | 126 |
| Median household income | 98th | 125 |
| Per capita income | 58th | 126 |
| Median home value | 97th | 120 |
| Median gross rent | 97th | 119 |
| Poverty rate | 27th | 99 |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 43rd | 125 |
| Median age | 58th | 126 |
| Owner-occupied share | 81st | 119 |
| Work from home | 50th | 86 |
| Travel time to work | 104th | 126 |
Hilo's figures with every place in Hawaii (CSV)
Every place in Hawaii, sortable · Compare Hilo with other places
Source: PlainCities ranks computed from the American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) and PEP Vintage 2025 · How ranks are computed
How reliable are the figures for Hilo?
5 of the 57 figures for Hilo on this page carry a coefficient of variation over 40% and are marked with a ring: they come from a small sample, so read them as rough.
The American Community Survey samples about one household in eight over five years, so every figure is an estimate with a 90% margin of error (shown under each value). A ring marks an estimate whose coefficient of variation is over 40%. A change is called only when the gap between the two periods is larger than their combined 90% margin (the square root of the sum of the two squared margins), the Census Bureau's test. How to read a margin of error.
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026): margins of error as published · ACS technical documentation
How these figures are made: methodology and release checks · reading a margin of error · every state · corrections
Not on this page: crime, weather and schools for Hilo are other agencies' records. Crime: the FBI's Crime Data Explorer · climate: NOAA's U.S. Climate Normals · schools: the National Center for Education Statistics' school search.