City profile · Hawaii · Census ACS 2023

Hilo, HI

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

48,223
Residents
$78,713
Median income
$455,100
Median home
$2,076
Median rent (state)

Hilo - the verdict

Out of every US city with 1,000+ residents, Hilo places in the 60th percentile for household income. Source: Census ACS.

60th
percentile, household income
82nd
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: Hilo, HI

Hawaii's Hilo is a small city, with 48,223 residents per the latest Census Bureau ACS figures. The typical household in Hilo brings in $78,713 a year, above the median for U.S. cities on this measure, with a poverty rate of 10.2%. Hilo's housing stock carries a median value of $455,100, and the median resident age is 42.6 years. About 34.0% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher, while 55.0% of working-age residents are in the labor force.

The annual average temperature per NOAA climate normals runs 74.0°F with 120.4 inches of precipitation per year.

Hawaii carries a cost-of-living premium: on BEA's 100-equals-national-average cost index, Hawaii scores 110.0 (Well Above Average), per the 2024 Regional Price Parities release. A typical two-bedroom carries a HUD Fair Market Rent of $2,076 per month statewide. Monthly utility costs average around $280 across Hawaii, per EIA 2023 residential energy estimates. The average commute for Hilo workers runs 18.4 minutes, with 70.8% driving alone and 8.5% working from home. On FEMA's National Risk Index, this area rates 98.5 out of 100 for natural-hazard exposure (Very High).

Population

48,223 residents

Census ACS 2023 - Hawaii

Median Household Income

$78,713 /yr

Poverty 10.2%

Cost of Living Index (state)

110.0 (US=100)

Well Above Average - BEA RPP 2024, Hawaii average

How does Hilo compare to other US cities?

Here's how Hilo stacks up against the full field of US cities (population 1,000+), computed live from Census and FBI data.

Household income 60% higher than other cities
Home value 82% 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 Hilo'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.

60thIncome percentile

60th percentile nationally for median household income. Source: Census ACS 2023 / FBI UCR 2023.

How Hilo's home value compares nationally

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

$455,100 18th percentile more affordable than 18% 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%). This entry sits in this band. $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. Hilo $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 - Hilo, HI Hilo, HI's reported median household income shown against the U.S. national quintile-share pattern (not Hilo, 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 Hilo, HI median $78,713/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%
Hilo, 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 Hilo, HI. Diagonal = perfect equality.

Key socioeconomic indicators

Bachelor's degree or higher (adults 25+) 34.0%

Census ACS S1501, educational attainment

Poverty rate (households below FPL) 10.2%

Census ACS S1701, poverty status

Labor force participation (adults 16+) 55.0%

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

Population
48,223
Median Income
$78,713
Median Home Value
$455,100
Median Age
42.6
Poverty Rate
10.2%
Labor force participation
55.0%
Bachelor's Degree+
34.0%

Climate

Avg Temperature
74.0°F
Annual Precipitation
120.4"
Annual Snowfall
N/A

Schools

Total Schools
16
Public schools in this city

Commute Patterns

How workers travel to work, Census ACS 2023

Average Commute Time
18.4 minutes
Drive Alone
70.8%
Carpool
15.1%
Public Transit
0.8%
Walk
2.8%
Work from Home
8.5%
Other
2.0%

Based on 21,279 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 Hilo 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

East Honolulu
50,961 people
Pearl
45,079 people
Waipahu
39,871 people
Kailua CDP (Honolulu County)
39,762 people
Kaneohe
35,945 people
Mililani
27,495 people

Cities of a Similar Size Nationwide

Population-matched peers from other states, closest to Hilo's 48,223 residents (Census ACS 5-Year 2023).

Niagara Falls, NY
48,198 people
Cleveland, TN
48,185 people
Cerritos, CA
48,340 people
Fort Pierce, FL
48,094 people
Prescott Valley, AZ
48,048 people
San Luis Obispo, CA
48,039 people

Cities with a Similar Household Income Nationwide

Median-household-income-matched peers from other states, closest to Hilo's $78,713 (Census ACS 5-Year 2023, table B19013).

Indio, CA
$78,709 median income
Taneytown, MD
$78,726 median income
Auburn Hills, MI
$78,727 median income
Derby, CO
$78,696 median income
Conning Towers-Nautilus Park, CT
$78,738 median income
Weatherford, TX
$78,738 median income

Race & Ethnicity Composition

Race and ethnicity - Hilo, 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 Hilo, HI - Census ACS, OMB race + ethnicity categories RACE, sums to 100% 16.4% 31.8% 13.9% 35.9% ETHNICITY, Hispanic or Latino (any race) 11.4% White 16.4% Black or African American 0.8% Asian 31.8% American Indian 0.1% Native Hawaiian 13.9% Some other race 1.2% Two or more races 35.9% 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 Hilo 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
Hilo (this city) 48,223 $78,713
East Honolulu 50,961 $158,398
Pearl 45,079 $114,682
Waipahu 39,871 $98,633
Census ACS 5-year FIPS HI NOAA Normals NCES CCD OMB Bulletin 23-01

What do people ask about Hilo, HI?

What is the population of Hilo, HI? +

Hilo, HI has a population of 48,223 according to U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates.

What is the median household income in Hilo, HI? +

Hilo households earn a median of $78,713 annually, based on Census ACS 2023 data.

What is the cost of living in Hilo? +

BEA does not publish a city-level cost-of-living figure for Hilo; 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 Hilo, HI? +

Hilo's median home value sits at $455,100, according to Census ACS 2023 estimates.

What is the climate like in Hilo? +

Hilo has an average annual temperature of 74.0°F, 120.4 inches of precipitation. Source: NOAA Climate Normals.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year 2023, NOAA Climate Normals, NCES CCD, 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.