City profile · Hawaii · Census ACS 2023

Kula, HI

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

6,557
Residents
$91,476
Median income
$1,117,300
Median home
$2,624
Median rent (state)

Kula - the verdict

Nationally, Kula sits in the 72nd percentile for household income among US cities with a population of 1,000 or more. Source: Census ACS.

72nd
percentile, household income
98th
percentile, home value
94th
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: Kula, HI

6,557 people live in Kula, Hawaii - a small town by U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates. Median household income here is $91,476 per year, above the median for U.S. cities on this measure, with a poverty rate of 7.3%. Home values in Kula run a median of $1,117,300, and the median resident age is 49.9 years. 35.7% of adults here have a bachelor's degree or higher; 57.6% of working-age residents are in the labor force.

The city is served by 1 public schools according to NCES Common Core of Data.

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). HUD Fair Market Rent for a typical two-bedroom in this state is $2,624 per month. Statewide, average monthly utility bills in Hawaii run around $280, per EIA 2023 residential energy data. Natural-hazard exposure scores 93.1 out of 100 on FEMA's National Risk Index (Very High).

Population

6,557 residents

Census ACS 2023 - Hawaii

Median Household Income

$91,476 /yr

Poverty 7.3%

Cost of Living Index (state)

110.0 (US=100)

Well Above Average - BEA RPP 2024, Hawaii average

How does Kula compare to other US cities?

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

Household income 72% higher than other cities
Home value 98% pricier than other cities
Median rent 94% 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

Each percentile compares Kula against every qualifying US city; each in-state rank narrows that to Hawaii only. Full formula and direction notes: methodology.

Hawaii-relative analysis

Median Home Value places Kula toward the top of Hawaii's cities

Among the 150 Hawaii cities PlainCities tracks with reported median home value data, Kula ranks #21 - the 86th percentile within the state. This is a different, narrower cut than the nationwide percentiles above: it compares Kula only against its own state's cities, not the full US field.

Median Household Income
#75 of 155
52nd percentile in Hawaii
Median Gross Rent
#56 of 160
51st percentile in Hawaii
Median Home Value
#21 of 150
86th percentile in Hawaii
Poverty Rate
#67 of 160
57th percentile in Hawaii
Bachelor's Degree or Higher
#56 of 160
65th percentile in Hawaii

Ranked by raw value (highest first); a higher rank is not automatically "better" for every measure, see each metric's own context above. This is a comparison within Hawaii only, not a livability score. See the methodology for the source and calculation.

72ndIncome percentile

72nd percentile nationally for median household income. Source: Census ACS 2023 / FBI UCR 2023.

How Kula's home value compares nationally

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

$1,117,300 2nd percentile more affordable than 2% 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%). Below this entry. $525,000–$550,000: 156 US cities (1%). Below this entry. $550,000–$575,000: 172 US cities (1%). Below this entry. $575,000–$600,000: 172 US cities (1%). Below this entry. $600,000–$625,000: 163 US cities (1%). Below this entry. $625,000–$650,000: 167 US cities (1%). Below this entry. $650,000–$675,000: 135 US cities (1%). Below this entry. $675,000–$700,000: 101 US cities (1%). Below this entry. $700,000–$725,000: 95 US cities (1%). Below this entry. $725,000–$750,000: 71 US cities (0%). Below this entry. $750,000–$775,000: 65 US cities (0%). Below this entry. $775,000–$800,000: 70 US cities (0%). Below this entry. $800,000–$825,000: 57 US cities (0%). Below this entry. $825,000–$850,000: 67 US cities (0%). Below this entry. $850,000–$875,000: 60 US cities (0%). Below this entry. $875,000–$900,000: 58 US cities (0%). Below this entry. $900,000–$925,000: 47 US cities (0%). Below this entry. $925,000–$950,000: 37 US cities (0%). Below this entry. $950,000–$975,000: 31 US cities (0%). Below this entry. $975,000–$1,000,000: 470 US cities (3%). Below this entry. $1,000,000–$1,025,000: 0 US cities (0%). This entry sits in this band. Kula $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 - Kula, HI Kula, HI's reported median household income shown against the U.S. national quintile-share pattern (not Kula, 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 Kula, HI median $91,476/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%
Kula, 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 Kula, HI. Diagonal = perfect equality.

Key socioeconomic indicators

Bachelor's degree or higher (adults 25+) 35.7%

Census ACS S1501, educational attainment

Poverty rate (households below FPL) 7.3%

Census ACS S1701, poverty status

Labor force participation (adults 16+) 57.6%

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

Population
6,557
Median Income
$91,476
Median Home Value
$1,117,300
Median Age
49.9
Poverty Rate
7.3%
Labor force participation
57.6%
Bachelor's Degree+
35.7%

Schools

Total Schools
1
Public schools in this city

Commute Patterns

How workers travel to work, Census ACS 2023

Drive Alone
68.4%
Carpool
7.3%
Public Transit
0.4%
Walk
7.1%
Work from Home
13.6%
Other
3.2%

Based on 2,970 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 Kula sits in

Cost of Living Index
110.0
Well Above Average
US average = 100 · BEA RPP 2024
Typical 2-BR Rent
$2,624/mo
HUD Fair Market Rent
County-level FMR estimate
Natural Hazard Risk
93.1 / 100
Very High
FEMA NRI composite score (county)

Similar Cities in Hawaii

Wailea
6,571 people
Kahaluu-Keauhou
6,670 people
West Loch Estate
6,441 people
Napili-Honokowai
6,897 people
East Kapolei
6,200 people
Ewa Villages
6,918 people

Cities of a Similar Size Nationwide

Population-matched peers from other states, closest to Kula's 6,557 residents (Census ACS 5-Year 2023).

Franklin, LA
6,557 people
Pratt, KS
6,559 people
Valley City, ND
6,554 people
Carbondale, CO
6,553 people
St. John, MO
6,562 people
East Greenbush, NY
6,562 people

Cities with a Similar Household Income Nationwide

Median-household-income-matched peers from other states, closest to Kula's $91,476 (Census ACS 5-Year 2023, table B19013).

Wiscasset, ME
$91,477 median income
Rock Hill, MO
$91,477 median income
Jones Valley, CA
$91,471 median income
Rossville, MD
$91,469 median income
Bendena, KS
$91,488 median income
Austin, TX
$91,461 median income

Race & Ethnicity Composition

Race and ethnicity - Kula, 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 Kula, HI - Census ACS, OMB race + ethnicity categories RACE, sums to 100% 55.6% 17.9% 6.9% 13.6% ETHNICITY, Hispanic or Latino (any race) 7.7% White 55.6% Black or African American 0.0% Asian 17.9% American Indian 0.7% Native Hawaiian 5.2% Some other race 6.9% Two or more races 13.6% 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 Kula 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
Kula (this city) 6,557 $91,476
Wailea 6,571 $89,375
Kahaluu-Keauhou 6,670 $93,594
West Loch Estate 6,441 $124,009
Census ACS 5-year FIPS HI NCES CCD OMB Bulletin 23-01

What do people ask about Kula, HI?

What is the population of Kula, HI? +

Kula, HI has a population of 6,557 according to U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates.

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

Median annual household income in Kula runs $91,476, based on Census ACS 2023 data.

What is the cost of living in Kula? +

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

The median home value in Kula is $1,117,300, according to Census ACS 2023 estimates.

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

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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.