Census-designated place · Hawaii
Pearl City, Hawaii
Pearl City, census-designated place, in Honolulu County, Hawaii. Pearl City had 44,547 people in the ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates (±1,921). GEOID 1562600.
Residents, 2020-2024
44,547
±1,921 (90% margin)
2020 Census count: 45,295
Median household income
$118,112
±$9,714 (90% margin)
Hawaii: $100,389
Median home value
$901,500
±$15,193 (90% margin)
Hawaii: $839,100
Median gross rent
$2,316
±$127 (90% margin)
Hawaii: $1,971
Where is Pearl City and what county is it in?
Pearl City is a census-designated place: an unincorporated community the Census Bureau draws for counting, with no city government of its own, in Honolulu County, Hawaii. It covers 9.1 square miles of land, 4,967 residents per square mile in 2020.
Pearl City is in the Urban Honolulu, HI metropolitan 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 Pearl City, and is it growing?
The 2020-2024 American Community Survey puts Pearl City's population at 44,547 (±1,921). The 2020 Census counted 45,295 residents.
The Census Bureau publishes yearly population estimates for incorporated places only; Pearl City is a census-designated place, so its figures come from the ACS and the 2020 Census.
| Measure | Pearl City | Honolulu County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total population | 44,547 ±1,921 | 1,001,146 | no clear change |
| Households | 14,963 ±538 | 338,868 | +974 |
| Average household size | 2.95 ±0.09 | 2.85 | −0.19 |
| Housing units | 15,509 ±501 | 374,304 | +953 |
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 Pearl City?
The median resident of Pearl City is 45.8 years old; 18.0% are under 18 and 26.9% are 65 or older. The largest group is non-Hispanic Asian residents at 54.5%, then non-Hispanic residents of two or more races at 20.5%. 16.1% of residents were born outside the United States.
| Measure | Pearl City | Honolulu County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 45.8 ±1.9 | 39.8 | +4.1 |
| Under 18 years | 18.0% ±1.1 pts | 20.6% | – |
| 65 years and over | 26.9% ±1.5 pts | 19.6% | – |
| Male | 50.4% ±1.1 pts | 50.5% | – |
| Hispanic or Latino (any race) | 6.3% ±1.1 pts | 9.4% | −3.2 pts |
| White alone, not Hispanic | 9.8% ±1.2 pts | 17.2% | −1.9 pts |
| Black or African American alone, not Hispanic | 1.8% ±0.6 pts | 2.2% | no clear change |
| Asian alone, not Hispanic | 54.5% ±2.8 pts | 41.6% | no clear change |
| American Indian and Alaska Native alone, not Hispanic | 0.1% ±0.1 pts | 0.1% | – |
| Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander alone, not Hispanic | 6.7% ±1.7 pts | 9.1% | – |
| Two or more races, not Hispanic | 20.5% ±2.4 pts | 20.1% | – |
| Some other race alone, not Hispanic | 0.2% ±0.2 pts | 0.3% | – |
| Born outside the United States | 16.1% ±1.6 pts | 19.6% | +3.9 pts |
| Speak a language other than English at home (age 5+) | 20.6% ±1.8 pts | 26.0% | – |
| Civilian veterans (age 18+) | 10.2% ±1.1 pts | 8.7% | – |
| With a disability | 14.8% ±1.3 pts | 12.5% | – |
| No health insurance coverage | 3.1% ±1.2 pts | 3.3% | +1.6 pts |
| High school graduate or higher (age 25+) | 94.4% ±1.0 pts | 93.2% | – |
| Bachelor's degree or higher (age 25+) | 39.0% ±2.0 pts | 38.5% | +6.2 pts |
| Graduate or professional degree (age 25+) | 11.7% ±1.3 pts | 14.3% | – |
| Lived in the same house a year earlier | 90.6% ±1.7 pts | 86.6% | – |
| Moved from another state in the past year | 2.2% ±0.6 pts | 4.4% | – |
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 Pearl City earn?
Half of Pearl City's 14,963 households earn less than $118,112 a year (±$9,714), against $106,195 in Honolulu County and $100,389 in Hawaii. In 2015-2019 it was $123,140 in 2024 dollars; the margins of error cannot tell the two periods apart. 5.8% of residents live below the poverty line.
| Measure | Pearl City | Honolulu County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median household income | $118,112 ±$9,714 | $106,195 | no clear change |
| Mean household income | $137,795 ±$5,790 | $136,601 | – |
| Per capita income | $47,766 ±$1,633 | $47,516 | no clear change |
| People below the poverty line | 5.8% ±1.2 pts | 9.2% | +1.9 pts |
| Children under 18 below the poverty line | 7.6% ±3.3 pts | 11.3% | +4.0 pts |
| Households receiving SNAP | 6.6% ±1.1 pts | 10.2% | – |
| Households with a computer | 94.6% ±1.2 pts | 96.4% | – |
| Households with a broadband subscription | 92.3% ±1.5 pts | 92.4% | – |
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 Pearl City?
Owners occupy 71.5% of Pearl City's occupied homes and renters 28.5%. The median owner-occupied home is valued at $901,500 by its owner (±$15,193). The median renter pays $2,316 a month including utilities, and 44.0% of renters pay 35% or more of their income on rent.
| Measure | Pearl City | Honolulu County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median home value (owner-occupied) | $901,500 ±$15,193 | $897,500 | +$80,627 |
| Median gross rent | $2,316 ±$127 | $2,083 | no clear change |
| Renters paying 35% or more of income on rent | 44.0% ±5.4 pts | 47.2% | no clear change |
| Median monthly owner costs, with a mortgage | $2,902 ±$141 | $3,111 | – |
| Owner-occupied homes | 71.5% ±2.3 pts | 59.8% | no clear change |
| Renter-occupied homes | 28.5% ±2.3 pts | 40.2% | – |
| Housing units | 15,509 ±501 | 374,304 | +953 |
| Homeowner vacancy rate | 1.2% ±0.8 pts | 0.9% | – |
| Rental vacancy rate | 3.6% ±2.0 pts | 5.6% | – |
| Single-family detached homes | 63.3% ±2.2 pts | 45.3% | – |
| Mobile homes | 0.3% ±0.2 pts | 0.2% | – |
| Built 2020 or later | 0.1% ±0.1 pts | 1.1% | – |
| Built 2010 to 2019 | 3.6% ±0.7 pts | 8.3% | – |
| Built 1939 or earlier | 1.1% ±0.4 pts | 3.0% | – |
| Households with no vehicle | 7.3% ±1.3 pts | 9.7% | – |
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 Pearl City work and get to work?
71.6% of Pearl City's workers drive alone and 9.1% work from home. The average trip to work takes 26.6 minutes. The unemployment rate in 2020-2024 averaged 2.8%.
| Measure | Pearl City | Honolulu County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| In the labor force (age 16+) | 60.8% ±1.9 pts | 65.2% | – |
| Unemployment rate | 2.8% ±0.7 pts | 4.7% | no clear change |
| Drove alone to work | 71.6% ±2.3 pts | 63.4% | – |
| Carpooled | 13.6% ±1.8 pts | 13.8% | – |
| Public transportation | 2.3% ±0.7 pts | 4.9% | – |
| Walked | 1.5% ±0.5 pts | 5.2% | – |
| Worked from home | 9.1% ±1.4 pts | 9.2% | +3.5 pts |
| Mean travel time to work | 26.6 min ±1.0 | 26.7 min | −3.1 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 Pearl City?
16 census tracts lie mostly in Pearl City, and 1 more reaches into it (2020 census blocks). Their median household incomes run from $46,739 (Tract 80.01) to $168,846 (Tract 78.09).
| Tract | Residents, 2020-2024 | Median household income |
|---|---|---|
| Tract 80.05Honolulu County | 6,161 | $128,894 |
| Tract 78.14Honolulu County | 3,292 | $162,969 |
| Tract 78.13Honolulu County | 3,132 | $139,000 |
| Tract 80.09Honolulu County | 2,993 | $61,994 |
| Tract 80.11Honolulu County | 2,953 | $132,167 |
| Tract 78.09Honolulu County | 2,901 | $168,846 |
| Tract 80.12Honolulu County | 2,876 | $105,000 |
| Tract 80.01Honolulu County | 2,794 | $46,739 |
| Tract 80.02Honolulu County | 2,649 | $115,859 |
| Tract 80.10Honolulu County | 2,439 | $131,875 |
| Tract 80.13Honolulu County | 2,323 | $133,958 |
| Tract 78.12Honolulu County | 2,165 | $106,536 |
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 Pearl City) · Census block assignment files
How does Pearl City compare with other places in Hawaii?
Pearl City ranks 31st 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) | 4th | 126 |
| Residents per square mile | 25th | 126 |
| Median household income | 31st | 125 |
| Per capita income | 33rd | 126 |
| Median home value | 37th | 120 |
| Median gross rent | 36th | 119 |
| Poverty rate | 85th | 99 |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 30th | 125 |
| Median age | 27th | 126 |
| Owner-occupied share | 59th | 119 |
| Work from home | 48th | 86 |
| Travel time to work | 77th | 126 |
Pearl City's figures with every place in Hawaii (CSV)
Every place in Hawaii, sortable · Compare Pearl City 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 Pearl City?
5 of the 57 figures for Pearl City 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 Pearl City 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.