City profile · Hawaii · Census ACS 2023

Punaluu, HI

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

855
Residents
$88,611
Median income
$828,700
Median home
$2,642
Median rent (state)

Punaluu - the verdict

Measured against every US city with at least 1,000 residents, Punaluu lands in the 70th percentile for household income. Source: Census ACS.

70th
percentile, household income
95th
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: Punaluu, HI

855 people live in Punaluu, Hawaii - a small town by U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates. The typical household in Punaluu brings in $88,611 a year, above the median for U.S. cities on this measure, with a poverty rate of 12.3%. Punaluu's housing stock carries a median value of $828,700, and the median resident age is 40.0 years. 28.6% of adults here have a bachelor's degree or higher; 61.5% of working-age residents are in the labor force.

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. Statewide, HUD pegs Fair Market Rent for a two-bedroom unit at $2,642 monthly. Statewide, average monthly utility bills in Hawaii run around $280, per EIA 2023 residential energy data. On FEMA's National Risk Index, this area rates 98.8 out of 100 for natural-hazard exposure (Very High).

Population

855 residents

Census ACS 2023 - Hawaii

Median Household Income

$88,611 /yr

Poverty 12.3%

Cost of Living Index (state)

110.0 (US=100)

Well Above Average - BEA RPP 2024, Hawaii average

How does Punaluu compare to other US cities?

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

Household income 70% higher than other cities
Home value 95% 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

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 Punaluu'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.

70thIncome percentile

70th percentile nationally for median household income. Source: Census ACS 2023 / FBI UCR 2023.

How Punaluu's home value compares nationally

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

$828,700 5th percentile more affordable than 5% 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%). This entry sits in this band. $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. Punaluu $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 - Punaluu, HI Punaluu, HI's reported median household income shown against the U.S. national quintile-share pattern (not Punaluu, 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 Punaluu, HI median $88,611/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%
Punaluu, 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 Punaluu, HI. Diagonal = perfect equality.

Key socioeconomic indicators

Bachelor's degree or higher (adults 25+) 28.6%

Census ACS S1501, educational attainment

Poverty rate (households below FPL) 12.3%

Census ACS S1701, poverty status

Labor force participation (adults 16+) 61.5%

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

Population
855
Median Income
$88,611
Median Home Value
$828,700
Median Age
40.0
Poverty Rate
12.3%
Labor force participation
61.5%
Bachelor's Degree+
28.6%

Commute Patterns

How workers travel to work, Census ACS 2023

Drive Alone
63.8%
Carpool
17.1%
Public Transit
1.2%
Walk
0.0%
Work from Home
17.8%

Based on 409 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 Punaluu sits in

Cost of Living Index
110.0
Well Above Average
US average = 100 · BEA RPP 2024
Typical 2-BR Rent
$2,642/mo
HUD Fair Market Rent
County-level FMR estimate
Natural Hazard Risk
98.8 / 100
Very High
FEMA NRI composite score (county)

Similar Cities in Hawaii

Naalehu
837 people
Waiahole-Waikane
879 people
Fern Forest
880 people
Royal Hawaiian Estates
889 people
Volcano Golf Course
909 people
Hana
793 people

Cities of a Similar Size Nationwide

Population-matched peers from other states, closest to Punaluu's 855 residents (Census ACS 5-Year 2023).

Mounds, IL
855 people
Derma, MS
855 people
McLean, TX
855 people
Mountain City, TX
855 people
Henefer, UT
855 people
Coal Hill, AR
856 people

Cities with a Similar Household Income Nationwide

Median-household-income-matched peers from other states, closest to Punaluu's $88,611 (Census ACS 5-Year 2023, table B19013).

Monticello, IL
$88,611 median income
Lakeridge, NV
$88,611 median income
Tylersburg, PA
$88,611 median income
Byers, CO
$88,607 median income
Hudsonville, MI
$88,606 median income
Fort Shawnee, OH
$88,606 median income

Race & Ethnicity Composition

Race and ethnicity - Punaluu, 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 Punaluu, HI - Census ACS, OMB race + ethnicity categories RACE, sums to 100% 37.5% 10.6% 14.5% 36.0% ETHNICITY, Hispanic or Latino (any race) 9.4% White 37.5% Black or African American 0.2% Asian 10.6% American Indian 0.3% Native Hawaiian 14.5% Some other race 0.7% Two or more races 36.0% 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 Punaluu 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
Punaluu (this city) 855 $88,611
Naalehu 837 $70,469
Waiahole-Waikane 879 $80,556
Fern Forest 880 $33,173
Census ACS 5-year FIPS HI OMB Bulletin 23-01

What do people ask about Punaluu, HI?

What is the population of Punaluu, HI? +

855 people live in Punaluu, HI according to U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates.

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

The median household income in Punaluu is $88,611 per year, based on Census ACS 2023 data.

What is the cost of living in Punaluu? +

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

Homes in Punaluu carry a median value of $828,700, 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.