City profile · Hawaii · Census ACS 2023

Urban Honolulu, HI

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

346,323
Residents
$85,428
Median income
$834,100
Median home
$2,642
Median rent (state)

Urban Honolulu - the verdict

Measured against every US city with at least 1,000 residents, Urban Honolulu lands in the 67th percentile for household income. Source: Census ACS.

67th
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: Urban Honolulu, HI

346,323 people live in Urban Honolulu, Hawaii - a mid-sized U.S. city by U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates. Median household income here is $85,428 per year, above the median for U.S. cities on this measure, with a poverty rate of 7.9%. Typical homes in Urban Honolulu are valued around $834,100, and the median resident age is 42.9 years. 40.8% of adults here have a bachelor's degree or higher; 59.0% of working-age residents are in the labor force.

Hawaii carries a cost-of-living premium: the state registers 110.0 on a 100-equals-national-average index (Well Above Average) per BEA Regional Price Parities 2024. HUD Fair Market Rent for a typical two-bedroom in this state is $2,642 per month. Monthly utility costs average around $280 across Hawaii, per EIA 2023 residential energy estimates. Commute times here average 20.3 minutes, with 55.7% driving alone and 8.9% working from home, per Census ACS commuting data. Natural-hazard exposure scores 98.8 out of 100 on FEMA's National Risk Index (Very High).

Population

346,323 residents

Census ACS 2023 - Hawaii

Median Household Income

$85,428 /yr

Poverty 7.9%

Cost of Living Index (state)

110.0 (US=100)

Well Above Average - BEA RPP 2024, Hawaii average

How does Urban Honolulu compare to other US cities?

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

Household income 67% 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

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

Hawaii-relative analysis

Bachelor's Degree or Higher sits close to the middle of Hawaii's city distribution

Among the 160 Hawaii cities PlainCities tracks with reported bachelor's degree or higher data, Urban Honolulu ranks #41 - the 74th percentile within the state. This is a different, narrower cut than the nationwide percentiles above: it compares Urban Honolulu only against its own state's cities, not the full US field.

Median Household Income
#93 of 155
40th percentile in Hawaii
Median Gross Rent
#1 of 160
66th percentile in Hawaii
Median Home Value
#56 of 150
63rd percentile in Hawaii
Poverty Rate
#60 of 160
63rd percentile in Hawaii
Bachelor's Degree or Higher
#41 of 160
74th 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.

67thIncome percentile

67th percentile nationally for median household income. Source: Census ACS 2023 / FBI UCR 2023.

How Urban Honolulu's home value compares nationally

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

$834,100 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. Urban Honolulu $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 - Urban Honolulu, HI Urban Honolulu, HI's reported median household income shown against the U.S. national quintile-share pattern (not Urban Honolulu, 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 Urban Honolulu, HI median $85,428/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%
Urban Honolulu, 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 Urban Honolulu, HI. Diagonal = perfect equality.

Key socioeconomic indicators

Bachelor's degree or higher (adults 25+) 40.8%

Census ACS S1501, educational attainment

Poverty rate (households below FPL) 7.9%

Census ACS S1701, poverty status

Labor force participation (adults 16+) 59.0%

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

Population
346,323
Median Income
$85,428
Median Home Value
$834,100
Median Age
42.9
Poverty Rate
7.9%
Labor force participation
59.0%
Bachelor's Degree+
40.8%

Population Change

Annual U.S. Census Bureau Population Estimates Program (PEP) estimates, 2020–2025

See the fastest-growing cities →
340,000 residents342,000 residents344,000 residents346,000 residents348,000 residents350,000 residents 202020212022202320242025 348,449 residents 341,868 residents ▼ -1.9%
Urban Honolulu's Census PEP population estimates, 2020–2025.

Commute Patterns

How workers travel to work, Census ACS 2023

Average Commute Time
20.3 minutes
Drive Alone
55.7%
Carpool
14.2%
Public Transit
7.9%
Walk
7.7%
Work from Home
8.9%
Other
5.6%

Based on 178,077 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 Urban Honolulu 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

East Honolulu
50,961 people
Hilo
48,223 people
Pearl
45,079 people
Waipahu
39,871 people
Kailua CDP (Honolulu County)
39,762 people
Kaneohe
35,945 people

Cities of a Similar Size Nationwide

Population-matched peers from other states, closest to Urban Honolulu's 346,323 residents (Census ACS 5-Year 2023).

Anaheim, CA
344,553 people
Cleveland, OH
367,523 people
Henderson, NV
324,523 people
Lexington-Fayette urban county, KY
321,122 people
San Juan zona urbana, PR
320,691 people
Stockton, CA
320,470 people

Cities with a Similar Household Income Nationwide

Median-household-income-matched peers from other states, closest to Urban Honolulu's $85,428 (Census ACS 5-Year 2023, table B19013).

Mount Airy, GA
$85,433 median income
Cockeysville, MD
$85,422 median income
North Olmsted, OH
$85,435 median income
Fitchburg, WI
$85,420 median income
Humboldt Hill, CA
$85,438 median income
Hardin, IL
$85,417 median income

Race & Ethnicity Composition

Race and ethnicity - Urban Honolulu, 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 Urban Honolulu, HI - Census ACS, OMB race + ethnicity categories RACE, sums to 100% 17.0% 52.9% 8.6% 18.4% ETHNICITY, Hispanic or Latino (any race) 6.7% White 17.0% Black or African American 1.8% Asian 52.9% American Indian 0.2% Native Hawaiian 8.6% Some other race 1.2% Two or more races 18.4% 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 Urban Honolulu 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
Urban Honolulu (this city) 346,323 $85,428
East Honolulu 50,961 $158,398
Hilo 48,223 $78,713
Pearl 45,079 $114,682
Census ACS 5-year FIPS HI OMB Bulletin 23-01

What do people ask about Urban Honolulu, HI?

What is the population of Urban Honolulu, HI? +

Urban Honolulu, HI counts 346,323 residents according to U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates.

What is the median household income in Urban Honolulu, HI? +

The median household income in Urban Honolulu is $85,428 per year, based on Census ACS 2023 data.

What is the cost of living in Urban Honolulu? +

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

The median home value in Urban Honolulu is $834,100, 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

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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.