City profile · Hawaii · Census ACS 2023

Wahiawa, HI

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

17,515
Residents
$86,883
Median income
$716,800
Median home
$2,642
Median rent (state)

Wahiawa - the verdict

Measured against every US city with at least 1,000 residents, Wahiawa lands in the 68th percentile for household income. Source: Census ACS.

68th
percentile, household income
93rd
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: Wahiawa, HI

Census ACS 2023 estimates count 17,515 residents in Wahiawa, a small town within Hawaii. Wahiawa households earn a median of $86,883 annually, above the median for U.S. cities on this measure, with a poverty rate of 16.0%. Home values in Wahiawa run a median of $716,800, and the median resident age is 39.8 years. 23.9% of adults here have a bachelor's degree or higher; 52.9% of working-age residents are in the labor force.

The city is served by 11 public schools according to NCES Common Core of Data.

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. Monthly utility costs average around $280 across Hawaii, per EIA 2023 residential energy estimates. Commute times here average 31.4 minutes, with 64.2% driving alone and 5.4% working from home, per Census ACS commuting data. FEMA's National Risk Index rates natural-hazard exposure at 98.8 out of 100 (Very High).

Population

17,515 residents

Census ACS 2023 - Hawaii

Median Household Income

$86,883 /yr

Poverty 16.0%

Cost of Living Index (state)

110.0 (US=100)

Well Above Average - BEA RPP 2024, Hawaii average

How does Wahiawa compare to other US cities?

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

Household income 68% higher than other cities
Home value 93% 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 Wahiawa'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.

68thIncome percentile

68th percentile nationally for median household income. Source: Census ACS 2023 / FBI UCR 2023.

How Wahiawa's home value compares nationally

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

$716,800 7th percentile more affordable than 7% 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%). This entry sits in this band. $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. Wahiawa $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 - Wahiawa, HI Wahiawa, HI's reported median household income shown against the U.S. national quintile-share pattern (not Wahiawa, 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 Wahiawa, HI median $86,883/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%
Wahiawa, 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 Wahiawa, HI. Diagonal = perfect equality.

Key socioeconomic indicators

Bachelor's degree or higher (adults 25+) 23.9%

Census ACS S1501, educational attainment

Poverty rate (households below FPL) 16.0%

Census ACS S1701, poverty status

Labor force participation (adults 16+) 52.9%

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

Population
17,515
Median Income
$86,883
Median Home Value
$716,800
Median Age
39.8
Poverty Rate
16.0%
Labor force participation
52.9%
Bachelor's Degree+
23.9%

Schools

Total Schools
11
Public schools in this city

Commute Patterns

How workers travel to work, Census ACS 2023

Average Commute Time
31.4 minutes
Drive Alone
64.2%
Carpool
18.6%
Public Transit
6.4%
Walk
3.4%
Work from Home
5.4%
Other
2.0%

Based on 7,580 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 Wahiawa 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

Schofield Barracks
16,755 people
Ocean Pointe
16,276 people
Wailuku
15,754 people
Ewa Beach
15,388 people
Makakilo
20,372 people
Waimalu
14,176 people

Cities of a Similar Size Nationwide

Population-matched peers from other states, closest to Wahiawa's 17,515 residents (Census ACS 5-Year 2023).

Streetsboro, OH
17,514 people
Spanish Springs, NV
17,512 people
McKeesport, PA
17,520 people
Takoma Park, MD
17,522 people
Melissa, TX
17,497 people
Camano, WA
17,535 people

Cities with a Similar Household Income Nationwide

Median-household-income-matched peers from other states, closest to Wahiawa's $86,883 (Census ACS 5-Year 2023, table B19013).

Spring, TX
$86,888 median income
Pleasant Hill, IA
$86,890 median income
Escalon, CA
$86,875 median income
Nunn, CO
$86,875 median income
Odessa, DE
$86,875 median income
Vienna, LA
$86,875 median income

Race & Ethnicity Composition

Race and ethnicity - Wahiawa, 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 Wahiawa, HI - Census ACS, OMB race + ethnicity categories RACE, sums to 100% 10.8% 42.8% 10.6% 32.0% ETHNICITY, Hispanic or Latino (any race) 14.2% White 10.8% Black or African American 2.7% Asian 42.8% American Indian 0.0% Native Hawaiian 10.6% Some other race 1.2% Two or more races 32.0% 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 Wahiawa 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
Wahiawa (this city) 17,515 $86,883
Schofield Barracks 16,755 $74,695
Ocean Pointe 16,276 $143,394
Wailuku 15,754 $93,958
Census ACS 5-year FIPS HI NCES CCD OMB Bulletin 23-01

What do people ask about Wahiawa, HI?

What is the population of Wahiawa, HI? +

The population of Wahiawa, HI stands at 17,515 according to U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates.

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

Median annual household income in Wahiawa runs $86,883, based on Census ACS 2023 data.

What is the cost of living in Wahiawa? +

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

Homes in Wahiawa carry a median value of $716,800, 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 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.