City profile · Hawaii · Census ACS 2023

Waianae, HI

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

12,907
Residents
$84,766
Median income
$487,200
Median home
$2,642
Median rent (state)

Waianae - the verdict

Nationally, Waianae sits in the 66th percentile for household income among US cities with a population of 1,000 or more. Source: Census ACS.

66th
percentile, household income
84th
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: Waianae, HI

Waianae is a small town in Hawaii, home to 12,907 residents per U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates. The typical household in Waianae brings in $84,766 a year, above the median for U.S. cities on this measure, with a poverty rate of 12.0%. Typical homes in Waianae are valued around $487,200, and the median resident age is 36.8 years. About 13.6% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher, while 55.1% 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: BEA Regional Price Parities 2024 puts Hawaii at 110.0 on a 100-equals-national-average scale (Well Above Average). A typical two-bedroom carries a HUD Fair Market Rent of $2,642 per month statewide. EIA 2023 residential energy data puts Hawaii's average monthly utility costs around $280 (state average). Commute times here average 39.5 minutes, with 67.2% driving alone and 3.5% working from home, per Census ACS commuting data. On FEMA's National Risk Index, this area rates 98.8 out of 100 for natural-hazard exposure (Very High).

Population

12,907 residents

Census ACS 2023 - Hawaii

Median Household Income

$84,766 /yr

Poverty 12.0%

Cost of Living Index (state)

110.0 (US=100)

Well Above Average - BEA RPP 2024, Hawaii average

How does Waianae compare to other US cities?

Where Waianae sits among all US cities (population 1,000+) on each measure, computed live from Census and FBI data.

Household income 66% higher than other cities
Home value 84% 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 Waianae 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 places Waianae near the bottom of Hawaii's cities

Among the 160 Hawaii cities PlainCities tracks with reported bachelor's degree or higher data, Waianae ranks #149 - the 6th percentile within the state. This is a different, narrower cut than the nationwide percentiles above: it compares Waianae only against its own state's cities, not the full US field.

Median Household Income
#96 of 155
38th percentile in Hawaii
Median Gross Rent
#1 of 160
66th percentile in Hawaii
Median Home Value
#114 of 150
24th percentile in Hawaii
Poverty Rate
#34 of 160
79th percentile in Hawaii
Bachelor's Degree or Higher
#149 of 160
6th 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.

66thIncome percentile

66th percentile nationally for median household income. Source: Census ACS 2023 / FBI UCR 2023.

How Waianae's home value compares nationally

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

$487,200 16th percentile more affordable than 16% 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%). This entry sits in this band. $500,000–$525,000: 160 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $525,000–$550,000: 156 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $550,000–$575,000: 172 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $575,000–$600,000: 172 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $600,000–$625,000: 163 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $625,000–$650,000: 167 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $650,000–$675,000: 135 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $675,000–$700,000: 101 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $700,000–$725,000: 95 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $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. Waianae $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 - Waianae, HI Waianae, HI's reported median household income shown against the U.S. national quintile-share pattern (not Waianae, 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 Waianae, HI median $84,766/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%
Waianae, 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 Waianae, HI. Diagonal = perfect equality.

Key socioeconomic indicators

Bachelor's degree or higher (adults 25+) 13.6%

Census ACS S1501, educational attainment

Poverty rate (households below FPL) 12.0%

Census ACS S1701, poverty status

Labor force participation (adults 16+) 55.1%

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

Population
12,907
Median Income
$84,766
Median Home Value
$487,200
Median Age
36.8
Poverty Rate
12.0%
Labor force participation
55.1%
Bachelor's Degree+
13.6%

Schools

Total Schools
11
Public schools in this city

Commute Patterns

How workers travel to work, Census ACS 2023

Average Commute Time
39.5 minutes
Drive Alone
67.2%
Carpool
15.3%
Public Transit
10.6%
Walk
2.2%
Work from Home
3.5%
Other
1.2%

Based on 5,115 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 Waianae 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

Hawaiian Paradise Park
13,273 people
Nanakuli
12,282 people
Maili
12,236 people
Royal Kunia
13,687 people
Halawa
13,809 people
Waimalu
14,176 people

Cities of a Similar Size Nationwide

Population-matched peers from other states, closest to Waianae's 12,907 residents (Census ACS 5-Year 2023).

Bloomsburg, PA
12,906 people
Greenville, WI
12,911 people
Jennings, MO
12,900 people
Holiday City-Berkeley, NJ
12,896 people
Sugarland Run, VA
12,920 people
Mandeville, LA
12,931 people

Cities with a Similar Household Income Nationwide

Median-household-income-matched peers from other states, closest to Waianae's $84,766 (Census ACS 5-Year 2023, table B19013).

Lebanon, IL
$84,766 median income
McLean, IL
$84,766 median income
Prairietown, IL
$84,766 median income
Fairview CDP (Dutchess County), NY
$84,759 median income
Roland, IA
$84,779 median income
Concord, NC
$84,752 median income

Race & Ethnicity Composition

Race and ethnicity - Waianae, 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 Waianae, HI - Census ACS, OMB race + ethnicity categories RACE, sums to 100% 8.1% 10.7% 45.4% 34.1% ETHNICITY, Hispanic or Latino (any race) 12.6% White 8.1% Black or African American 0.9% Asian 10.7% American Indian 0.0% Native Hawaiian 45.4% Some other race 0.6% Two or more races 34.1% 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 Waianae 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
Waianae (this city) 12,907 $84,766
Hawaiian Paradise Park 13,273 $81,892
Nanakuli 12,282 $81,493
Maili 12,236 $104,375
Census ACS 5-year FIPS HI NCES CCD OMB Bulletin 23-01

What do people ask about Waianae, HI?

What is the population of Waianae, HI? +

The population of Waianae, HI stands at 12,907 according to U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates.

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

In Waianae, the typical household earns $84,766 per year, based on Census ACS 2023 data.

What is the cost of living in Waianae? +

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

The median home value in Waianae is $487,200, 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

Verify with HUD →

Verify with FBI →

Verify with NOAA →

Verify with U.S. Census Bureau →

Verify with EPA →

Verify with FEMA →

Verify with BEA →

Verify with EIA →

Verify with NCES →

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.