Census-designated place · Hawaii
Wailuku, Hawaii
Wailuku, census-designated place, in Maui County, Hawaii. Wailuku had 16,926 people in the ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates (±1,455). GEOID 1577450.
Residents, 2020-2024
16,926
±1,455 (90% margin)
2020 Census count: 17,697
Median household income
$102,942
±$10,010 (90% margin)
Hawaii: $100,389
Median home value
$855,700
±$29,763 (90% margin)
Hawaii: $839,100
Median gross rent
$1,762
±$129 (90% margin)
Hawaii: $1,971
Where is Wailuku and what county is it in?
Wailuku is a census-designated place: an unincorporated community the Census Bureau draws for counting, with no city government of its own, in Maui County, Hawaii. It covers 5.3 square miles of land, 3,361 residents per square mile in 2020.
Wailuku is in the Kahului-Wailuku, HI metropolitan statistical area, which takes in 2 counties (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 Wailuku, and is it growing?
The 2020-2024 American Community Survey puts Wailuku's population at 16,926 (±1,455). The 2020 Census counted 17,697 residents.
The Census Bureau publishes yearly population estimates for incorporated places only; Wailuku is a census-designated place, so its figures come from the ACS and the 2020 Census.
| Measure | Wailuku | Maui County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total population | 16,926 ±1,455 | 164,522 | no clear change |
| Households | 6,273 ±432 | 55,841 | no clear change |
| Average household size | 2.67 ±0.15 | 2.90 | no clear change |
| Housing units | 7,086 ±405 | 72,279 | no clear change |
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 Wailuku?
The median resident of Wailuku is 43.8 years old; 24.1% are under 18 and 18.1% are 65 or older. The largest group is non-Hispanic Asian residents at 33.4%, then non-Hispanic residents of two or more races at 26.7%. 12.7% of residents were born outside the United States.
| Measure | Wailuku | Maui County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 43.8 ±3.6 | 43.2 | +4.7 |
| Under 18 years | 24.1% ±3.1 pts | 21.0% | – |
| 65 years and over | 18.1% ±2.4 pts | 20.7% | – |
| Male | 51.0% ±2.2 pts | 49.8% | – |
| Hispanic or Latino (any race) | 7.7% ±2.0 pts | 10.6% | −5.3 pts |
| White alone, not Hispanic | 20.9% ±2.9 pts | 29.0% | no clear change |
| Black or African American alone, not Hispanic | 1.0% ±0.9 pts | 0.8% | – |
| Asian alone, not Hispanic | 33.4% ±5.4 pts | 27.7% | 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 | 10.2% ±3.5 pts | 9.6% | – |
| Two or more races, not Hispanic | 26.7% ±4.8 pts | 21.7% | – |
| Some other race alone, not Hispanic | 0.0% ±0.2 pts | 0.3% | – |
| Born outside the United States | 12.7% ±2.7 pts | 17.1% | no clear change |
| Speak a language other than English at home (age 5+) | 19.9% ±3.8 pts | 22.0% | – |
| Civilian veterans (age 18+) | 7.0% ±1.4 pts | 5.6% | – |
| With a disability | 10.7% ±1.8 pts | 11.9% | – |
| No health insurance coverage | 2.8% ±1.5 pts | 4.1% | no clear change |
| High school graduate or higher (age 25+) | 93.9% ±2.0 pts | 93.2% | – |
| Bachelor's degree or higher (age 25+) | 36.1% ±3.9 pts | 31.0% | +8.9 pts |
| Graduate or professional degree (age 25+) | 12.0% ±2.3 pts | 10.3% | – |
| Lived in the same house a year earlier | 92.2% ±2.8 pts | 88.9% | – |
| Moved from another state in the past year | 1.7% ±1.2 pts | 2.7% | – |
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 Wailuku earn?
Half of Wailuku's 6,273 households earn less than $102,942 a year (±$10,010), against $97,161 in Maui County and $100,389 in Hawaii. In 2015-2019 it was $90,550 in 2024 dollars; the margins of error cannot tell the two periods apart. 4.6% of residents live below the poverty line.
| Measure | Wailuku | Maui County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median household income | $102,942 ±$10,010 | $97,161 | no clear change |
| Mean household income | $130,436 ±$13,167 | $131,649 | – |
| Per capita income | $49,301 ±$4,580 | $45,622 | +$8,380 |
| People below the poverty line | 4.6% ±1.5 pts | 9.2% | −6.3 pts |
| Children under 18 below the poverty line | 3.6% ±2.8 pts | 9.5% | – |
| Households receiving SNAP | 9.3% ±2.6 pts | 10.4% | – |
| Households with a computer | 95.0% ±1.7 pts | 95.8% | – |
| Households with a broadband subscription | 86.2% ±3.4 pts | 90.2% | – |
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 Wailuku?
Owners occupy 70.6% of Wailuku's occupied homes and renters 29.4%. The median owner-occupied home is valued at $855,700 by its owner (±$29,763). The median renter pays $1,762 a month including utilities, and 53.7% of renters pay 35% or more of their income on rent.
| Measure | Wailuku | Maui County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median home value (owner-occupied) | $855,700 ±$29,763 | $904,700 | +$185,095 |
| Median gross rent | $1,762 ±$129 | $1,916 | no clear change |
| Renters paying 35% or more of income on rent | 53.7% ±8.5 pts | 45.8% | +13.6 pts |
| Median monthly owner costs, with a mortgage | $2,793 ±$139 | $2,821 | – |
| Owner-occupied homes | 70.6% ±4.6 pts | 65.6% | +9.4 pts |
| Renter-occupied homes | 29.4% ±4.6 pts | 34.4% | – |
| Housing units | 7,086 ±405 | 72,279 | no clear change |
| Homeowner vacancy rate | 1.4% ±1.5 pts | 0.5% | – |
| Rental vacancy rate | 8.2% ±5.0 pts | 17.6% | – |
| Single-family detached homes | 58.3% ±4.2 pts | 59.9% | – |
| Mobile homes | 1.0% ±1.1 pts | 0.6% | – |
| Built 2020 or later | 3.2% ±2.1 pts | 0.9% | – |
| Built 2010 to 2019 | 10.3% ±3.2 pts | 7.5% | – |
| Built 1939 or earlier | 5.3% ±2.4 pts | 3.4% | – |
| Households with no vehicle | 7.9% ±2.5 pts | 5.4% | – |
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 Wailuku work and get to work?
77.0% of Wailuku's workers drive alone and 7.7% work from home. The average trip to work takes 19.1 minutes. The unemployment rate in 2020-2024 averaged 3.1%.
| Measure | Wailuku | Maui County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| In the labor force (age 16+) | 65.8% ±3.2 pts | 63.8% | – |
| Unemployment rate | 3.1% ±2.0 pts | 5.5% | −2.9 pts |
| Drove alone to work | 77.0% ±4.3 pts | 70.3% | – |
| Carpooled | 9.9% ±3.2 pts | 13.3% | – |
| Public transportation | 0.0% ±0.1 pts | 1.4% | – |
| Walked | 1.9% ±1.0 pts | 2.1% | – |
| Worked from home | 7.7% ±2.3 pts | 10.2% | +4.9 pts |
| Mean travel time to work | 19.1 min ±2.0 | 23.0 min | −3.2 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 Wailuku?
4 census tracts lie mostly in Wailuku, and 2 more reach into it (2020 census blocks). Their median household incomes run from $61,086 (Tract 309.01) to $129,333 (Tract 310.01).
| Tract | Residents, 2020-2024 | Median household income |
|---|---|---|
| Tract 310.01Maui County | 6,953 | $129,333 |
| Tract 310.02Maui County | 3,940 | $80,515 |
| Tract 309.02Maui County | 2,944 | $104,583 |
| Tract 309.01Maui County | 1,977 | $61,086 |
| Tract 309.03Maui County | 7,495 | $125,056 |
| Tract 308Maui County | 8,362 | $114,609 |
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 Wailuku) · Census block assignment files
How does Wailuku compare with other places in Hawaii?
Wailuku ranks 49th 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) | 18th | 126 |
| Residents per square mile | 35th | 126 |
| Median household income | 49th | 125 |
| Per capita income | 28th | 126 |
| Median home value | 54th | 120 |
| Median gross rent | 77th | 119 |
| Poverty rate | 92nd | 99 |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 40th | 125 |
| Median age | 49th | 126 |
| Owner-occupied share | 65th | 119 |
| Work from home | 57th | 86 |
| Travel time to work | 109th | 126 |
Wailuku's figures with every place in Hawaii (CSV)
Every place in Hawaii, sortable · Compare Wailuku 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 Wailuku?
8 of the 57 figures for Wailuku 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 Wailuku 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.