Census-designated place · Hawaii
Waipahu, Hawaii
Waipahu, census-designated place, in Honolulu County, Hawaii. Waipahu had 40,482 people in the ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates (±2,530). GEOID 1579700.
Residents, 2020-2024
40,482
±2,530 (90% margin)
2020 Census count: 43,485
Median household income
$103,895
±$9,364 (90% margin)
Hawaii: $100,389
Median home value
$868,600
±$21,349 (90% margin)
Hawaii: $839,100
Median gross rent
$1,658
±$98 (90% margin)
Hawaii: $1,971
Where is Waipahu and what county is it in?
Waipahu is a census-designated place: an unincorporated community the Census Bureau draws for counting, with no city government of its own, in Honolulu County, Hawaii. It covers 2.7 square miles of land, 16,238 residents per square mile in 2020.
Waipahu is in the Urban Honolulu, HI metropolitan statistical area (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 Waipahu, and is it growing?
The 2020-2024 American Community Survey puts Waipahu's population at 40,482 (±2,530). The 2020 Census counted 43,485 residents.
The Census Bureau publishes yearly population estimates for incorporated places only; Waipahu is a census-designated place, so its figures come from the ACS and the 2020 Census.
| Measure | Waipahu | Honolulu County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total population | 40,482 ±2,530 | 1,001,146 | no clear change |
| Households | 9,282 ±565 | 338,868 | +927 |
| Average household size | 4.27 ±0.21 | 2.85 | no clear change |
| Housing units | 9,800 ±512 | 374,304 | +1,074 |
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 Waipahu?
The median resident of Waipahu is 40.2 years old; 20.6% are under 18 and 21.3% are 65 or older. The largest group is non-Hispanic Asian residents at 69.6%, then non-Hispanic Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander residents at 11.7%. 43.1% of residents were born outside the United States.
| Measure | Waipahu | Honolulu County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 40.2 ±2.2 | 39.8 | no clear change |
| Under 18 years | 20.6% ±1.6 pts | 20.6% | – |
| 65 years and over | 21.3% ±1.5 pts | 19.6% | – |
| Male | 47.9% ±1.5 pts | 50.5% | – |
| Hispanic or Latino (any race) | 5.8% ±1.5 pts | 9.4% | no clear change |
| White alone, not Hispanic | 2.4% ±0.6 pts | 17.2% | no clear change |
| Black or African American alone, not Hispanic | 0.7% ±0.5 pts | 2.2% | – |
| Asian alone, not Hispanic | 69.6% ±3.7 pts | 41.6% | no clear change |
| American Indian and Alaska Native alone, not Hispanic | 0.0% ±0.1 pts | 0.1% | – |
| Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander alone, not Hispanic | 11.7% ±3.0 pts | 9.1% | – |
| Two or more races, not Hispanic | 9.8% ±1.9 pts | 20.1% | – |
| Some other race alone, not Hispanic | 0.2% ±0.2 pts | 0.3% | – |
| Born outside the United States | 43.1% ±3.0 pts | 19.6% | no clear change |
| Speak a language other than English at home (age 5+) | 49.0% ±3.0 pts | 26.0% | – |
| Civilian veterans (age 18+) | 5.7% ±1.0 pts | 8.7% | – |
| With a disability | 14.6% ±1.6 pts | 12.5% | – |
| No health insurance coverage | 6.0% ±1.4 pts | 3.3% | no clear change |
| High school graduate or higher (age 25+) | 86.1% ±1.8 pts | 93.2% | – |
| Bachelor's degree or higher (age 25+) | 20.1% ±1.8 pts | 38.5% | +3.0 pts |
| Graduate or professional degree (age 25+) | 4.5% ±1.0 pts | 14.3% | – |
| Lived in the same house a year earlier | 89.4% ±1.9 pts | 86.6% | – |
| Moved from another state in the past year | 1.3% ±0.7 pts | 4.4% | – |
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 Waipahu earn?
Half of Waipahu's 9,282 households earn less than $103,895 a year (±$9,364), against $106,195 in Honolulu County and $100,389 in Hawaii. In 2015-2019 it was $96,245 in 2024 dollars; the margins of error cannot tell the two periods apart. 12.0% of residents live below the poverty line.
| Measure | Waipahu | Honolulu County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median household income | $103,895 ±$9,364 | $106,195 | no clear change |
| Mean household income | $130,160 ±$6,625 | $136,601 | – |
| Per capita income | $31,626 ±$1,386 | $47,516 | no clear change |
| People below the poverty line | 12.0% ±2.0 pts | 9.2% | no clear change |
| Children under 18 below the poverty line | 16.2% ±4.5 pts | 11.3% | no clear change |
| Households receiving SNAP | 21.4% ±3.4 pts | 10.2% | – |
| Households with a computer | 93.8% ±2.2 pts | 96.4% | – |
| Households with a broadband subscription | 88.7% ±2.5 pts | 92.4% | – |
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 Waipahu?
Owners occupy 59.7% of Waipahu's occupied homes and renters 40.3%. The median owner-occupied home is valued at $868,600 by its owner (±$21,349). The median renter pays $1,658 a month including utilities, and 44.4% of renters pay 35% or more of their income on rent.
| Measure | Waipahu | Honolulu County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median home value (owner-occupied) | $868,600 ±$21,349 | $897,500 | +$97,447 |
| Median gross rent | $1,658 ±$98 | $2,083 | no clear change |
| Renters paying 35% or more of income on rent | 44.4% ±5.3 pts | 47.2% | no clear change |
| Median monthly owner costs, with a mortgage | $2,890 ±$247 | $3,111 | – |
| Owner-occupied homes | 59.7% ±3.6 pts | 59.8% | +7.8 pts |
| Renter-occupied homes | 40.3% ±3.6 pts | 40.2% | – |
| Housing units | 9,800 ±512 | 374,304 | +1,074 |
| Homeowner vacancy rate | 0.9% ±1.0 pts | 0.9% | – |
| Rental vacancy rate | 5.0% ±3.4 pts | 5.6% | – |
| Single-family detached homes | 48.1% ±3.2 pts | 45.3% | – |
| Mobile homes | 0.6% ±0.4 pts | 0.2% | – |
| Built 2020 or later | 1.9% ±0.6 pts | 1.1% | – |
| Built 2010 to 2019 | 3.0% ±1.4 pts | 8.3% | – |
| Built 1939 or earlier | 0.5% ±0.4 pts | 3.0% | – |
| Households with no vehicle | 14.3% ±3.6 pts | 9.7% | – |
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 Waipahu work and get to work?
58.1% of Waipahu's workers drive alone and 5.1% work from home. The average trip to work takes 32.5 minutes. The unemployment rate in 2020-2024 averaged 4.1%.
| Measure | Waipahu | Honolulu County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| In the labor force (age 16+) | 63.1% ±2.1 pts | 65.2% | – |
| Unemployment rate | 4.1% ±1.0 pts | 4.7% | no clear change |
| Drove alone to work | 58.1% ±3.6 pts | 63.4% | – |
| Carpooled | 16.0% ±2.1 pts | 13.8% | – |
| Public transportation | 13.8% ±2.3 pts | 4.9% | – |
| Walked | 2.9% ±1.6 pts | 5.2% | – |
| Worked from home | 5.1% ±1.3 pts | 9.2% | +3.2 pts |
| Mean travel time to work | 32.5 min ±1.3 | 26.7 min | −4.0 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 Waipahu?
10 census tracts lie mostly in Waipahu, and 1 more reaches into it (2020 census blocks). Their median household incomes run from $66,250 (Tract 87.05) to $164,286 (Tract 89.12).
| Tract | Residents, 2020-2024 | Median household income |
|---|---|---|
| Tract 87.07Honolulu County | 5,946 | $96,765 |
| Tract 88.02Honolulu County | 5,400 | $152,740 |
| Tract 87.02Honolulu County | 5,305 | $79,091 |
| Tract 89.13Honolulu County | 4,191 | $163,688 |
| Tract 88.01Honolulu County | 3,599 | $131,466 |
| Tract 87.05Honolulu County | 3,459 | $66,250 |
| Tract 89.38Honolulu County | 3,365 | $86,691 |
| Tract 89.12Honolulu County | 3,087 | $164,286 |
| Tract 87.06Honolulu County | 3,658 | $90,625 |
| Tract 89.37Honolulu County | 1,876 | $108,587 |
| Tract 87.04Honolulu County | 3,491 | $123,438 |
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 Waipahu) · Census block assignment files
How does Waipahu compare with other places in Hawaii?
Waipahu ranks 46th 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) | 5th | 126 |
| Residents per square mile | 1st | 126 |
| Median household income | 46th | 125 |
| Per capita income | 98th | 126 |
| Median home value | 48th | 120 |
| Median gross rent | 85th | 119 |
| Poverty rate | 37th | 99 |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 101st | 125 |
| Median age | 80th | 126 |
| Owner-occupied share | 97th | 119 |
| Work from home | 77th | 86 |
| Travel time to work | 34th | 126 |
Waipahu's figures with every place in Hawaii (CSV)
Every place in Hawaii, sortable · Compare Waipahu 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 Waipahu?
7 of the 57 figures for Waipahu 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 Waipahu 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.