CitytisticsShortlist

Cost of living, pay and housing

21.46° N · 157.84° W · GEOID 1521200

Kahaluu

Honolulu County, Hawaii · part of the Urban Honolulu, HI metro

HawaiiKahaluu, HIKahaluuKahaluu

The short answer

Kahaluu is home to 5,619 people. Median household income is $142,045 a year and median rent is $2,504 a month, 21.2% of income (a ratio of two medians, not any one household's burden). Rent pressure is lighter than in most places. The median home is valued at $1,213,400, about 8.5x annual median household income.

Kahaluu's housing market sets it apart. Homeowners pay a median of about 0.3% of home value a year in property tax, less than in 98% of places its size. Also notable: Money left after rent is $105,700, against $70,700 in its closest peers.

15OF 100

CTXCitytistics Index

Weak

Kahaluu scores better than 15% of the 6,612 places we rate, and ranks 44th of 55 in Hawaii.

How the CTX is built

Category ratings · 0 to 100, typical place 50

Affordability 20%24
Economy 20%64
Safety 20%n/a
Amenities 15%17
Education 10%50
Commute 10%15
Growth 5%n/a

Not rated: safety, growth, for want of data (the city police department does not report a full year to the FBI). The other weights are spread over the categories rated.

Median gross rent
$2,504
83% above the median place
Median household income
$142,045
77% above the median place
Median home value
$1,213,400
280% above the median place
Unemployment
5.5%
13% above the median place

Compared with the median of the 6,645 places we track. The bundle was checked 2026-11-14; each measure may refer to an older release.

01

Moving to Kahaluu

Honolulu County loses about 7.3 residents per 1,000 a year to moves between counties.

Moved in39,254
Moved out45,084
Net−5,830

Where people come from and where they go, top counties

Within Hawaii, other states or abroad

Arrivals
Leavers
Within HawaiiOther statesAbroad

Income per tax return

Arrivals$74K
Leavers$71K

People on tax returns who moved between counties, from IRS migration data, 2022 to 2023. Figures are for all of Honolulu County; flows under 20 returns are not published.

Who moves here
10.4% of residents arrived from another county in the past year, 8.3% from another state.
Who arrives and who leaves
Households moving into Honolulu County report $73,600 a year in income on average; those leaving, $70,600.
Income you would need
$100,200 a year to rent the median home at the 30% line. From your city
Rent or buy
Median rent is $2,504 a month; owners with a mortgage pay $3,699 a month including taxes and insurance, on a median home of $1,213,400.
Getting to work
32 minutes each way on average; 18.3% work from home; 4.9% take transit.
If it is close but not quite
Miller Place, NY matches it on character for less of your income. Compare the two
Moved from another state1
8.3%
322% above the median place
Moved here in the past year1
10.4%
81% above the median place
Net movers per 1,000 people7
-7.3
below the median place (median -0.6)
All 5 moving measures
MeasureKahaluuAmong 6,645 placesVs median
Moved here in the past year110.4%81% above
Moved from another state18.3%322% above
Net movers per 1,000 people7County figure-7.3below (median -0.6)
Income of households moving in7County figure$73,5704% above
Income of households moving out7County figure$70,5700% above
02

What it costs to live here

The median home costs 8.5 years of the median household's income, more than in 97% of the 2,480 places under 10,000 people we track.

Kahaluu21.2%
Typical place20.4%

Share of the median household income that goes to the median rent. Above 30% is the usual stress line.

Income needed to rent
$100,160
a year, at the 30% line
Rent to income
21.2%
4% above the median place
Home price to income
8.5x
125% above the median place

Could you afford it?

The median rent would take
21%
comfortably under the 30% line
Left after rent, in US prices
$105,700
a year
Vs the typical household here
Same
as the median household

Uses the median rent in Kahaluu, $2,504 a month, and local prices for everything else (105.9 against a US average of 100). It runs in your browser and stores nothing.

Like Kahaluu, but easier on the budget

Places that match Kahaluu on character (size, age, education, homeownership, household size, housing age, remote work and climate) but where rent takes a clearly smaller share of income. Cost was left out of the match on purpose.

PlaceMatchRent to incomeMore left a year
Miller Place, NY689.6% vs 21.2%$20,200Compare
Eucalyptus Hills, CA6611.7% vs 21.2%$24,000Compare
Brigham City, UT6018.0% vs 21.2%n/aCompare
Westwood, NJ5917.8% vs 21.2%$23,800Compare

Moving from somewhere else? Work out the salary you would need in Kahaluu.

Sponsored · exampleMoving to Kahaluu? Compare quotes from licensed movers. No partner is signed yet. Sponsored offers are always labelled and never change the data.
Property tax rate1
0.3%
69% below the median place
Median home value1
$1,213,400
280% above the median place
Owner costs with a mortgage1
$3,699
98% above the median place
All 16 cost and housing measures
MeasureKahaluuAmong 6,645 placesVs median
Median gross rent1$2,50483% above
Rent to income121.2%4% above
Property tax rate10.3%69% below
Home price to income18.5x125% above
Prices vs US average2Metro figure111.010% above
Fair market rent, 2 bedrooms3County figure$2,54257% above
HUD area median income4County figure$133,40024% above
Property tax paid (median)1$3,4486% above
Median home value1$1,213,400280% above
Home prices, 1-year change5County figure1.4%56% below
Home prices, 5-year change5County figure36.9%28% below
Homeownership159.6%10% below
Renters paying 30%+147.7%6% below
Owner costs with a mortgage1$3,69998% above
Vacant homes1County figure9.5%34% above
Median year built119700% below
03

Work and pay

OpenStreetMap shows 9.5 bus and rail stops per square mile, more than in 92% of the 2,480 places under 10,000 people we track.

Median household income1
$142,045
77% above the median place
Mean commute1
32 min
29% above the median place
Poverty rate1
6.9%
36% below the median place

More on work and pay, against the typical place

Works from home18.3% +47%
Income per person$48,045 +20%
Unemployment5.5% +13%
All 10 work and pay measures
MeasureKahaluuAmong 6,645 placesVs median
Median household income1$142,04577% above
Income per person1$48,04520% above
Unemployment15.5%13% above
Average annual pay6County figure$73,14411% above
Pay growth, 1 year6County figure4.7%27% above
Jobs6County figure455,202202% above
Poverty rate16.9%36% below
Mean commute132 min29% above
Works from home118.3%47% above
Commutes by transit1County figure4.9%above (median 0.8%)
04

Who lives here

Households average 3.45 people, larger than than in 96% of the 2,480 places under 10,000 people we track.

Household size1
3.5
38% above the median place
Homes with broadband1
97.8%
6% above the median place
Median age1
44.6
14% above the median place

More about who lives here, against the typical place

No health insurance4.4% −31%
High school or higher93.7% +1%
Born abroad9.0% +2%
Bachelor's or higher32.3% +1%
All 8 people measures
MeasureKahaluuAmong 6,645 placesVs median
Population15,6196203rd largest
Median age144.614% above
Bachelor's or higher132.3%1% above
High school or higher193.7%1% above
Household size13.538% above
Born abroad19.0%2% above
No health insurance14.4%31% below
Homes with broadband197.8%6% above
05

Life in Kahaluu

OpenStreetMap shows 0 grocery stores per 10,000 residents, fewer than in 84% of the 2,480 places under 10,000 people we track. It is the lowest of 55 Hawaii places we track.

2 sites are on the National Register of Historic Places, 15 of them National Historic Landmarks. Its history on Wikipedia

  • Kahaluu Fish Pond listed 1973
  • Kahaluu Taro Lo'i listed 1973

Out the door, against the typical place

Parks per 10k residents3.6 −65%
Playgrounds per 10k0.0 −100%
Grocery stores per 10k0.0 −100%
Restaurants, cafes and bars per 10k0.0 −100%
Libraries per 10k0.0 −100%
Named paths and bike trails0 km −100%
Bus and rail stops per sq mi9.5 45.1×

Mapped by volunteers in OpenStreetMap inside the city limits (Census boundaries), so coverage is fuller in some places than others. Map data © OpenStreetMap contributors, ODbL.

National Park Service sites nearby

  • Pearl Harbor National Memorial 9 miles
  • USS Arizona Memorial 9 miles
  • Honouliuli National Historic Site 15 miles

Businesses per 10,000 residents (county figures)

Restaurants and bars25.1 +21%
Shops26.3 −13%
Arts, recreation and fitness2.9 −29%
Doctors' offices and clinics19.2 −5%
Child care centers1.7 −26%

Counts businesses with paid staff, so small owner-run shops are not included.

Nearest National Park Service site10
8.7
72% below the median place
Public school students12
111,011
above the median place (median 4,897)
Public schools12
186
above the median place (median 9)
All 18 schools and local life measures
MeasureKahaluuAmong 6,645 placesVs median
Public schools12County figure186above (median 9)
Public school students12County figure111,011above (median 4,897)
Students per teacher12County figure14.37% below
Restaurants and bars per 10k8County figure25.121% above
Shops per 10k8County figure26.313% below
Arts, recreation and fitness per 10k8County figure2.929% below
Doctors' offices and clinics per 10k8County figure19.25% below
Child care centers per 10k8County figure1.726% below
Parks per 10k93.665% below
Playgrounds per 10k90.0below (median 9.4)
Grocery stores per 10k90.0below (median 2.1)
Restaurants, cafes and bars per 10k90.0below (median 11.2)
Libraries per 10k90.0below (median 0.9)
Named paths and bike trails90.0below (median 2.0)
Transit stops per sq mi99.5above (median 0.2)
Nearest National Park Service site108.772% below
National Park Service sites within 60 miles10350% above
National Register listings11285% below
06

Safety, weather and risk

Heat wave risk is 0.0, below the median place (median 90.1).

No crime figure yet. Either the city police department did not report to the FBI for the latest year, or our monthly fetch has not reached Kahaluu. Larger places are fetched first.

Heat wave risk13
0.0
below the median place (median 90.1)
Good air days14
97.3%
42% above the median place
Median air quality index14
29
33% below the median place
All 7 weather and risk measures
MeasureKahaluuAmong 6,645 placesVs median
Natural hazard risk13County figure98.87% above
Hurricane risk13County figure73.34% above
Tornado risk13County figure33.259% below
Wildfire risk13County figure99.062% above
Heat wave risk13County figure0.0below (median 90.1)
Median air quality index14County figure2933% below
Good air days14County figure97.3%42% above
08

Kahaluu in 2030: where the trends point

If recent trends hold, the median rent will take about 21% of the median income in 2030, about the same as 21% now.

Citytistics projections to 2030: each figure's own trend, blended with the typical trend across the places we rate, eased toward long-run US growth and carried forward from the latest release. The range is where 80% of places landed when we tested the same method on past releases. On projected 2030 affordability, Kahaluu does better than 23% of places. Its projected home value growth beats 26%.

MeasureLatest2030 projectionLikely rangeAvg. per year
Median rent$2,504/mo (2024)$3,210/mo$2,630 to $3,910/mo+4.2%
Median household income$142,045 (2024)$179,500$151,500 to $212,000+4.0%
Median home value$1,213,400 (2024)$1,712,000$1,243,000 to $2,358,000+5.9%

The median home would be worth 9.5 years of the median income in 2030, against 8.5 now.

A projection of recent trends, not a prediction of the economy or advice to buy or sell. How we project.

09

Places like Kahaluu

The closest matches on income, rent, home value, education and age, and the places nearby.

PlaceRentIncome
South San Francisco, CA$2,802$136,578Compare
Daly City, CA$2,551$123,547Compare
Castro Valley, CA$2,554$142,779Compare
Aiea, HI$2,844$140,308Compare
Aiea, HICastro Valley, CADaly City, CASouth San Francisco, CAKahaluu, HIKahaluuSouth San FranciscoAieaKahaluuSouth San FranciscoAiea

Places built like Kahaluu

Its statistical peers: the closest matches on size, age, education, homeownership, household size, housing age, origin and remote work, in the same part of the country. Cost and outcomes are left out of the match, so the table shows how Kahaluu performs against places like it.

PlaceRent to incomeIncome growthPop. change
Kahaluu, HI21.2%4.9%/yrn/a
San Martin, CA19.8%6.4%/yrn/aCompare
Rodeo, CA28.7%4.1%/yrn/aCompare
Lucerne Valley, CA25.9%10.8%/yrn/aCompare
Makawao, HI23.7%3.2%/yrn/aCompare
Kula, HI26.8%5.6%/yrn/aCompare
Winters, CA15.3%7.2%/yr15.6%Compare

Common questions

Is Kahaluu a good place to live?

It depends on what you need, so here is what the numbers say. Its Citytistics Index is 15 out of 100, better than 15% of the places we rate and 44th of 55 in Hawaii. On cost, space and class size it scores 51 out of 100 for families. See how it ranks with your own weights.

Is Kahaluu expensive to live in?

The median rent takes 21.2% of the median household income, against 20.4% in the typical place we track. Housing is a heavier load here than usual. The median home is valued at $1,213,400.

What salary do you need to live in Kahaluu?

To rent the median home without spending more than 30% of income on rent, a household needs about $100,160 a year. Work it out from your current city.

What places are similar to Kahaluu?

On income, rent, home value, education and age, the closest matches are South San Francisco, CA, Daly City, CA, Castro Valley, CA and Aiea, HI.

Sources and methods

The small numbers beside each measure point here. Every dataset is public; links go to the publisher.

  1. American Community Survey 5-year estimates · US Census Bureau · 2020 to 2024 estimatesTables B01002, B01003, B05002, B07003, B08013, B08301, B15003, B17001, B19013, B19301, B23025, B25002, B25003, B25010, B25035, B25064, B25070, B25077, B25088, B25103, B28002, S2701
  2. Regional Price Parities · US Bureau of Economic Analysis · Latest release, retrieved 2026-11-14
  3. Fair Market Rents · US Department of Housing and Urban Development · Fiscal year 2027
  4. Income Limits · US Department of Housing and Urban Development · Fiscal year 2026
  5. House Price Index · Federal Housing Finance Agency · Latest release, retrieved 2026-11-14
  6. Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages · US Bureau of Labor Statistics · 2025 annual averages
  7. SOI Tax Stats, county-to-county migration · Internal Revenue Service · Tax years 2022 to 2023Counts tax returns and the people on them; flows under 20 returns are suppressed.
  8. County Business Patterns · US Census Bureau · 2023 data
  9. OpenStreetMap · © OpenStreetMap contributors, available under the Open Database License (ODbL) · Map data as of 2026-11
  10. National Park Service sites · Wikidata (CC0), units operated by the National Park Service · Retrieved 2026-11
  11. National Register of Historic Places · National Park Service · Listings through 2026-05-22
  12. Common Core of Data · National Center for Education Statistics · 2024 release
  13. National Risk Index · Federal Emergency Management Agency · Latest release, retrieved 2026-11-14NRI data and maps
  14. Air Quality System, annual AQI by county · US Environmental Protection Agency · 2025 dataAirData download files

Derived by Citytistics from the tables above: rent to income (B25064, B19013); property tax rate (B25103, B25077); home price to income (B25077, B19013).

What stands out compares Kahaluu with places of a similar size, using only figures measured for Kahaluu itself; county and metro figures never count. Survey figures are estimates with margins of error. Formulas and definitions: methodology. API: /api/v1/places/kahaluu-hawaii

Citytistics. “Kahaluu, Hawaii.” Data as of 2026-11-14. https://www.citytistics.com/city/kahaluu-hawaii/

This product uses the Census Bureau Data API but is not endorsed or certified by the Census Bureau.