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CITY · 2020 ACS

Hilo

Hawaii · 44,186 residents · 53.6 sq mi
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The short version

Hilo is home to 44,186 people in Hawaii. At a median age of 42.7, this is an older place than the country as a whole. The average commute runs 18 minutes. That trails the Hawaii median by roughly 21%. Home values have more than doubled since 2000, reaching $341,500. 17.0% of residents live below the federal poverty line.

At a glance
Average income
near the US median
US median: $66,278
Older
median age 42.7
US median: 38.8
Average education
34% hold a bachelor's degree
US average: 33%
Less affordable
home values up 49%, inflation adjusted
US median home: $265,253
Section 01

Population & growth

44,186
+8%since 2000
from 40,759 in 2000
1990 – 2024
42.7
+11%since 2000
from 38.6 in 2000
US average: 38.8
Land area
53.6 sq mi
Population, 19902024
36K40K44K48K52K19902000201020202024Hilo
202450K
1990201020202024
Age distribution, 2020
Under 54.9%(2,184)
US avg: 5.6%
5 to 96%(2,636)
US avg: 6.1%
10 to 146.4%(2,823)
US avg: 6.5%
15 to 195.8%(2,554)
US avg: 6.6%
20 to 246.2%(2,722)
US avg: 6.7%
25 to 3411.6%(5,114)
US avg: 13.5%
35 to 4411.5%(5,102)
US avg: 12.7%
45 to 5410.8%(4,772)
US avg: 12.3%
55 to 6413.5%(5,954)
US avg: 13.1%
65 to 7413%(5,762)
US avg: 10%
75 to 846.9%(3,042)
US avg: 4.9%
85 and over3.4%(1,521)
US avg: 1.9%
BAR + DOT: THIS PLACE · TICK: US AVERAGE
Section 02

Income & economy

$65,727
+12%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $39,139 in 2000
US average: $66,278
1990 – 2024
$31,246
+71%since 2000
from $18,220 in 2000
US average: $35,364
Households earning $100K+
43.2%
+9.2 ptssince 2009
from 34.1% in 2009
US average: 43.9%
17.0%
−0.2 ptssince 2000
from 17.1% in 2000
US average: 12.8%
Workforce by industry, 2020
Information12.3%
US avg: 11.1%
Wholesale trade6.5%
US avg: 6.7%
Finance & insurance5%
US avg: 5.5%
Other services4.6%
US avg: 6.6%
Professional, scientific, technical3.5%
US avg: 4.7%
Transportation & warehousing3.1%
US avg: 2.5%
Public administration2.9%
US avg: 4.7%
Agriculture, forestry, fishing2.9%
US avg: 1.7%
Construction2.9%
US avg: 1.2%
Retail trade1.8%
US avg: 10%
Arts, entertainment, food1.6%
US avg: 2%
Education & health services1.4%
US avg: 0.8%
Manufacturing0%
US avg: 0.5%
BAR + DOT: THIS PLACE · TICK: US AVERAGE
Section 03

Housing

$341,500
+49%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $152,900 in 2000
US average: $265,253
1990 – 2024
$1,098
+35%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $542 in 2000
US average: $1,124
62.4%
+1.5 ptssince 2000
from 60.9% in 2000
37.6% rent
2.71 people
+6%since 2009
from 2.56 people in 2009
US average: 2.61
5.2
−9%since 2009
from 5.7 in 2009
2009 – 2024
Years of local income it takes to buy a local home, on a scale of about 0 to 15. Lower is more affordable.
Section 04

Race & ethnicity

2000
White, non-Hispanic15.9%(6,491)
Black0.4%(162)
Hispanic / Latino8.8%(3,579)
Asian37.4%(15,259)
Other0%
2020
White, non-Hispanic15.3%(6,771)
Black0.5%(232)
Hispanic / Latino11.5%(5,065)
Asian30.2%(13,353)
Other38.8%(17,142)

No data for the years selected.

Section 04 · Origins

Detailed origins & ancestry

Hispanic origin
Puerto Rican6.4%(2,917)
Mexican3.3%(1,510)
Spaniard1.1%(507)
Cuban0.2%(91)
Chilean0%(17)
Asian origin
Japanese19.8%(8,959)
Filipino6.3%(2,853)
Chinese1.7%(762)
Korean0.9%(394)
Vietnamese0.4%(169)
Okinawan0.1%(60)
Asian Indian0.1%(47)
Indonesian0.1%(40)
Taiwanese0.1%(39)
Thai0.1%(30)
Burmese0%(4)
+ 1 more asian origin group with data
Pacific Islander origin
Native Hawaiian37.4%(16,933)
Samoan1.8%(820)
Chamorro0.4%(161)
Marshallese0.3%(127)
Fijian0.1%(44)
Tongan0.1%(39)
Ancestry
Portuguese6.2%(2,824)
German3.8%(1,742)
English3.6%(1,621)
Irish3%(1,339)
Italian1.5%(688)
French1.5%(669)
American0.7%(333)
Welsh0.7%(305)
Scottish0.7%(301)
Scotch-Irish0.5%(246)
Norwegian0.5%(209)
+ 29 more ancestry groups with data
Greek0.4%(168)
Swedish0.4%(166)
Polish0.4%(162)
Russian0.3%(146)
British0.3%(134)
Iranian0.3%(133)
Dutch0.2%(107)
Arab0.2%(97)
Czech0.2%(79)
Danish0.2%(72)
Hungarian0.1%(65)
Finnish0.1%(61)
Ukrainian0.1%(60)
Slovak0.1%(51)
Australian0.1%(44)
Turkish0.1%(35)
Armenian0%(19)
Canadian0%(19)
Brazilian0%(15)
Romanian0%(12)
Swiss0%(12)
Haitian0%(10)
Belgian0%(2)
Section 05

Education

33.9%
+9.6 ptssince 2000
from 24.3% in 2000
US average: 32.9%
High school or higher
94.0%
+8.2 ptssince 2000
from 85.9% in 2000
US average: 88.5%
11.2%
+2.9 ptssince 2000
from 8.3% in 2000
US average: 12.7%
Section 06

Commute & transportation

18.3 min
+50%since 2000
from 12.2 min in 2000
US average: 26.9
72.9%
+3.2 ptssince 2009
from 69.7% in 2009
US average: 75.1%
7.5%
−1.9 ptssince 2009
from 9.4% in 2009
US average: 8.4%
Section 07

Work & employment

6.2%
−3.1 ptssince 2011
from 9.3% in 2011
US average: 5.4%
58.0%
−2.7 ptssince 2011
from 60.7% in 2011
US average: 63.4%
Women 20-64 in the labor force
73.6%
US average: 73.3%
39.1%
+6.0 ptssince 2009
from 33.1% in 2009
US average: 39.3%
Section 08

People & community

48.9%
Unchangedsince 2009
from 48.9% in 2009
51.1%
Unchangedsince 2009
from 51.1% in 2009
9.0%
+1.2 ptssince 2009
from 7.8% in 2009
US average: 13.5%
2.8%
−4.3 ptssince 2013
from 7.1% in 2013
US average: 8.8%
Computer in household
87.9%
US average: 91.9%
90.8%
US average: 86.2%
Marital status (2024)
Men 15+
Never married39.8%(7,810)
Married50%(9,798)
Widowed2.5%(493)
Divorced7.7%(1,502)
Women 15+
Never married32.2%(7,235)
Married42.4%(9,524)
Widowed12.9%(2,894)
Divorced12.5%(2,814)
SHARE WITHIN EACH SEX · POPULATION 15 AND OVER · 2024
Section 09

Health coverage

2.8%
−4.3 ptssince 2013
from 7.1% in 2013
US average: 8.8%
58.0%
US average: 55.4%
Direct-purchase
15.3%
US average: 13.7%
22.2%
US average: 17.6%
27.7%
US average: 20.0%
VA health care
2.5%
US average: 2.3%
Any private
70.0%
US average: 68.1%
Any public
47.0%
US average: 35.2%

Shares are "alone or in combination": a person with both Medicare and Medicaid counts in each, so categories overlap and do not sum to 100%.

Section 09 · Service history

Veterans

Veterans by period of service, 2020
Gulf War (2001 or later)16.4%(520)
US avg: 20.6%
Gulf War (1990s)15.1%(477)
US avg: 21.4%
Vietnam era38.4%(1,214)
US avg: 35.2%
Korean War10.2%(322)
US avg: 7.6%
World War II3.6%(115)
US avg: 2.9%

Share of the 3,163 veterans here. A veteran who served across eras counts in each, so shares can total more than 100%. Peacetime-only service is included in the total but not shown as an era.

BAR + DOT: THIS PLACE · TICK: US AVERAGE
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Frequently asked

How many people live in Hilo, Hawaii?

Hilo, Hawaii has about 44,186 residents according to the 2020 American Community Survey.

What is the median household income in Hilo, Hawaii?

The typical household in Hilo, Hawaii earns about $65,727 a year. Half of households make more than that, and half make less.

Is Hilo, Hawaii expensive?

In Hilo, Hawaii, the median home is worth about $341,500, and the typical rent is about $1,098 a month.

How educated are people in Hilo, Hawaii?

About 33.9% of adults age 25 and over in Hilo, Hawaii hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

What is the poverty rate in Hilo, Hawaii?

About 17.0% of people in Hilo, Hawaii live below the federal poverty line.

Has Hilo, Hawaii grown since 1990?

Yes, Hilo, Hawaii has grown since 1990. The population has added about 6,458 residents, a change of about 17 percent over that period.

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DATA: US CENSUS BUREAU ACS 5-YEAR + DECENNIAL CENSUS · UPDATED 2024

How we source and harmonize this data →