CensusEasy
CITY

Pahala

Hawaii · 1,768 residents · 0.642 sq mi
Time machine
COMPARE TO
Part of the Hilo micropolitan area
Compare
The short version

Pahala has lower-than-average household income, with a median household income of $71,518. Population has grown 28% since 2000. 23% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher, below the national rate of 36%. Median home value has more than doubled since 2000, reaching $224,500. At a median age of 32.4, residents skew younger than the country as a whole. Households here earn about 29% less than the Hawaii median.

At a glance
Lower income
below the US median
US median: $82,259
Younger
median age 32.4
US median: 38.9
Less educated
23% hold a bachelor's degree
US average: 36%
Less affordable
home values up 51%, inflation adjusted
US median home: $376,019
Section 01

Population & growth

Total population
1,768
+28%since 2000
from 1,378 in 2000
1990 – 2024
Population density
2,754 / sq mi
+28%since 2000
from 2,146 / sq mi in 2000
US average: 281
Median age
32.4
−18%since 2000
from 39.6 in 2000
US average: 38.9
Population, 1990 – 2024
1K1K2K2K2K1990201020202024Pahala
20242K
1990201020202024
Section 02

Income & economy

Median household income
$71,518
+30%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $30,243 in 2000
US average: $82,259
1990 – 2024
Per capita income
$22,801
+99%since 2000
from $11,450 in 2000
US average: $44,673
Households earning $100K+
41.8%
+29.4 ptssince 2009
from 12.4% in 2009
US average: 53.3%
Poverty rate
11.3%
−12.9 ptssince 2000
from 24.2% in 2000
US average: 12.5%
Income inequality (Gini)
0.398
+13%since 2010
from 0.351 in 2010
US average: 0.476
Workforce by industry, 2024
Agriculture, forestry, fishing24.2%
US avg: 1.6%
Construction24.2%
US avg: 1.2%
Wholesale trade9.5%
US avg: 6.9%
Information8.8%
US avg: 10.8%
Retail trade5.6%
US avg: 9.9%
Finance & insurance2%
US avg: 5.9%
Professional, scientific, technical2%
US avg: 5.1%
Arts, entertainment, food0.5%
US avg: 1.9%
Manufacturing0%
US avg: 0.4%
Transportation & warehousing0%
US avg: 2.2%
Education & health services0%
US avg: 0.9%
Other services0%
US avg: 6.7%
Public administration0%
US avg: 4.8%
BARS: THIS PLACE · TICKS: US AVERAGE
Section 03

Housing

Median home value
$224,500
+51%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $81,400 in 2000
US average: $376,019
1990 – 2024
Owner-occupied
78.3%
+1.8 ptssince 2000
from 76.5% in 2000
21.7% rent
Vacancy rate
15.1%
−2.2 ptssince 2009
from 17.4% in 2009
US average: 10.0%
Owner cost-burdened
19.3%
−3.4 ptssince 2009
from 22.7% in 2009
US average: 22.9%
Renter cost-burdened
27.1%
−4.3 ptssince 2009
from 31.4% in 2009
US average: 47.4%
Afford Score
3.1
+17%since 2000
from 2.7 in 2000
1990 – 2024
Gentrification Score
56
RELATED:See current rent listings in Pahala on RentDataNow
Section 04

Race & ethnicity

2000
White, non-Hispanic8.6%(118)
Black0%(0)
Hispanic / Latino6.3%(87)
Asian46.2%(637)
Other0%
Diversity Score49.7%(684)
2024
White, non-Hispanic5.4%(96)
Black3.6%(64)
Hispanic / Latino31.6%(558)
Asian30.7%(543)
Other28.7%(507)
Diversity Score89.9%(1,590)
Diversity Score
90
+81%since 2000
from 50 in 2000
1990 – 2024
Section 05

Education

Bachelor's degree or higher
23.0%
+14.4 ptssince 2000
from 8.6% in 2000
US average: 35.6%
High school or higher
95.2%
+33.1 ptssince 2000
from 62.1% in 2000
US average: 89.6%
Graduate degree
6.4%
+4.9 ptssince 2000
from 1.5% in 2000
US average: 14.0%
Section 06

Commute & transportation

Average commute
45.7 min
+96%since 2000
from 23.4 min in 2000
US average: 26.5
Drive alone to work
69.5%
+6.6 ptssince 2009
from 62.8% in 2009
US average: 68.9%
Carpooled to work
14.8%
−11.9 ptssince 2009
from 26.7% in 2009
US average: 8.5%
Public transit
1.5%
−0.4 ptssince 2009
from 1.9% in 2009
US average: 3.2%
Worked from home
11.9%
+10.0 ptssince 2009
from 1.9% in 2009
US average: 15.0%
Walked to work
2.3%
−3.5 ptssince 2009
from 5.9% in 2009
US average: 2.4%
Biked to work
0.0%
Unchangedsince 2009
from 0.0% in 2009
US average: 0.4%
No vehicle available
7.7%
−1.4 ptssince 2009
from 9.1% in 2009
US average: 8.3%
Section 07

Work & employment

Unemployment rate
12.7%
−0.8 ptssince 2011
from 13.5% in 2011
US average: 5.2%
Labor force participation
55.1%
−1.9 ptssince 2011
from 57.0% in 2011
US average: 63.5%
Self-employed
10.4%
−9.6 ptssince 2009
from 20.0% in 2009
US average: 13.1%
Management & professional
21.6%
−37.2 ptssince 2009
from 58.8% in 2009
US average: 42.5%
Section 08

People & community

Male
45.7%
−0.7 ptssince 2009
from 46.4% in 2009
Female
54.3%
+0.7 ptssince 2009
from 53.6% in 2009
Foreign born
20.6%
+6.5 ptssince 2009
from 14.1% in 2009
US average: 14.1%
Veterans
2.9%
−40.9 ptssince 2009
from 43.8% in 2009
US average: 6.2%
With a disability
13.1%
−6.1 ptssince 2012
from 19.2% in 2012
US average: 13.3%
Uninsured
0.6%
−93.0 ptssince 2013
from 93.6% in 2013
US average: 8.4%
Broadband at home
92.1%
+28.7 ptssince 2017
from 63.4% in 2017
US average: 91.0%
English only at home
62.1%
+3.3 ptssince 2016
from 58.8% in 2016
US average: 77.7%
Spanish at home
0.5%
+0.5 ptssince 2016
from 0.0% in 2016
US average: 13.6%
Drill deeper

Places similar to Pahala

Christmas
Pop 1,696
Bokeelia
Pop 1,930
Wyoming
Pop 1,865
Pine Island Center
Pop 1,834
Places similar to Pahala
Head to head

Compare Pahala to nearby cities

PAHALA VS
Hawaiian Paradise Park
Income$88,348+24%
Home value$457,100+104%
Population13,203+647%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
PAHALA VS
Hilo
Income$81,779+14%
Home value$483,000+115%
Population50,404+2751%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
PAHALA VS
Kailua CDP (Hawaii County)
Income$88,211+23%
Home value$667,400+197%
Population21,818+1134%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
PAHALA VS
Kaiminani
Income$110,560+55%
Home value$772,800+244%
Population11,465+548%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
Frequently asked

How many people live in Pahala, Hawaii?

Pahala, Hawaii has about 1,768 residents according to the 2024 American Community Survey.

What is the median household income in Pahala, Hawaii?

The typical household in Pahala, Hawaii earns about $71,518 a year. Half of households make more than that, and half make less.

Is Pahala, Hawaii expensive?

In Pahala, Hawaii, the median home is worth about $224,500.

How educated are people in Pahala, Hawaii?

About 23.0% of adults age 25 and over in Pahala, Hawaii hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

What is the poverty rate in Pahala, Hawaii?

About 11.3% of people in Pahala, Hawaii live below the federal poverty line.

Has Pahala, Hawaii grown since 1990?

Yes, Pahala, Hawaii has grown since 1990. The population has added about 346 residents, a change of about 24 percent over that period.

Keep going

Explore from here

Up the hierarchy
Hawaii
Rankings
Highest income citiesFastest growing citiesMost educated cities
Compare
Compare Pahala with another place

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

How we source and harmonize this data →

Pahala, Hawaii: demographics, income & housing data · CensusEasy