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CITY

Wailua

Hawaii · 2,697 residents · 1.536 sq mi
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The short version

Wailua has lower-than-average household income, with a median household income of $69,167. Population has grown 29% since 2000. Median home value has more than tripled since 2000, reaching $790,800. With a median age of 44.8, the population is older than the US median of 38.9. Households here earn about 31% less than the Hawaii median.

At a glance
Lower income
below the US median
US median: $82,259
Older
median age 44.8
US median: 38.9
Less educated
28% hold a bachelor's degree
US average: 36%
Less affordable
home values up 119%, inflation adjusted
US median home: $376,019
Section 01

Population & growth

Total population
2,697
+29%since 2000
from 2,083 in 2000
1990 – 2024
Population density
1,756 / sq mi
+29%since 2000
from 1,356 / sq mi in 2000
US average: 281
Median age
44.8
+9%since 2000
from 41.1 in 2000
US average: 38.9
Population, 1990 – 2024
2K2K2K3K3K1990201020202024Wailua
20243K
1990201020202024
Section 02

Income & economy

Median household income
$69,167
−17%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $45,875 in 2000
US average: $82,259
1990 – 2024
Per capita income
$39,401
+95%since 2000
from $20,231 in 2000
US average: $44,673
Households earning $100K+
47.6%
+7.6 ptssince 2009
from 40.0% in 2009
US average: 53.3%
Poverty rate
12.8%
+3.9 ptssince 2000
from 8.9% in 2000
US average: 12.5%
Income inequality (Gini)
0.465
+20%since 2010
from 0.386 in 2010
US average: 0.476
Workforce by industry, 2024
Information14.9%
US avg: 10.8%
Transportation & warehousing10.1%
US avg: 2.2%
Wholesale trade9.8%
US avg: 6.9%
Other services5.6%
US avg: 6.7%
Retail trade3.4%
US avg: 9.9%
Arts, entertainment, food1.9%
US avg: 1.9%
Finance & insurance1.6%
US avg: 5.9%
Professional, scientific, technical1.6%
US avg: 5.1%
Public administration1.3%
US avg: 4.8%
Agriculture, forestry, fishing0.5%
US avg: 1.6%
Construction0.5%
US avg: 1.2%
Manufacturing0%
US avg: 0.4%
Education & health services0%
US avg: 0.9%
BARS: THIS PLACE · TICKS: US AVERAGE
Section 03

Housing

Median home value
$790,800
+119%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $197,900 in 2000
US average: $376,019
1990 – 2024
Median gross rent
$2,310
+51%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $841 in 2000
US average: $1,442
Owner-occupied
55.2%
−1.5 ptssince 2000
from 56.7% in 2000
44.8% rent
Vacancy rate
33.6%
+1.3 ptssince 2009
from 32.2% in 2009
US average: 10.0%
Owner cost-burdened
43.2%
+10.7 ptssince 2009
from 32.5% in 2009
US average: 22.9%
Renter cost-burdened
65.5%
+13.8 ptssince 2009
from 51.6% in 2009
US average: 47.4%
Afford Score
11.4
+165%since 2000
from 4.3 in 2000
1990 – 2024
Gentrification Score
33
RELATED:See current rent listings in Wailua on RentDataNow
Section 04

Race & ethnicity

2000
White, non-Hispanic27.9%(582)
Black0.8%(16)
Hispanic / Latino7.1%(148)
Asian33.2%(692)
Other0%
Diversity Score74.2%(1,546)
2024
White, non-Hispanic35.3%(951)
Black0.7%(19)
Hispanic / Latino24.6%(664)
Asian18.9%(510)
Other20.5%(553)
Diversity Score92.1%(2,485)
Diversity Score
92
+24%since 2000
from 74 in 2000
1990 – 2024
Section 05

Education

Bachelor's degree or higher
27.7%
+5.9 ptssince 2000
from 21.8% in 2000
US average: 35.6%
High school or higher
91.8%
+6.0 ptssince 2000
from 85.8% in 2000
US average: 89.6%
Graduate degree
11.3%
+6.1 ptssince 2000
from 5.2% in 2000
US average: 14.0%
Section 06

Commute & transportation

Average commute
23.4 min
+104%since 2000
from 11.5 min in 2000
US average: 26.5
Drive alone to work
70.2%
−13.9 ptssince 2009
from 84.1% in 2009
US average: 68.9%
Carpooled to work
19.0%
+8.0 ptssince 2009
from 11.0% in 2009
US average: 8.5%
Public transit
0.7%
+0.7 ptssince 2009
from 0.0% in 2009
US average: 3.2%
Worked from home
8.5%
+5.6 ptssince 2009
from 2.8% in 2009
US average: 15.0%
Walked to work
1.6%
Unchangedsince 2009
from 1.6% 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
2.3%
−0.1 ptssince 2009
from 2.4% in 2009
US average: 8.3%
Section 07

Work & employment

Unemployment rate
10.4%
+3.6 ptssince 2011
from 6.8% in 2011
US average: 5.2%
Labor force participation
64.6%
−0.2 ptssince 2011
from 64.9% in 2011
US average: 63.5%
Self-employed
12.2%
+1.6 ptssince 2009
from 10.6% in 2009
US average: 13.1%
Management & professional
35.9%
−30.4 ptssince 2009
from 66.3% in 2009
US average: 42.5%
Section 08

People & community

Male
56.8%
+11.7 ptssince 2009
from 45.1% in 2009
Female
43.2%
−11.7 ptssince 2009
from 54.9% in 2009
Foreign born
9.7%
+0.6 ptssince 2009
from 9.1% in 2009
US average: 14.1%
Veterans
7.9%
−38.6 ptssince 2009
from 46.5% in 2009
US average: 6.2%
With a disability
20.6%
+9.8 ptssince 2012
from 10.8% in 2012
US average: 13.3%
Uninsured
14.3%
−79.9 ptssince 2013
from 94.2% in 2013
US average: 8.4%
Broadband at home
88.0%
+4.5 ptssince 2017
from 83.5% in 2017
US average: 91.0%
English only at home
87.3%
−4.0 ptssince 2016
from 91.3% in 2016
US average: 77.7%
Spanish at home
1.4%
+0.6 ptssince 2016
from 0.8% in 2016
US average: 13.6%
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Compare Wailua to nearby cities

WAILUA VS
Kapaa
Income$89,477+29%
Home value$861,300+9%
Population11,094+311%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
WAILUA VS
Makaha
Income$64,970−6%
Home value$394,000−50%
Population10,066+273%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
WAILUA VS
Waianae
Income$81,733+18%
Home value$518,300−34%
Population12,918+379%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
WAILUA VS
Maili
Income$111,542+61%
Home value$640,600−19%
Population11,570+329%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
Frequently asked

How many people live in Wailua, Hawaii?

Wailua, Hawaii has about 2,697 residents according to the 2024 American Community Survey.

What is the median household income in Wailua, Hawaii?

The typical household in Wailua, Hawaii earns about $69,167 a year. Half of households make more than that, and half make less.

Is Wailua, Hawaii expensive?

In Wailua, Hawaii, the median home is worth about $790,800, and the typical rent is about $2,310 a month.

How educated are people in Wailua, Hawaii?

About 27.7% of adults age 25 and over in Wailua, Hawaii hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

What is the poverty rate in Wailua, Hawaii?

About 12.8% of people in Wailua, Hawaii live below the federal poverty line.

Has Wailua, Hawaii grown since 1990?

Yes, Wailua, Hawaii has grown since 1990. The population has added about 707 residents, a change of about 36 percent over that period.

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

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