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MICROPOLITAN AREA

Hilo Micro

Hilo-Kailua, HI · 1 counties · 210,043 residents (2025 est.) · 4,028.431 sq mi
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The short version

Hilo has roughly average household income, with a median household income of $78,639. Population has grown 38% since 2000. Median home value has roughly tripled since 2000, reaching $519,300. With a median age of 44.3, the population is older than the US median of 38.9. It ranks in the top 5% of US metro areas for household income.

At a glance
Average income
near the US median
US median: $82,259
Older
median age 44.3
US median: 38.9
Average education
31% hold a bachelor's degree
US average: 36%
Less affordable
home values up 83%, inflation adjusted
US median home: $376,019
Section 01

Population & growth

Total population
205,769
+38%since 2000
from 148,677 in 2000
1990 – 2025
Population density
51 / sq mi
+38%since 2000
from 37 / sq mi in 2000
US average: 281
Median age
44.3
+15%since 2000
from 38.6 in 2000
US average: 38.9

PEP 2025 EST:210,043 residents (Census Bureau Vintage 2025, released March 2026)

Population, 1990 – 2024
112K137K163K189K214K1990201020202024Hilo
2024206K
1990201020202024
Section 02

Income & economy

Median household income
$78,639
+8%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $39,805 in 2000
US average: $82,259
1990 – 2024
Per capita income
$39,739
+111%since 2000
from $18,791 in 2000
US average: $44,673
Households earning $100K+
52.2%
+17.5 ptssince 2009
from 34.7% in 2009
US average: 53.3%
Poverty rate
14.9%
−0.7 ptssince 2000
from 15.7% in 2000
US average: 12.5%
Income inequality (Gini)
0.480
+5%since 2010
from 0.458 in 2010
US average: 0.476
Workforce by industry, 2024
Information11.7%
US avg: 10.8%
Wholesale trade8.7%
US avg: 6.9%
Other services5.9%
US avg: 6.7%
Finance & insurance4.3%
US avg: 5.9%
Professional, scientific, technical3.6%
US avg: 5.1%
Agriculture, forestry, fishing3.4%
US avg: 1.6%
Construction3.4%
US avg: 1.2%
Retail trade2.7%
US avg: 9.9%
Public administration2.4%
US avg: 4.8%
Transportation & warehousing1.9%
US avg: 2.2%
Arts, entertainment, food1.1%
US avg: 1.9%
Education & health services0.7%
US avg: 0.9%
Manufacturing0%
US avg: 0.4%
BARS: THIS PLACE · TICKS: US AVERAGE
Section 03

Housing

Median home value
$519,300
+83%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $155,400 in 2000
US average: $376,019
1990 – 2024
Median gross rent
$1,510
+29%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $645 in 2000
US average: $1,442
Owner-occupied
74.0%
+9.5 ptssince 2000
from 64.5% in 2000
26.0% rent
Vacancy rate
18.4%
+0.6 ptssince 2009
from 17.8% in 2009
US average: 10.0%
Owner cost-burdened
26.8%
−5.7 ptssince 2009
from 32.5% in 2009
US average: 22.9%
Renter cost-burdened
44.3%
+3.3 ptssince 2009
from 41.0% in 2009
US average: 47.4%
Afford Score
6.6
+69%since 2000
from 3.9 in 2000
1990 – 2024
Gentrification Score
20
RELATED:See current rent listings in Hilo on RentDataNow
Section 04

Race & ethnicity

2000
White, non-Hispanic29.7%(44,223)
Black0.4%(602)
Hispanic / Latino9.5%(14,111)
Asian25.8%(38,378)
Other0%
Diversity Score77.1%(114,647)
Segregation Score0%
2024
White, non-Hispanic29.9%(61,616)
Black0.8%(1,590)
Hispanic / Latino11.7%(24,003)
Asian20.2%(41,595)
Other37.4%(76,965)
Diversity Score89.5%(184,138)
Segregation Score30.6%(62,985)
Diversity Score
89
+16%since 2000
from 77 in 2000
1990 – 2024
Segregation Score
31
+13%since 2020
from 27 in 2020
Section 05

Education

Bachelor's degree or higher
31.4%
+9.3 ptssince 2000
from 22.1% in 2000
US average: 35.6%
High school or higher
93.2%
+8.6 ptssince 2000
from 84.6% in 2000
US average: 89.6%
Graduate degree
12.3%
+4.9 ptssince 2000
from 7.5% in 2000
US average: 14.0%
Section 06

Commute & transportation

Average commute
27.4 min
+59%since 2000
from 17.2 min in 2000
US average: 26.5
Drive alone to work
68.2%
−0.5 ptssince 2009
from 68.8% in 2009
US average: 68.9%
Carpooled to work
14.8%
−2.0 ptssince 2009
from 16.9% in 2009
US average: 8.5%
Public transit
0.7%
−0.5 ptssince 2009
from 1.1% in 2009
US average: 3.2%
Worked from home
12.1%
+3.8 ptssince 2009
from 8.3% in 2009
US average: 15.0%
Walked to work
1.9%
−0.7 ptssince 2009
from 2.6% in 2009
US average: 2.4%
Biked to work
0.3%
−0.1 ptssince 2009
from 0.4% in 2009
US average: 0.4%
No vehicle available
4.8%
−0.4 ptssince 2009
from 5.2% in 2009
US average: 8.3%
Section 07

Work & employment

Unemployment rate
6.0%
−3.2 ptssince 2011
from 9.2% in 2011
US average: 5.2%
Labor force participation
56.5%
−6.7 ptssince 2011
from 63.2% in 2011
US average: 63.5%
Self-employed
16.1%
+2.4 ptssince 2009
from 13.6% in 2009
US average: 13.1%
Management & professional
36.2%
−24.7 ptssince 2009
from 60.9% in 2009
US average: 42.5%
Section 08

People & community

Male
49.7%
−0.7 ptssince 2009
from 50.3% in 2009
Female
50.3%
+0.7 ptssince 2009
from 49.7% in 2009
Foreign born
11.8%
+0.9 ptssince 2009
from 10.9% in 2009
US average: 14.1%
Veterans
7.3%
−42.1 ptssince 2009
from 49.5% in 2009
US average: 6.2%
With a disability
16.0%
+2.6 ptssince 2012
from 13.4% in 2012
US average: 13.3%
Uninsured
4.5%
−85.6 ptssince 2013
from 90.1% in 2013
US average: 8.4%
Broadband at home
91.1%
+16.6 ptssince 2017
from 74.5% in 2017
US average: 91.0%
English only at home
77.4%
−3.9 ptssince 2016
from 81.3% in 2016
US average: 77.7%
Spanish at home
2.3%
+0.3 ptssince 2016
from 2.0% in 2016
US average: 13.6%
In this metro

Principal cities

HiloCENTRAL50,404Kailua CDP (Hawaii County)CENTRAL21,818
What's inside

1 component county

Hawaii CountyCENTRAL210,043
Drill deeper

Metros similar to Hilo

Racine
Pop 198,919
Billings
Pop 193,603
Gainesville
Pop 226,568
Medford
Pop 221,795
Places similar to Hilo
Head to head

Compare Hilo side by side

HILO VS
Racine
Income$78,096−1%
Home value$251,400−52%
Population198,919−5%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
HILO VS
Billings
Income$77,183−2%
Home value$356,419−31%
Population193,603−8%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
HILO VS
Gainesville
Income$80,901+3%
Home value$350,400−33%
Population226,568+8%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
HILO VS
Medford
Income$73,999−6%
Home value$430,200−17%
Population221,795+6%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
Frequently asked

How many people live in Hilo-Kailua, HI?

Hilo-Kailua, HI has about 205,769 residents according to the 2024 American Community Survey.

What is the median household income in Hilo-Kailua, HI?

The typical household in Hilo-Kailua, HI earns about $78,639 a year. Half of households make more than that, and half make less.

Is Hilo-Kailua, HI expensive?

In Hilo-Kailua, HI, the median home is worth about $519,300, and the typical rent is about $1,510 a month.

How educated are people in Hilo-Kailua, HI?

About 31.4% of adults age 25 and over in Hilo-Kailua, HI hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

What is the poverty rate in Hilo-Kailua, HI?

About 14.9% of people in Hilo-Kailua, HI live below the federal poverty line.

Has Hilo-Kailua, HI grown since 1990?

Yes, Hilo-Kailua, HI has grown since 1990. The population has added about 85,452 residents, a change of about 71 percent over that period.

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DATA: US CENSUS BUREAU ACS 5-YEAR + DECENNIAL CENSUS · METRO ROLLUP OF COMPONENT COUNTIES · UPDATED 2024

How we source and harmonize this data →