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Living in
Hilo.
Hilo is an unincorporated community in Hawaii County, HI. It has no city government: the county runs it, and the Census counts it as its own place.
About
Life in Hilo
If you're considering Hilo, understand that you're choosing a place where the weather dominates daily life. This is the fourth-wettest city in the country—expect rain roughly 272 days a year, with some areas getting over 200 inches annually. Temperatures stay mild and consistent year-round (71-76°F), so you won't deal with harsh winters, but the humidity and constant moisture shape everything from home maintenance to outdoor plans.
Hilo at a Glance
Population, income, housing and more
Median Age
42.7 yrs
Poverty Rate
14.5%
Foreign-Born
11.0%
Broadband Internet
91.4%
of households
Population Growth
+7.0%
recent change · Census Bureau
Median household income
Demographics11.0% foreign-born, most often from Philippines
Who lives in Hilo: race and ethnicity, ages, households, languages and countries of origin
In Hilo, the largest foreign-born group is from Philippines (32.8%), and 14.0% of residents speak Other Asian/Pacific at home.
Under 18
20.0%
of residents
65 and Older
22.7%
of residents
Households with Kids
28.8%
anyone under 18
Living Alone
28.3%
of households
Married Couples
42.5%
of households
Avg Household Size
2.76
people
Race & Ethnicity
Hispanic or Latino of any race; other groups are non-Hispanic
Top countries of origin (foreign-born)
Languages Spoken at Home
Cost of Livingrent 28% below HI average
Rent, home values, and income in Hilo
In Hilo, rent runs 28% below the HI average, and home values are 42% below the HI average.
Median rent (per month)
Median home value
Rent Burdened
46.7%
spending 30%+ of income on rent
Severely Rent Burdened
26.7%
spending 50%+
Median Property Tax
$1,294
per year, owner-occupied homes
Homeowners
66.1%
of occupied homes are owned
Typical Home Built
1978
median year built
Vacant Homes
7.9%
of housing units
Home Value Trend
Latest: $562,242 (September 2026)
Jobs & Economyunemployment about average for HI
Unemployment in Hilo
Unemployment in Hawaii County, which includes Hilo, is close to the HI average.
Unemployment rate
Hilo: Hawaii County rate (county-wide) · BLS annual average
Unemployment Rate — 10 Year Trend
Hawaii County (county-wide) · Annual averages
What Hilo Residents Do for Work · share of employed residents by industry
City residents, wherever they work
Commute20.3 min avg
How Hilo residents get to work, and the nearest airports
In Hilo, most residents drive alone to work (72%), and 84% get there in under 30 minutes.
How People Get to Work
Commute Time Distribution
Nearest airports · with airline service
- 3 mi
Hilo International Airport (ITO)
Small hub704k passengers boarded in 2025
- 120 mi
Kahului International Airport (OGG)
Medium hub3.5M passengers boarded in 2025
Straight-line distance. Size is the FAA’s hub category, based on passenger traffic: regional airports may have only a few flights a day.
Safetyviolent crime 13% below national average
Crime rates for 2025
Violent crime in the area policed by the Hawaii Police Department, which covers Hilo, runs 13% below the national average.
Violent Crime Rate
287.2
per 100,000 residents
Below average (329 national, 2025)
Property Crime Rate
1,924.2
per 100,000 residents
Above average (1,552 national, 2025)
Policed by Hawaii Police Department (county-wide rate)
Natural DisastersHeavy Rain most common — 14 events in 2025
Natural hazard risk, storms and earthquakes
FEMA National Risk Index
Relatively High
98.5 / 100
Compares expected losses from natural hazards, social vulnerability and community resilience against every US county (higher = more risk).
Hawaii County, county-wide · FEMA NRI December 2025
In Hawaii County, which includes Hilo, the most common type is heavy rain, with 14 recorded events in 2025.
Most common events:
Storm events by year
| Year | Events | Top Type | Property Damage |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 14 | Drought | $20,000 |
| 2024 | 26 | Drought | $9.1M |
| 2023 | 42 | Drought | $2,000 |
| 2022 | 56 | Drought | None reported |
| 2021 | 73 | Heavy Rain | None reported |
| 2020 | 45 | Heavy Rain | $2,000 |
| 2019 | 57 | Heavy Rain | $5,000 |
| 2018 | 69 | Heavy Rain | $7.1M |
Property damage is the National Weather Service's estimate filed with each event. “None reported” means the events were logged with $0 damage; “Not estimated” means no estimate was filed. Storms covering several counties aren't counted here, since NOAA doesn't split their damage by county.
296 earthquakes of magnitude 2.5+ within 100 miles in the past year
Hawaii County, county-wide
Air Quality32 median AQI — Good
Days by air quality category (2025)
Air quality in Hawaii County, which includes Hilo, is typically good — 314 good-air days per year.
Median AQI
32
Good Days
314
per year
Moderate Days
51
per year
Unhealthy Days
0
per year
Hawaii County, county-wide
Climate83°F summers, 65°F winters
30-year climate averages (1991–2020) — monthly temperatures and precipitation
Hilo has warm summers (avg high 83°F) and warm winters (avg low 65°F).
Spring (Mar–May)
79°/66°F
avg high / low
Summer (Jun–Aug)
83°/70°F
avg high / low
Fall (Sep–Nov)
82°/69°F
avg high / low
Winter (Dec–Feb)
79°/65°F
avg high / low
Annual Precipitation
120.4"
Annual Snowfall
0.0"
Hot Days/Year
2
days above 90°F
Freeze Days/Year
0
days below 32°F
Rainy Days/Year
273
Average month
Show month-by-month table ↓Hide table ↑
| Month | High | Low | Precip |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 79°F | 64°F | 7.86" |
| Feb | 78°F | 64°F | 10.22" |
| Mar | 79°F | 65°F | 12.68" |
| Apr | 79°F | 66°F | 9.40" |
| May | 81°F | 67°F | 6.99" |
| Jun | 82°F | 69°F | 7.30" |
| Jul | 83°F | 70°F | 9.24" |
| Aug | 83°F | 70°F | 11.30" |
| Sep | 83°F | 70°F | 8.70" |
| Oct | 82°F | 69°F | 10.24" |
| Nov | 80°F | 68°F | 14.39" |
| Dec | 79°F | 66°F | 12.07" |
Healthcare1 hospital, avg 3.0/5
Hospitals, ratings, and health insurance in Hilo
Hilo has 1 hospital, averaging 3.0 out of 5 on CMS's quality rating.
Hospitals
1
within city limits
Uninsured
2.9%
of residents
Avg Hospital Rating
3.0 / 5
Hilo Benioff Medical Center
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available
Adult Health · vs. the typical US place
Share of adults. Modeled estimates, not counted cases. “US” = the typical US place.
Medicare-certified hospitals only. Doesn’t include clinics, urgent care, or freestanding ERs.
Education14.3:1 student/teacher ratio
Schools and degree attainment in Hilo
Hilo's student/teacher ratio is 14.3:1 (lower than the national average of 16:1), and 34.6% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Public Schools
15
within city limits
Private Schools
2
within city limits
College Degree Rate
34.6%
adults 25+ with bachelor's or higher
Student/Teacher Ratio
14.3:1
National avg 16:1
Schools located within city limits (2023) — school-level metrics change slowly year to year
Colleges & Universities in Hilo
Public · 4-year · 2,160 students · in-state tuition $8,258 · 45% graduate · median earnings $51,003 (10 yrs after entry)
Public · 2-year · 1,546 students · in-state tuition $3,204 · 32% graduate · median earnings $40,335 (10 yrs after entry)
Degree-granting colleges with 100+ students, placed by campus location (main campuses only — branch campuses are reported under their parent school)
Parks & Recreationclosest: Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park, 36 mi
Nearby national parks, recreation areas and public libraries for Hilo
Hilo has 6 nearby national parks or recreation areas, closest being Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park (36 mi away).
Nearby National Parks & Recreation Areas
Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park
National Park
36 mi awayPuʻukoholā Heiau National Historic Site
National Historic Site
53 mi awayPuʻuhonua o Hōnaunau National Historical Park
National Historical Park
57 mi awayKaloko-Honokōhau National Historical Park
National Historical Park
62 mi awayAla Kahakai National Historic Trail
National Historic Trail
66 mi awayHaleakalā National Park
National Park
98 mi awayPublic Libraries in Hilo
Hilo Public Library
300 Waianuenue Ave., Hilo
Cities Near Hilo
The closest cities within 60 miles
Planning a move to Hilo?
Read our full moving guide — what it's really like to live here.
Hilo FAQ
Is Hilo, Hawaii affordable?⌄
Hilo's median rent is $1,427/month, which is close to the national average. The median household income is $81,779/year. Median home value is $483,000.
Is Hilo, Hawaii safe?⌄
Hilo is policed by the Hawaii Police Department, whose violent crime rate across its service area was 287 per 100,000 residents in 2025, which is below the national average of 329/100k that year. Property crime rate is 1924 per 100,000. As with any city, crime rates vary by neighborhood.
What is the job market like in Hilo, Hawaii?⌄
Hawaii County, which includes Hilo, has an unemployment rate of 2.7%, which is strong — well below the national average of 4.3%.
What is the cost of living in Hilo, Hawaii?⌄
The cost of living in Hilo is primarily driven by housing. Median rent is $1,427/month and median household income is $81,779/year. The median home value is $483,000. About 47% of renters spend more than 30% of their income on housing.
How is the commute in Hilo, Hawaii?⌄
The average commute in Hilo is 20 minutes, which is shorter than average compared to the national average of 26 minutes.
Data from the US Census Bureau, BLS, FBI, NOAA, EPA, Zillow Research and other public sources. Where our data comes from