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Living in
Kailua (Hawaii County).
About
Life in Kailua (Hawaii County)
Kailua CDP (Hawaii County) is a community of 21,851 people in Hawaii. The median household income is $88,211, median rent runs about $1,747 per month, and median home values are around $667,400. Unemployment is low at 2.7%, suggesting a relatively healthy local job market.
Kailua (Hawaii County) at a Glance
Population, income, housing and more
Median Age
41.6 yrs
Poverty Rate
14.3%
Foreign-Born
19.6%
Broadband Internet
92.4%
of households
Median household income
Demographics19.6% foreign-born, most often from Philippines
Who lives in Kailua (Hawaii County): race and ethnicity, ages, households, languages and countries of origin
In Kailua (Hawaii County), the largest foreign-born group is from Philippines (20.8%), and 14.1% of residents speak Other Asian/Pacific at home.
Under 18
20.3%
of residents
65 and Older
19.7%
of residents
Households with Kids
28.0%
anyone under 18
Living Alone
25.5%
of households
Married Couples
50.6%
of households
Avg Household Size
2.83
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 11% below HI average
Rent, home values, and income in Kailua (Hawaii County)
In Kailua (Hawaii County), rent runs 11% below the HI average, and home values are 20% below the HI average.
Median rent (per month)
Median home value
Rent Burdened
37.2%
spending 30%+ of income on rent
Severely Rent Burdened
14.8%
spending 50%+
Median Property Tax
$2,290
per year, owner-occupied homes
Homeowners
67.0%
of occupied homes are owned
Typical Home Built
1985
median year built
Vacant Homes
23.4%
of housing units
Jobs & Economyunemployment about average for HI
Unemployment in Kailua (Hawaii County)
Unemployment in Hawaii County, which includes Kailua (Hawaii County), is close to the HI average.
Unemployment rate
Kailua (Hawaii County): Hawaii County rate (county-wide) · BLS annual average
Unemployment Rate — 10 Year Trend
Hawaii County (county-wide) · Annual averages
What Kailua (Hawaii County) Residents Do for Work · share of employed residents by industry
City residents, wherever they work
Commute20.3 min avg
How Kailua (Hawaii County) residents get to work, and the nearest airports
In Kailua (Hawaii County), most residents drive alone to work (62%), and 71% get there in under 30 minutes.
How People Get to Work
Commute Time Distribution
Nearest airports · with airline service
- 7 mi
Ellison Onizuka Kona International Airport at Keāhole (KOA)
Small hub2.0M passengers boarded in 2025
- 91 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 Kailua (Hawaii County), 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 Kailua (Hawaii County), 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.
300 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 Kailua (Hawaii County), 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
Climate86°F summers, 69°F winters
30-year climate averages (1991–2020) — monthly temperatures and precipitation
Kailua (Hawaii County) has warm summers (avg high 86°F) and warm winters (avg low 69°F).
Spring (Mar–May)
83°/71°F
avg high / low
Summer (Jun–Aug)
86°/75°F
avg high / low
Fall (Sep–Nov)
86°/74°F
avg high / low
Winter (Dec–Feb)
82°/69°F
avg high / low
Annual Precipitation
16.9"
Annual Snowfall
0.0"
Hot Days/Year
3
days above 90°F
Freeze Days/Year
0
days below 32°F
Rainy Days/Year
57
Average month
Show month-by-month table ↓Hide table ↑
| Month | High | Low | Precip |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 81°F | 69°F | 1.35" |
| Feb | 82°F | 68°F | 1.17" |
| Mar | 82°F | 70°F | 0.97" |
| Apr | 83°F | 71°F | 0.63" |
| May | 84°F | 73°F | 0.64" |
| Jun | 85°F | 74°F | 0.76" |
| Jul | 86°F | 75°F | 0.49" |
| Aug | 87°F | 76°F | 0.54" |
| Sep | 87°F | 75°F | 0.54" |
| Oct | 86°F | 75°F | 0.89" |
| Nov | 84°F | 72°F | 0.83" |
| Dec | 82°F | 70°F | 1.06" |
Healthcare
Hospitals, ratings, and health insurance in Kailua (Hawaii County)
Uninsured
7.4%
of residents
No hospitals inside Kailua (Hawaii County)'s limits — nearest hospitals · within 15 miles
Kona Community Hospital
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available · 10 mi away · Kealakekua
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.
Education16.2:1 student/teacher ratio
Schools and degree attainment in Kailua (Hawaii County)
Kailua (Hawaii County)'s student/teacher ratio is 16.2:1, close to the national average of 16:1, and 33.6% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Public Schools
5
within city limits
Private Schools
2
within city limits
College Degree Rate
33.6%
adults 25+ with bachelor's or higher
Student/Teacher Ratio
16.2:1
National avg 16:1
Schools located within city limits (2023) — school-level metrics change slowly year to year
Parks & Recreationclosest: Kaloko-Honokōhau National Historical Park, 3 mi
Nearby national parks, recreation areas and public libraries for Kailua (Hawaii County)
Kailua (Hawaii County) has 6 nearby national parks or recreation areas, closest being Kaloko-Honokōhau National Historical Park (3 mi away).
Nearby National Parks & Recreation Areas
Kaloko-Honokōhau National Historical Park
National Historical Park
3 mi awayPuʻuhonua o Hōnaunau National Historical Park
National Historical Park
17 mi awayPuʻukoholā Heiau National Historic Site
National Historic Site
29 mi awayAla Kahakai National Historic Trail
National Historic Trail
35 mi awayHawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park
National Park
40 mi awayHaleakalā National Park
National Park
74 mi awayPublic Libraries in Kailua (Hawaii County)
Kailua-Kona Public Library
75-138 Hualalai Rd., Kailua-Kona
Cities Near Kailua (Hawaii County)
The closest cities within 60 miles
Planning a move to Kailua (Hawaii County)?
Read our full moving guide — what it's really like to live here.
Kailua (Hawaii County) FAQ
Is Kailua (Hawaii County), Hawaii affordable?⌄
Kailua (Hawaii County)'s median rent is $1,754/month, which is above the national average. The median household income is $88,211/year. Median home value is $667,400.
Is Kailua (Hawaii County), Hawaii safe?⌄
Kailua (Hawaii County) 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 Kailua (Hawaii County), Hawaii?⌄
Hawaii County, which includes Kailua (Hawaii County), 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 Kailua (Hawaii County), Hawaii?⌄
The cost of living in Kailua (Hawaii County) is primarily driven by housing. Median rent is $1,754/month and median household income is $88,211/year. The median home value is $667,400. About 37% of renters spend more than 30% of their income on housing.
How is the commute in Kailua (Hawaii County), Hawaii?⌄
The average commute in Kailua (Hawaii County) 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