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Living in
Kapaa.
Kapaa is an unincorporated community in Kauai County, HI. It has no city government: the county runs it, and the Census counts it as its own place.
About
Life in Kapaa
Kapaa is a community of 10,886 people in Hawaii. The median household income is $89,440, median rent runs about $2,020 per month, and median home values are around $861,300. Unemployment is low at 2.4%, suggesting a relatively healthy local job market.
Kapaa at a Glance
Population, income, housing and more
Median Age
48.4 yrs
Poverty Rate
7.5%
Foreign-Born
15.5%
Broadband Internet
93.2%
of households
Population Growth
+2.9%
recent change · Census Bureau
Median household income
Demographics15.5% foreign-born, most often from Philippines
Who lives in Kapaa: race and ethnicity, ages, households, languages and countries of origin
In Kapaa, the largest foreign-born group is from Philippines (73.7%), and 9.0% of residents speak Other Asian/Pacific at home.
Under 18
16.7%
of residents
65 and Older
23.8%
of residents
Households with Kids
23.1%
anyone under 18
Living Alone
23.4%
of households
Married Couples
38.9%
of households
Avg Household Size
3.02
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 about average for HI
Rent, home values, and income in Kapaa
Rent and home values here are close to the HI average.
Median rent (per month)
Median home value
Rent Burdened
51.9%
spending 30%+ of income on rent
Severely Rent Burdened
12.3%
spending 50%+
Median Property Tax
$1,832
per year, owner-occupied homes
Homeowners
69.0%
of occupied homes are owned
Typical Home Built
1984
median year built
Vacant Homes
12.5%
of housing units
Home Value Trend
Latest: $951,642 (September 2026)
Jobs & Economyunemployment about average for HI
Unemployment in Kapaa
Unemployment in Kauai County, which includes Kapaa, is close to the HI average.
Unemployment rate
Kapaa: Kauai County rate (county-wide) · BLS annual average
Unemployment Rate — 10 Year Trend
Kauai County (county-wide) · Annual averages
What Kapaa Residents Do for Work · share of employed residents by industry
City residents, wherever they work
Commute26.7 min avg
How Kapaa residents get to work, and the nearest airports
In Kapaa, most residents drive alone to work (71%), and 51% get there in under 30 minutes.
How People Get to Work
Commute Time Distribution
Nearest airports · with airline service
- 7 mi
Lihue Airport (LIH)
Small hub1.8M passengers boarded in 2025
- 103 mi
Daniel K. Inouye International Airport (HNL)
Major hub10.4M 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 30% below national average
Crime rates for 2025
Violent crime in the area policed by the Kauai Police Department, which covers Kapaa, runs 30% below the national average.
Violent Crime Rate
231.7
per 100,000 residents
Below average (329 national, 2025)
Property Crime Rate
1,966.6
per 100,000 residents
Above average (1,552 national, 2025)
Policed by Kauai Police Department (county-wide rate)
Natural DisastersHigh Surf most common — 8 events in 2025
Natural hazard risk, storms and earthquakes
FEMA National Risk Index
Relatively Moderate
84.4 / 100
Compares expected losses from natural hazards, social vulnerability and community resilience against every US county (higher = more risk).
Kauai County, county-wide · FEMA NRI December 2025
In Kauai County, which includes Kapaa, the most common type is high surf, with 8 recorded events in 2025.
Most common events:
Storm events by year
| Year | Events | Top Type | Property Damage |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 8 | High Surf | $20,000 |
| 2024 | 15 | High Surf | $13.5M |
| 2023 | 19 | High Surf | None reported |
| 2022 | 40 | High Surf | $7,000 |
| 2021 | 38 | High Surf | $34.0M |
| 2020 | 50 | High Surf | $30.6M |
| 2019 | 52 | High Surf | None reported |
| 2018 | 55 | High Surf | $19.1M |
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.
1 earthquake of magnitude 2.5+ within 100 miles in the past year
Kauai County, county-wide
Air Quality13 median AQI — Good
Days by air quality category (2022)
Air quality in Kauai County, which includes Kapaa, is typically good.
Median AQI
13
Kauai County, county-wide
Climate84°F summers, 67°F winters
30-year climate averages (1991–2020) — monthly temperatures and precipitation
Kapaa has warm summers (avg high 84°F) and warm winters (avg low 67°F).
Spring (Mar–May)
80°/69°F
avg high / low
Summer (Jun–Aug)
84°/74°F
avg high / low
Fall (Sep–Nov)
83°/73°F
avg high / low
Winter (Dec–Feb)
79°/67°F
avg high / low
Annual Precipitation
73.7"
Annual Snowfall
0.0"
Hot Days/Year
1
days above 90°F
Freeze Days/Year
0
days below 32°F
Rainy Days/Year
193
Average month
Show month-by-month table ↓Hide table ↑
| Month | High | Low | Precip |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 79°F | 66°F | 2.78" |
| Feb | 78°F | 66°F | 3.63" |
| Mar | 79°F | 67°F | 5.61" |
| Apr | 80°F | 70°F | 2.03" |
| May | 82°F | 71°F | 2.18" |
| Jun | 83°F | 73°F | 1.79" |
| Jul | 85°F | 75°F | 1.75" |
| Aug | 85°F | 75°F | 2.33" |
| Sep | 85°F | 75°F | 2.18" |
| Oct | 84°F | 74°F | 3.27" |
| Nov | 81°F | 71°F | 4.03" |
| Dec | 79°F | 69°F | 4.64" |
Healthcare1 hospital
Hospitals, ratings, and health insurance in Kapaa
Kapaa has 1 hospital.
Hospitals
1
within city limits
Uninsured
2.5%
of residents
Samuel Mahelona Memorial Hospital
Critical Access Hospitals · ER available
Nearby hospitals · within 15 miles
Wilcox Memorial Hospital
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available · 6.8 mi away · Lihue
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.
Education16.5:1 student/teacher ratio
Schools and degree attainment in Kapaa
Kapaa's student/teacher ratio is 16.5:1, close to the national average of 16:1, and 29.7% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Public Schools
2
within city limits
Private Schools
2
within city limits
College Degree Rate
29.7%
adults 25+ with bachelor's or higher
Student/Teacher Ratio
16.5:1
National avg 16:1
Schools located within city limits (2023) — school-level metrics change slowly year to year
Parks & Recreationclosest: Honouliuli National Historic Site, 94 mi
Nearby national parks, recreation areas and public libraries for Kapaa
Kapaa has 1 nearby national park or recreation area, closest being Honouliuli National Historic Site (94 mi away).
Nearby National Parks & Recreation Areas
Honouliuli National Historic Site
National Historic Site
94 mi awayPublic Libraries in Kapaa
Kapaa Public Library
4-1464 Kuhio Hwy., Kapaa
Cities Near Kapaa
The closest cities within 60 miles
No other cities we cover are within 60 miles of Kapaa.
Planning a move to Kapaa?
Read our full moving guide — what it's really like to live here.
Kapaa FAQ
Is Kapaa, Hawaii affordable?⌄
Kapaa's median rent is $2,020/month, which is significantly above the national average. The median household income is $89,477/year. Median home value is $861,300.
Is Kapaa, Hawaii safe?⌄
Kapaa is policed by the Kauai Police Department, whose violent crime rate across its service area was 232 per 100,000 residents in 2025, which is below the national average of 329/100k that year. Property crime rate is 1967 per 100,000. As with any city, crime rates vary by neighborhood.
What is the job market like in Kapaa, Hawaii?⌄
Kauai County, which includes Kapaa, has an unemployment rate of 2.2%, which is strong — well below the national average of 4.3%.
What is the cost of living in Kapaa, Hawaii?⌄
The cost of living in Kapaa is primarily driven by housing. Median rent is $2,020/month and median household income is $89,477/year. The median home value is $861,300. About 52% of renters spend more than 30% of their income on housing.
How is the commute in Kapaa, Hawaii?⌄
The average commute in Kapaa is 27 minutes, which is about 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