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Living in
Wailuku.
Wailuku is an unincorporated community in Maui County, HI. It has no city government: the county runs it, and the Census counts it as its own place.
About
Life in Wailuku
Living in Wailuku means embracing a town that's genuinely working-class Hawaii—the real administrative and commercial heart of Maui, not the glitzy resort version most visitors see. As the county seat, Wailuku is where government, healthcare (Maui Memorial Medical Center is a major employer), and local business actually happen, which keeps rents and home prices slightly more grounded than the resort towns, though still steep by mainland standards—expect median rent around $1,747 monthly and homes in the $856k range. The weather is tropical and predictable—hot and dry overall with the understanding that you're on Maui's windward side—and you're positioned perfectly to access both the slopes of West Maui Volcano and weekend trips to Haleakalā National Park just 26 miles away.
Wailuku at a Glance
Population, income, housing and more
Median Age
43.8 yrs
Poverty Rate
4.6%
Foreign-Born
12.7%
Broadband Internet
86.2%
of households
Population Growth
-11.0%
recent change · Census Bureau
Median household income
Demographics12.7% foreign-born, most often from Philippines
Who lives in Wailuku: race and ethnicity, ages, households, languages and countries of origin
In Wailuku, the largest foreign-born group is from Philippines (51.2%), and 10.2% of residents speak Other Asian/Pacific at home.
Under 18
24.1%
of residents
65 and Older
18.1%
of residents
Households with Kids
33.0%
anyone under 18
Living Alone
28.3%
of households
Married Couples
49.4%
of households
Avg Household Size
2.67
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 Wailuku
In Wailuku, rent runs 11% below the HI average.
Median rent (per month)
Median home value
Rent Burdened
62.6%
spending 30%+ of income on rent
Severely Rent Burdened
30.7%
spending 50%+
Cost of Living Index
109.4
metro area (BEA) · US avg = 100
Median Property Tax
$1,251
per year, owner-occupied homes
Homeowners
70.6%
of occupied homes are owned
Typical Home Built
1987
median year built
Vacant Homes
11.5%
of housing units
Home Value Trend
Latest: $903,428 (September 2026)
Jobs & Economyunemployment about average for HI
Unemployment in Wailuku
Unemployment in Maui County, which includes Wailuku, is close to the HI average.
Unemployment rate
Wailuku: Maui County rate (county-wide) · BLS annual average
Unemployment Rate — 10 Year Trend
Maui County (county-wide) · Annual averages
What Wailuku Residents Do for Work · share of employed residents by industry
City residents, wherever they work
Commute19.1 min avg
How Wailuku residents get to work, and the nearest airports
In Wailuku, most residents drive alone to work (77%), and 75% get there in under 30 minutes.
How People Get to Work
Commute Time Distribution
Nearest airports · with airline service
- 5 mi
Kahului International Airport (OGG)
Medium hub3.5M passengers boarded in 2025
- 96 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 7% below national average
Crime rates for 2025
Violent crime in the area policed by the Maui Police Department, which covers Wailuku, runs 7% below the national average.
Violent Crime Rate
307.8
per 100,000 residents
Below average (329 national, 2025)
Property Crime Rate
2,595.7
per 100,000 residents
Above average (1,552 national, 2025)
Policed by Maui Police Department (county-wide rate)
Natural DisastersHigh Surf most common — 22 events in 2025
Natural hazard risk, storms and earthquakes
FEMA National Risk Index
Relatively Moderate
93.1 / 100
Compares expected losses from natural hazards, social vulnerability and community resilience against every US county (higher = more risk).
Maui County, county-wide · FEMA NRI December 2025
In Maui County, which includes Wailuku, the most common type is high surf, with 22 recorded events in 2025.
Most common events:
Storm events by year
| Year | Events | Top Type | Property Damage |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 22 | Drought | $140,000 |
| 2024 | 23 | Drought | $20,000 |
| 2023 | 30 | Drought | $5554.6M |
| 2022 | 57 | High Surf | $1.2M |
| 2021 | 68 | High Surf | $14.3M |
| 2020 | 61 | High Surf | $266,000 |
| 2019 | 62 | High Surf | None reported |
| 2018 | 72 | High Surf | None reported |
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.
62 earthquakes of magnitude 2.5+ within 100 miles in the past year
Maui County, county-wide
Air Quality21 median AQI — Good
Days by air quality category (2025)
Air quality in Maui County, which includes Wailuku, is typically good — 353 good-air days per year.
Median AQI
21
Good Days
353
per year
Moderate Days
7
per year
Unhealthy Days
0
per year
Maui County, county-wide
Climate89°F summers, 64°F winters
30-year climate averages (1991–2020) — monthly temperatures and precipitation
Wailuku has warm summers (avg high 89°F) and warm winters (avg low 64°F).
Spring (Mar–May)
85°/66°F
avg high / low
Summer (Jun–Aug)
89°/71°F
avg high / low
Fall (Sep–Nov)
88°/70°F
avg high / low
Winter (Dec–Feb)
83°/64°F
avg high / low
Annual Precipitation
33.5"
Annual Snowfall
0.0"
Hot Days/Year
39
days above 90°F
Freeze Days/Year
0
days below 32°F
Rainy Days/Year
134
Average month
Show month-by-month table ↓Hide table ↑
| Month | High | Low | Precip |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 82°F | 64°F | 2.42" |
| Feb | 82°F | 64°F | 2.00" |
| Mar | 83°F | 65°F | 2.64" |
| Apr | 85°F | 67°F | 1.32" |
| May | 87°F | 68°F | 0.71" |
| Jun | 88°F | 70°F | 0.17" |
| Jul | 89°F | 72°F | 0.53" |
| Aug | 90°F | 72°F | 0.53" |
| Sep | 90°F | 71°F | 0.45" |
| Oct | 89°F | 70°F | 0.83" |
| Nov | 86°F | 68°F | 1.81" |
| Dec | 83°F | 66°F | 2.80" |
Healthcare1 hospital, avg 2.0/5
Hospitals, ratings, and health insurance in Wailuku
Wailuku has 1 hospital, averaging 2.0 out of 5 on CMS's quality rating — below-average care.
Hospitals
1
within city limits
Uninsured
2.8%
of residents
Avg Hospital Rating
2.0 / 5
Maui Memorial Medical Center
Acute Care Hospitals
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.
Education17.0:1 student/teacher ratio
Schools and degree attainment in Wailuku
Wailuku's student/teacher ratio is 17.0:1 (higher than the national average of 16:1), and 36.1% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Public Schools
4
within city limits
Private Schools
3
within city limits
College Degree Rate
36.1%
adults 25+ with bachelor's or higher
Student/Teacher Ratio
17.0:1
National avg 16:1
Schools located within city limits (2023) — school-level metrics change slowly year to year
Colleges Near Wailuku (within 15 miles)
University of Hawaii Maui College
1.7 mi awayPublic · 2-year · 1,700 students · in-state tuition $3,284 · 31% graduate · median earnings $43,340 (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: Haleakalā National Park, 26 mi
Nearby national parks, recreation areas and public libraries for Wailuku
Wailuku has 5 nearby national parks or recreation areas, closest being Haleakalā National Park (26 mi away).
Nearby National Parks & Recreation Areas
Haleakalā National Park
National Park
26 mi awayKalaupapa National Historical Park
National Historical Park
35 mi awayPuʻukoholā Heiau National Historic Site
National Historic Site
74 mi awayKaloko-Honokōhau National Historical Park
National Historical Park
89 mi awayPearl Harbor National Memorial
National Memorial
98 mi awayPublic Libraries in Wailuku
Wailuku Public Library
251 S. High St., Wailuku
Cities Near Wailuku
The closest cities within 60 miles
Planning a move to Wailuku?
Read our full moving guide — what it's really like to live here.
Wailuku FAQ
Is Wailuku, Hawaii affordable?⌄
Wailuku's median rent is $1,762/month, which is above the national average. The median household income is $102,942/year. Median home value is $855,700.
Is Wailuku, Hawaii safe?⌄
Wailuku is policed by the Maui Police Department, whose violent crime rate across its service area was 308 per 100,000 residents in 2025, which is close to the national average of 329/100k that year. Property crime rate is 2596 per 100,000. As with any city, crime rates vary by neighborhood.
What is the job market like in Wailuku, Hawaii?⌄
Maui County, which includes Wailuku, 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 Wailuku, Hawaii?⌄
The cost of living in Wailuku is primarily driven by housing. Median rent is $1,762/month and median household income is $102,942/year. The median home value is $855,700. About 63% of renters spend more than 30% of their income on housing.
How is the commute in Wailuku, Hawaii?⌄
The average commute in Wailuku is 19 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