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Moving to
Kihei.
Kihei 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.
What it's like to live in Kihei
Kihei is an unincorporated community in Hawaii with county unemployment below the national average, commutes that run shorter than most cities, air quality that stays clean most of the year, and schools with smaller class sizes than the national average. Those factors carry real weight for anyone weighing where to move next.
The tradeoffs are worth naming plainly. Kihei deals with rent well above the national average, home prices well above the national average, a rent burden that leaves many renters stretched thin, and fewer dining and entertainment options than a bigger city.
The good
- Low unemployment in the county
- Short commutes
- Clean air
- Low student-teacher ratio
The not so good
- Rent well above the national average
- High home prices
- High rent burden for renters
- Smaller place — fewer dining and entertainment options
- Car-dependent — few commuters use transit
How Kihei compares
Median household income
Median rent (per month)
Median home value
What it takes to move to Kihei
Based on Kihei's median rent, home value and household income
To rent
$4,090
up front: first month plus a typical one-month deposit
- Income to keep rent under 30%: $81,800 a year
- 54% of Kihei renters spend 30% or more of their income on rent
To buy
$183,980
a 20% down payment on the median home
- With 10% down: $91,990
- Homes cost 10.5× the typical local household income (US: 4.1×)
Moving costs, closing costs and taxes not included.
The details
Cost of living▲ 45% above US
$2,045/mo median rent
Rent is expensive here, at $2,045 a month median and well above the national average. This is the kind of city where housing costs deserve serious budgeting before committing to a move. Home prices are steep, with a median around $919,900. Renting first to get a feel for the city before buying is often the more practical route.
Median home value $919,900 · 54% of renters cost-burdened
Job market
2.7% county unemployment
Unemployment in Maui County is 2.7%, well below the national average of 4.3%. That's the county-wide rate; BLS doesn't measure a place this size on its own.
Maui County (county-wide)
Safety
308 violent crimes per 100k, whole jurisdiction
Kihei doesn't have its own police department, so there's no crime rate for it alone. The figures shown are for the Maui Police Department jurisdiction as a whole, which runs close to the national average for violent crime and covers many communities. Individual neighborhoods can differ a lot from that overall rate.
Property crime 2596/100k · Policed by Maui Police Department (county-wide rate) · 2025 data
Getting around▼ 15% below US
22 min average commute
Commutes are reasonable, averaging 22.1 minutes. Nothing heroic, and there's still time left over for a life after work. 8 in 10 workers drive to work; 14% work from home.
How workers get to work
Climate
Summers are warm, with highs around 87°F, and winters are mild, with lows rarely dropping below 64°F. It's a dry climate with limited rainfall.
Average month
30-year averages, 1991–2020
Education & workforce▼ 13% below US
31% bachelor's degree or higher
Education levels run about average, with 31% college-educated. It's a mix of white-collar and blue-collar work, which can be an asset or a limitation depending on the field.
Schools
5 public schools inside the boundary
There are 5 public schools inside the boundary and 1 private school. The student-to-teacher ratio is 14:1, well below the national average of 16:1. Smaller class sizes are generally a positive sign for a district.
Parks & recreation
The nearest national park or historic site is Haleakalā National Park (19 miles away). There are 5 national parks and sites within a day's drive.
Bottom line
Kihei's strongest points are county unemployment below the national average and commutes that run shorter than most cities; the main tradeoffs are rent well above the national average and home prices well above the national average. A year of median rent ($2,045/mo) equals 28% of the median household income here, more than the 21% typical nationwide. It tends to suit job seekers (county-wide unemployment is low). It may be a harder fit for renters on a tight budget and anyone who doesn't drive.
Other places near Kihei
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