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Moving to
Lahaina.
Lahaina 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 Lahaina
Lahaina is an unincorporated community in Hawaii with county unemployment below the national average, household incomes running above the national average, commutes that run shorter than most cities, and air quality that stays clean most of the year. Those factors carry real weight for anyone weighing where to move next.
The tradeoffs are worth naming plainly. Lahaina deals with rent well above the national average, home prices well above the national average, a population that has been shrinking, and a rent burden that leaves many renters stretched thin.
The good
- Low unemployment in the county
- Higher-than-average incomes
- Short commutes
- Clean air
- Low student-teacher ratio
The not so good
- Rent well above the national average
- High home prices
- Shrinking population
- High rent burden for renters
- Smaller place — fewer dining and entertainment options
How Lahaina compares
Median household income
Median rent (per month)
Median home value
What it takes to move to Lahaina
Based on Lahaina's median rent, home value and household income
To rent
$3,994
up front: first month plus a typical one-month deposit
- Income to keep rent under 30%: $79,880 a year
- 51% of Lahaina renters spend 30% or more of their income on rent
To buy
$176,340
a 20% down payment on the median home
- With 10% down: $88,170
- Homes cost 9.9× the typical local household income (US: 4.1×)
Moving costs, closing costs and taxes not included.
The details
Cost of living▲ 41% above US
$1,997/mo median rent
Rent is expensive here, at $1,997 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 $881,700. Renting first to get a feel for the city before buying is often the more practical route.
Median home value $881,700 · 51% 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
Lahaina 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▼ 22% below US
20 min average commute
Commutes are reasonable, averaging 20.2 minutes. Nothing heroic, and there's still time left over for a life after work. 8 in 10 workers drive to work; 6% work from home.
How workers get to work
Climate
Summers are warm, with highs around 84°F, and winters are mild, with lows rarely dropping below 65°F.
Average month
30-year averages, 1991–2020
Education & workforce▼ 27% below US
26% bachelor's degree or higher
College degree attainment runs below average at 26%. That tends to reflect a more trade and working-class economy, which can be great or limiting depending on the industry.
Schools
3 public schools inside the boundary
There are 3 public schools inside the boundary and 1 private school. The student-to-teacher ratio is 13:1, 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 Kalaupapa National Historical Park (27 miles away). There are 6 national parks and sites within a day's drive.
Bottom line
Lahaina's strongest points are county unemployment below the national average and household incomes running above the national average; the main tradeoffs are rent well above the national average and home prices well above the national average. A year of median rent ($1,997/mo) equals 27% of the median household income here, more than the 21% typical nationwide. It tends to suit job seekers (county-wide unemployment is low) and people who want short commutes. It may be a harder fit for renters on a tight budget.
Other places near Lahaina
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