2026 editionWestPop. 1,432,820Capital Honolulu50th state, admitted 1959Cook PVI D+20
Is Hawaii a Good Place to Live? Hawaii Rankings, Cost of Living, Crime & Taxes
Hawaii ranks #17 of 50 with a composite score of 64.8 and a B+ grade, strongest in economy (#1) and weakest in affordability (#50). The median household earns $100,745 (25% above the national median), homes typically cost $833,340 (126% above the national average), and violent crime is 205 per 100,000 (37% below the national average).
Hawaii separates households that already hold a house from those that need to buy one: the median household earns $100,745, #4 nationally, yet falls about half short of the $202,402 the typical home requires. The tradeoff nobody escapes is shipping: electricity costs 40.59 cents per kWh and prices for goods index at 111.6, both the highest of 50.
Hawaii by the numbers
Six measures every state is judged on, each with Hawaii's rank of 50 and the national figure beside it.
Sources, latest releases: Census Bureau ACS (income), Zillow Research (home value), BEA Regional Price Parities (cost index), FBI state crime estimates (crime), BLS LAUS (unemployment), WalletHub tax burden study (taxes). Rank 1 is the best value in each measure: highest income, lowest cost, lowest crime.
Read the Hawaii overview
Hawaii scores above the national average in 8 of 11 categories and ranks #5 of 13 states in the West, behind 4 regional neighbors. Its biggest edge over the country is unemployment rate (2.4%, 1.6 points below the national average); its biggest shortfall is typical home value ($833,340, 126% above the national average). That mix of top-10 finishes (3) and bottom-10 finishes (2) is why the composite alone undersells the tradeoffs a mover here faces.
Where does Hawaii rank in each category?
All 11 categories that make up the composite, heaviest weight first. Hawaii is top 10 in 3 and bottom 10 in 2.
| Category | Score | Rank | Grade | Weight | US avg | The numbers behind it |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Economy | 86.3 | #1 of 50 | A+ | 15% | 47.1 | Its unemployment rate is 2.4% and median household income is $100,745. |
| Safety | 75.7 | #21 of 50 | B | 12% | 68.9 | The FBI estimates 205.1 violent crimes and 1,603.8 property crimes per 100,000 residents. |
| Health | 88.6 | #2 of 50 | A+ | 12% | 54.4 | Life expectancy is 80 years, 27% of adults have obesity, and 3.5% of residents are uninsured. |
| Education | 59.1 | #28 of 50 | C+ | 12% | 57.5 | Eighth graders average 270 in NAEP math and 257 in reading, and the high school graduation rate is 86%. |
| Affordability | 4.4 | #50 of 50 | F | 10% | 65.2 | Typical home value $833,340 (8.3x median income); cost of living index 110 (100 = US); center-based infant care $25,096 a year. |
| Fiscal Health | 36.5 | #48 of 50 | D | 8% | 58.1 | It carries $6,580 of debt per resident, has 59% of pensions funded, and holds a AA+ credit rating. |
| Growth | 25.3 | #40 of 50 | C | 7% | 38.8 | Population shrank 0.15% last year; Census net domestic migration is -6.2 per 1,000 residents (the Moving section below uses IRS household counts, a different series). |
| Transportation | 54.4 | #16 of 50 | B+ | 7% | 49.8 | The average commute is 26.7 minutes, 4.3% of workers use public transit, and 8.9% work from home. |
| Livability | 34.5 | #20 of 50 | B | 7% | 34.3 | It has 2.237 restaurants and 0.037 arts venues per 1,000 residents, plus 0.11 bars and 0.04 social associations per 1,000. |
| Outdoor Access | 36.3 | #18 of 50 | B+ | 6% | 29.4 | 15.1% of its land is public, with 3.9 recreation facilities per 10,000 residents. |
| Environment | 56.9 | #8 of 50 | A | 4% | 42.5 | Its median air quality index is 24, 30% of its electricity is renewable, and its FEMA disaster risk score is 54. |
Weight, US average and the evidence sentence for each category are shown on wider screens.
Grades follow rank, not score: A+ for ranks 1–5, A for 6–10, B+ for 11–18, B for 19–26, C+ for 27–34, C for 35–42, D for 43–48, F for 49–50. US avg is the mean score of the 50 states. Click a category for its 50-state ranking.
Category shape
Hawaii's 11 category scores. A balanced state fills the wheel evenly; Hawaii bulges toward economy and dips at affordability.
How expensive is Hawaii?
Hawaii's cost of living index is 110 against a national baseline of 100, 10% above the national average and #49 of 50 (1 = cheapest). The typical home is worth $833,340 (126% above the national average); buying it takes an income of about $202,402, $101,657 more than the median household earns. Inside the state the spread is wide: among tracked cities, Hilo is cheapest (index 106.4) and Ewa Beach priciest (111).
Housing market snapshot · August
Warm marketRanked #1 of 50 most expensive by typical value and #50 on price relative to income (1 = most affordable). The median household is $101,657 short of the income needed to buy the typical home.
Full Hawaii housing market: 26-year chart, rent vs. buy, cities →What a household keeps at $75,000
| Household | Hawaii | Median state | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|
| Family of fourTwo adults, two kids, one in daycare | −$68,735 | −$11,758 | #50 of 50 |
| Single adultOne-bedroom rent, no childcare | +$9,722 | +$31,418 | #50 of 50 |
| Retiree coupleOwn the home, no payroll tax | +$11,102 | +$35,970 | #50 of 50 |
Take-home pay minus housing, childcare, utilities, groceries and transport for a $75,000 household, from the affordability engine. Positive = money left over; negative = costs exceed take-home. Rank 1 = most left over.
What are taxes like in Hawaii?
Hawaii's tax mix is high income tax, low property tax, low sales tax. The total state and local tax burden comes to 13.92% of income, 5.2 points above the national average (#50 of 50, 1 = lightest). Property tax is 0.27% of home value (#1), and combined sales tax averages 4.5% (#6).
Tax Foundation (rates) and WalletHub tax burden study (burden as a share of income), latest releases. Rank 1 = lowest. Income tax is the top marginal rate including typical local taxes where they apply.
Can the state pay its bills?
Fiscal health scores 36.5 out of 100, #48 of 50. Pew Fiscal 50, Census state finances and the rating agencies, latest releases.
Is Hawaii safe?
Hawaii reports 205 violent crimes per 100,000 residents, 37% below the national average and #7 of 50 (1 = safest). Property crime runs 1,604 per 100,000, 4% above the national average (#32 of 50). The safety score is 75.7 out of 100, #21 of 50.
Hawaii vs. the United States, per 100,000 residents
FBI state crime estimates, latest release. US is the mean of the 50 states; blue = below it, terracotta = above it. Florida and North Dakota use the FBI's prior-year estimate because their latest year is based on limited data.
What is the job market like in Hawaii?
Hawaii's unemployment rate is 2.4%, 1.6 points below the national average and #2 of 50 (1 = lowest), and the median household earns $100,745, 25% above the national median. Real GDP grew +1.4% in the latest year (#39 of 50) and GDP per capita is $62,039, 4% below the national average. The population is shrinking 0.15% a year, 0.7 points below the national average. The economy score is 86.3 out of 100, #1 of 50.
Census Bureau ACS (income), BLS LAUS (unemployment), BEA (GDP), Census population estimates (growth), latest releases.
Highest-paying tracked occupations in Hawaii, adjusted for cost of living
| Occupation | Cost-adjusted | Median wage | Metro |
|---|---|---|---|
| Family Medicine Physicians | $222,456 | $242,477 | Honolulu |
| Lawyers | $147,403 | $160,669 | Honolulu |
| Software Developers | $130,870 | $142,648 | Honolulu |
| Computer Systems Analysts | $104,027 | $113,389 | Honolulu |
| General & Operations Managers | $103,999 | $113,359 | Honolulu |
BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, latest release, for the 20 occupations we track. Cost-adjusted wage divides the metro median by its cost of living index.
How are Hawaii's schools and healthcare?
Hawaii's education score is 59.1 out of 100, #28 of 50. Eighth graders average 270 in NAEP math (#30 of 50) and 257 in reading (#26 of 50), and the high school graduation rate is 86%, 0.4 points above the national average (#29 of 50).
Best public school cities we track, by graduation rate
| City | Grad rate | Students / teacher | Per pupil |
|---|---|---|---|
| Honolulu | 86% | 14.5 | $20,056 |
| Hilo | 86% | 14.3 | $20,056 |
| Pearl City | 86% | 14.9 | $20,056 |
NCES Common Core of Data and School District Finance Survey, latest release. Cities with at least three schools.
Hawaii is #2 of 50 for health, with a life expectancy of 80.0 years, 3.1 years above the national average. 27% of adults have obesity (#3 of 50) and 3.5% of residents have no health insurance (#2 of 50). The health score is 88.6 out of 100, weighted 12% of the composite.
CDC National Center for Health Statistics (state life tables), CDC Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (obesity), and Census Bureau American Community Survey (health insurance), latest releases.
Who is moving to Hawaii, and who is leaving?
Hawaii lost a net 2,597 households to other states in the latest IRS release: 25,026 moved in and 27,623 moved out, -1.8 per 1,000 residents (#42 of 50). Arriving households report an average income of $78,083 against $70,863 for those leaving. The Census Bureau's American Community Survey, which counts people rather than households, shows a net +1.3K people (53.1K in, 51.8K out, ±9.0K), pointing the other way, so treat the direction as uncertain.
Where they come from
- 1California5,598 · $97,712
- 2Texas1,891 · $67,514
- 3Washington1,761 · $102,016
- 4Florida1,409 · $66,121
- 5Virginia1,026 · $81,441
Households and their average income. Click a state to compare it head to head; households arrived from these states in the latest IRS release.
Where they go
- 1California5,048 · $80,751
- 2Washington2,451 · $74,706
- 3Texas2,381 · $67,314
- 4Nevada1,863 · $67,408
- 5Florida1,553 · $77,659
Households and their average income. Click a state to compare it head to head; households left for these states in the latest IRS release.
Where should you live in Hawaii?
By composite score, the best of the 20 Hawaii cities we track are East Honolulu (68.5), Kailua (Honolulu County) (68), and Mililani Mauka (67.8). Hilo is the cheapest (cost index 106.4), East Honolulu the richest ($159,518), and Honolulu the fastest growing (-0.2% a year). City ranks are among the 20 Hawaii cities we cover, not every city in the state.
Standout cities in Hawaii
| Best for | City | Measure |
|---|---|---|
| Cheapest | Hilo | cost of living index 106.4 |
| Most walkable | Mililani Mauka | walkability 14.1 of 20 |
| Cleanest air | Kahului | median AQI 21 (county) |
| Best schools | Honolulu | 86% graduation rate |
| Richest | East Honolulu | $159,518 |
Among the 20 Hawaii cities we track. Safest uses a full year of FBI reports from the city's own police agency; air quality is measured by county, so cities in the same county share a reading.
Regions of Hawaii
The capital, the university, Waikiki and the hospitals; dense, transit-served, and priced for condos rather than houses, with East Honolulu as the wealthy end of the same coast.
Kailua and Kaneohe on the wet, green side of the Koolau range: family neighborhoods, Marine Corps housing, high prices, and a tunnel commute into town.
Where working families can still buy: Kapolei, Ewa and Mililani were built as the second city, with newer homes, hotter weather and the island's worst commute into town.
Resort economy with resort prices: Kihei and Wailuku for locals, Kahului for the airport and the big-box stores, and wildfire on the dry leeward slopes as a lived risk.
The cheapest housing in the state on the wet Hilo side, Kona prices on the dry side, volcanoes in between; the trade is distance from Oahu's jobs and hospitals.
All 20 tracked cities, best to worst
| # | City | Grade | Score | Population | Income | Violent / 100K | Cost index |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | East Honolulu | A+ | 68.5 | 51,360 | $159,518 | — | 111 |
| 2 | Kailua (Honolulu County) | A+ | 68.0 | 39,640 | $148,582 | — | 111 |
| 3 | Mililani Mauka | A+ | 67.8 | 21,278 | $138,942 | — | 111 |
| 4 | Ocean Pointe | A | 66.4 | 17,085 | $149,767 | — | 111 |
| 5 | Ewa Gentry | A | 64.4 | 26,563 | $135,684 | — | 111 |
| 6 | Kapolei | A | 63.3 | 22,232 | $128,324 | — | 111 |
| 7 | Mililani Town | A | 63.1 | 27,668 | $127,363 | — | 111 |
| 8 | Kaneohe | B+ | 62.4 | 37,355 | $125,613 | — | 111 |
| 9 | Ewa Beach | B+ | 62.0 | 14,376 | $124,323 | — | 111 |
| 10 | Pearl City | B+ | 61.3 | 44,547 | $118,112 | — | 111 |
| 11 | Honolulu | B+ | 59.7 | 345,482 | $86,504 | — | 111 |
| 12 | Waipahu | B | 58.6 | 40,482 | $103,895 | — | 111 |
| 13 | Wailuku | B | 57.0 | 16,926 | $102,942 | — | 109.4 |
| 14 | Makakilo | C+ | 55.7 | 20,735 | $118,550 | — | 111 |
| 15 | Kahului | C+ | 55.1 | 28,288 | $98,077 | — | 109.4 |
| 16 | Kihei | C+ | 53.3 | 21,567 | $87,772 | — | 109.4 |
| 17 | Schofield Barracks | C | 52.2 | 16,270 | $80,388 | — | 111 |
| 18 | Hilo | C | 51.9 | 50,404 | $81,779 | — | 106.4 |
| 19 | Wahiawa | C | 51.7 | 17,996 | $87,143 | — | 111 |
| 20 | Kailua (Hawaii County) | D | 48.9 | 21,818 | $88,211 | — | 106.4 |
Swipe the table sideways for more columns. Rank is among the 20 Hawaii cities we track: every city of 50,000 or more, plus the state's other largest places. City scores use city-level Census, FBI, BLS, CDC, EPA and NCES data, and a category with no city data is left out of the score rather than filled with the state's figure.
Best cities in Hawaii for…
| # | City | Score | Education | Safety | Affordability |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Kapolei | 58.9 | 69.3 | — | 31.8 |
| 2 | Mililani Mauka | 58.1 | — | — | 24.7 |
| 3 | Waipahu | 58.1 | 68.7 | — | 34.4 |
| 4 | Ewa Beach | 57.1 | 67.7 | — | 29.1 |
| 5 | Ewa Gentry | 56.4 | — | — | 25.5 |
Who is Hawaii best for?
The same 11 category scores, re-weighted for six kinds of household. Rank is among the 50 states; click through for the best Hawaii cities for each.
Weights differ by household: families lean on education, safety and housing; retirees on fiscal health, healthcare and cost. See the weights →
How does Hawaii compare with its neighbors?
Hawaii ranks #17. Among its closest-ranked West states, Montana ranks highest (#7) and Washington lowest (#20). Colorado is the most similar on the composite score and Montana the most different. The closest-ranked states in the region are listed best to worst; the national line is the mean of the 50 states.
| State | Overall | Score | Median income | Typical home | Cost index | Violent crime | Tax burden | Compare |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hawaii | #17 | 64.8 | $100,745 | $833,340 | 110 | 205 | 13.92% | |
| Montana | #7 | 75.0 | $75,340 | $471,746 | 94.6 | 419 | 7.87% | Compare → |
| Colorado | #18 | 64.7 | $97,113 | $532,748 | 103.1 | 422 | 8.73% | Compare → |
| Washington | #20 | 61.8 | $99,389 | $591,879 | 107 | 284 | 8.61% | Compare → |
| United States | — | 57.9 | $80,903 | $368,697 | 100 | 328 | 8.74% |
Overall rank, median income, cost index and tax burden columns are shown on wider screens.
How the score works
Eleven categories, each scored 0–100 and weighted into one composite. Grades follow rank.
The weights
Economy 15% · Safety 12% · Health 12% · Education 12% · Affordability 10% · Fiscal Health 8% · Growth 7% · Transportation 7% · Livability 7% · Outdoor Access 6% · Environment 4%. The composite is the weighted sum, stretched linearly so states spread across most of the 0–100 range.
From raw numbers to scores
Every raw measure is placed on a 0–100 scale between a fixed floor and ceiling, inverted where lower is better (crime, cost, taxes), then combined within its category. The same scale applies to every state.
Letter grades
Grades follow rank, not score: A+ for ranks 1–5, A for 6–10, B+ for 11–18, B for 19–26, C+ for 27–34, C for 35–42, D for 43–48, F for 49–50. A C+ state is not failing; it is in the middle third.
Cities, budgets and neighbors
The 20 Hawaii city scores, the household budgets and the neighbor table on this page are computed from the same sources as the state score. City ranks are among the cities we track, not all cities in the state.
Editor's notes
Passages marked as editor's notes are written for this state and add context the numbers cannot: regions, tradeoffs, who the state fits. Every figure inside them is pulled from the data at build time, so the words cannot drift from the numbers.
Always the latest release
Each source is the most recent release its agency has published. The page is rebuilt when a source updates, so the score can move without any change in the state itself.
What the score cannot tell you
Weather and climate, culture and pace, politics beyond the Cook index shown for context, the quality of a specific school, hospital or neighborhood, job prospects in your field, and anything without a public, comparable, 50-state source. Statewide averages also hide the metro-versus-rural split, which is why the editor's notes name places.
Category briefs
Economy: Unemployment rate and median household income. Safety: Violent and property crime rates per 100,000 residents. Health: Health outcomes, behaviors, and access to care. Education: K-12 school quality, test scores, and graduation rates. Full methodology →
Key takeaways
What the Hawaii numbers say when read together.
Economy is Hawaii's strongest suit
Hawaii is a #17 state overall but #1 of 50 for economy, 16 places better than its composite rank, with a score of 86.3 against a national average of 47.1. Health (#2) is next. Economy carries 15% of the composite.
Affordability is where Hawaii falls furthest behind
Hawaii ranks #50 of 50 for affordability, 33 places below its overall #17, with a score of 4.4 against a national average of 65.2. At 10% of the composite, it is the category holding the overall score down most.
Unemployment rate is 1.6 points below the national average
Hawaii's unemployment rate is 2.4%, 1.6 points below the national average of 3.95%, #2 of 50 (1 = lowest). The largest gap in the other direction is typical home value: $833,340, 126% above the national average. Source: BLS LAUS, latest release.
More households leave than arrive
Hawaii ranks #42 of 50 on net household flow per 1,000 residents (-1.8). The households arriving report $7,220 more in average income than those leaving ($78,083 against $70,863), so the state is trading up on income even as the headcount shrinks. California is both the largest source and the largest destination.
A middle income is squeezed harder here than in most states
A family of four earning $75,000 ends the year at a $68,735 shortfall after housing, childcare, utilities, groceries, transport and taxes, against a $11,758 shortfall in the median state (#50 of 50). A single adult on the same income comes out at a $9,722 surplus; a retiree couple at a $11,102 surplus. Infant childcare runs $25,096 a year, 61% above the national average.
Hawaii sits 2nd among its 4-state neighborhood
1 of Hawaii's 3 nearby states ranks above its #17; the closest match on the composite is Colorado. Median income among them runs from $75,340 in Montana to $99,389 in Washington; Hawaii is at $100,745.
Frequently asked questions about living in Hawaii
Is Hawaii a good place to live?
Hawaii ranks #17 of 50 with a B+ grade, #5 of 13 in the West. It is top 10 in economy, health, and environment and bottom 10 in fiscal health and affordability. On the six headline measures it beats the national figure on 3 of 6 (income, violent crime, and unemployment) and trails on home prices, cost of living, and tax burden. Whether that adds up to a good place to live depends on what you weigh; the household rankings below re-weight the same numbers for families, retirees and remote workers.
Where does Hawaii rank among US states?
Hawaii ranks #17 of 50 overall with a composite score of 64.8 (grade B+), and #5 of 13 states in the West. Its best category rank is #1 (economy) and its worst #50 (affordability). The composite weights eleven categories, with economy, safety, health and education counting most; grades follow rank, so B+ means rank 11–18.
Is it expensive to live in Hawaii?
At #49 of 50 for cost of living (1 = cheapest), Hawaii is 10% above the national average: its index is 110 against a national baseline of 100. The typical home value is $833,340 (126% above the national average), and buying it takes an income of about $202,402 against a median household income of $100,745. At $75,000, a family of four comes out at a $68,735 shortfall after all costs, #50 of 50 (1 = most left over).
Does Hawaii have a state income tax?
Yes. Hawaii's top state income tax rate is 11% (#46 of 50, 1 = lowest), and the total state and local tax burden is 13.92% of income, 5.2 points above the national average. Property tax is 0.27% of home value and combined sales tax 4.5%.
What is the crime rate in Hawaii?
Hawaii reports 205 violent crimes per 100,000 residents, 37% below the national average and #7 of 50 (1 = safest), and 1,604 property crimes per 100,000, 4% above the national average (#32). Its safety score is 75.7 out of 100, #21 of 50. Figures are FBI estimates from the latest release.
Does Hawaii have good schools?
Hawaii is #28 of 50 for education (score 59.1 out of 100). Its public school students average 270 in eighth-grade math on NAEP (#30) and 257 in eighth-grade reading (#26), and the high school graduation rate is 86%, 0.4 points above the national average (#29). Among tracked cities with at least three schools, Honolulu has the highest graduation rate at 86%.
Why are people leaving Hawaii?
Hawaii lost a net 2,597 households in the latest IRS release: 25,026 moved in and 27,623 moved out, -1.8 per 1,000 residents (#42 of 50). The largest source of arrivals is California (5,598 households) and the most common destination is California (5,048). Arriving households report an average income of $78,083 against $70,863 for those leaving, so movers in earn more than movers out. The IRS files count tax returns and say nothing about motives.
Is Hawaii a red or blue state?
Hawaii is a solidly blue state: its Cook Partisan Voting Index is D+20, meaning it votes about 20 points more Democratic than the country as a whole. The political lean is shown for context and is not part of the composite score.
What are the downsides of living in Hawaii?
Mostly the price of staying, then the flights. Affordability ranks #50, electricity at 40.59 cents per kWh is the country's most expensive, and prices for goods index at 111.6 because everything comes by ship. Flights to see family are the bill mainlanders forget. Fiscal health ranks #48, which points to higher taxes later. And the population is shrinking, -0.15%, as local families move to Las Vegas.
Is Hawaii tax-friendly for retirees?
It hinges on where the income comes from. Social Security and pensions are exempt from state income tax; retirement-account withdrawals and investment income are taxed up to 11%. Property tax is the country's lowest at 0.27%, and Honolulu adds a homeowner exemption. A retired couple on $75,000 comes out at a $11,102 surplus, #50: owning the house on arrival works, buying one does not.
Does Hawaii get hurricanes and wildfires?
Hurricanes rarely make landfall but the risk is real. Wildfire has become the sharper threat: the dry leeward slopes of Maui and the Big Island burn in summer, and Lahaina showed what that means. Add volcanoes, vog when Kilauea erupts, and tsunami zones on every coast, and FEMA's risk index lands at 54.0, #47 of 50. Hurricane coverage is a separate policy.
Where in Hawaii should I live?
Island first, then job. For a Honolulu job, East Honolulu or Kailua if the salary allows, Mililani or Pearl City if not, Kapolei and Ewa Beach for the newest homes and longest commute; East Honolulu scores highest of tracked cities. On Maui, Wailuku or Kihei. For the state's lowest housing costs, Hilo, if you can work there. Every neighbor-island choice trades price for a specialist flight.
Do I need a car in Hawaii?
In Honolulu, no; 4.3% of commuters statewide ride transit, #6, TheBus covers Oahu end to end, and the rail line reaches the west side. Everywhere else, yes. Maui, Kauai and the Big Island have limited service, and the statewide average commute of 26.7 minutes runs much longer from Ewa or Kapolei at rush hour. Gasoline is $4.73 per gallon, so the car is not cheap either.
All the numbers
Every metric behind Hawaii's 11 category scores, with the national figure beside each. Pick a category.