Best Cities for Families in Hawaii
Hawaii ranks #27 of 50 for families, with a families score of 63.0. Kapolei is its best city for families at 58.9.
- Hawaii, all states
- #27 of 50
- Population
- 22,232
Hawaii for Families: The Full Picture
Hawaii lands in the middle of the pack for families at #27 out of 50 states. The state has genuine strengths — health scores excellent at 89/100 — but also areas that may give parents pause. The 86% high school graduation rate leaves room for improvement, and a typical home value of $833,340 may stretch family budgets.
Education is the single most important factor for families choosing where to live, and Hawaii shows mixed results on this front. The state's high school graduation rate stands at 86%, roughly in line with national norms. Families relocating here should research individual school districts carefully, as statewide metrics (education score: 59/100) mask significant local variation. At $25,096 a year for center-based infant care, childcare is a significant budget item that families need to plan for.
Safety is the other pillar of family-friendly living. Hawaii excels here with one of the lowest violent crime rates in the country at 205.1 incidents per 100,000 residents (FBI estimate). The higher cost of living (index: 110) means families typically need above-average incomes to maintain a comfortable standard of living.
All 20 Cities Ranked for Families
| # City | Grade | Families score | Overall | Education | Safety | Affordability | Population |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1Kapolei | A | 58.9 | 63.3 | 69 | — | 32 | 22,232 |
| 2Mililani Mauka | A+ | 58.1 | 67.8 | — | — | 25 | 21,278 |
| 3Waipahu | B | 58.1 | 58.6 | 69 | — | 34 | 40,482 |
| 4Ewa Beach | B+ | 57.1 | 62.0 | 68 | — | 29 | 14,376 |
| 5Ewa Gentry | A | 56.4 | 64.4 | — | — | 26 | 26,563 |
| 6Kailua CDP (Honolulu County) | A+ | 56.1 | 68.0 | 68 | — | 17 | 39,640 |
| 7Ocean Pointe | A | 55.9 | 66.4 | — | — | 17 | 17,085 |
| 8Honolulu | B+ | 55.9 | 59.7 | 69 | — | 34 | 345,482 |
| 9Kaneohe | B+ | 55.7 | 62.4 | 73 | — | 26 | 37,355 |
| 10Pearl City | B+ | 54.4 | 61.3 | 68 | — | 25 | 44,547 |
| 11East Honolulu | A+ | 54.1 | 68.5 | — | — | 17 | 51,360 |
| 12Wahiawa | C | 54.0 | 51.7 | 70 | — | 38 | 17,996 |
| 13Mililani Town | A | 53.2 | 63.1 | — | — | 24 | 27,668 |
| 14Hilo | C | 52.7 | 51.9 | 69 | — | 56 | 50,404 |
| 15Wailuku | B | 52.5 | 57.0 | 64 | — | 35 | 16,926 |
| 16Kahului | C+ | 52.5 | 55.1 | 66 | — | 38 | 28,288 |
| 17Schofield Barracks | C | 50.5 | 52.2 | — | — | 26 | 16,270 |
| 18Kihei | C+ | 50.4 | 53.3 | 71 | — | 29 | 21,567 |
| 19Makakilo | C+ | 50.3 | 55.7 | — | — | 27 | 20,735 |
| 20Kailua CDP (Hawaii County) | D | 46.1 | 48.9 | — | — | 45 | 21,818 |
City families scores use each city's own data, with the category weights rescaled over the categories the city has; outdoor access has no city-level measure and is left out. City scores for families also weigh the county's expected yearly building losses from natural hazards (FEMA), lower is better; the share of adults without health insurance (CDC PLACES), lower is better; the share of households with someone under 18 (Census ACS), higher is better.
Compare: States with Similar Families Rankings
Also See: Hawaii for Other Lifestyles
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Hawaii a good state for families?
Hawaii ranks #27 out of 50 for families with a persona-weighted score of 63.0/100. Its strongest relevant category is Health (89/100) and its weakest is Affordability (4/100).
What is the best city for families in Hawaii?
Kapolei ranks #1 in Hawaii for families with a score of 58.9/100, followed by Mililani Mauka and Waipahu.
What factors are most important for families in Hawaii?
Rankings weighted toward education quality, public safety, affordable housing, healthcare, and community livability — the factors that matter most to families with children.