Cost of Living in Kalawao County, Hawaii
At a Glance
Rent burden measured as median gross rent as a percentage of renter household income (Census ACS B25071)
These figures are county medians, not a personal budget. Use them to frame rent, ownership, and income tradeoffs, then account for household size, commute, financing, insurance, taxes, debt, and local availability before making a decision.
How Kalawao County Compares
Median monthly rent comparison
Detailed Housing Stats
National Ranking
Affordability Rank
Kalawao County ranks #2,714 of 3,142 counties for affordability (bottom 14%)
Sourced county brief
Kalawao County official GRAPI estimated at 18.3 percent
In Kalawao County, the official Gross Rent as a Percentage of Household Income (GRAPI) was estimated at 18.3%. This official figure, found in ACS table B25071, is 11.0 percentage points lower than the unweighted Hawaii county mean of 29.3%. The median gross rent for the county was $1,271 per month, which is below the unweighted Hawaii county mean of $1,730. Median renter-household income in Kalawao County was reported at $73,750, matching the median household income for all households in the area. Data for median home value and median selected monthly owner costs were not available for this period. These figures are based on the American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates for 2020-2024. See ACS table B25071 for the underlying estimate.
Source record
- U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2020-2024 5-Year Estimates — B25064 Median Gross Rent
- U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2020-2024 5-Year Estimates — B25071 GRAPI
- U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2020-2024 5-Year Estimates — B25077 Median Home Value
- U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2020-2024 5-Year Estimates — B25088 Selected Monthly Owner Costs
- U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2020-2024 5-Year Estimates — B25119 Household Income by Tenure
Data version acs5-2020-2024 · Method cost-brief-v1
Cost of Living Advisory: Kalawao County
Affordability Verdict
ACS B25071 estimates median gross rent at 18.3% of renter household income in Kalawao County, which is below the 30% affordability benchmark. This is a median percentage among renter-occupied units, not the share of households above a threshold.
Rent vs. Own
Kalawao County does not have both rent and owner-cost estimates needed for a tenure-cost comparison.
Income Needed
Using the common 30% budgeting benchmark, $50,840 in annual gross income would allocate 30% to the county's median gross rent. This is a reproducible illustration, not evidence that a particular household can afford housing.
Regional Context
The Hawaii unweighted mean of county median rents is $1,730 per month. Kalawao County's $1,271 median is 26.5% below that comparison value.
Data version acs5-2020-2024 · Method cost-advisory-v2
Affordability Calculator
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Rent Burden
20.7%
of gross income
Max Housing (28% Rule)
$1,721
per month
Rent Affordability Guide
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Based on the 30% rule for rent and 28% rule for housing costs (mortgage + owner costs). Mortgage estimate assumes 20% down, 7.2% interest, 30-year fixed.
Frequently Asked Questions
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See Today's RatesData: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey (ACS) 5-Year Estimates (2020-2024). Data is informational only and is not personalized financial advice.
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