Population 50,849 · Census ACS 2020–24
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Population and households in Hilo
Household size in Hilo
| Period | Hilo | Hawaii | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 2.75 | 3.12 | 2.68 |
| 2010–14 | 2.88 | 3.20 | 2.73 |
| 2015–19 | 2.78 | 3.18 | 2.71 |
| 2020–24 | 2.89 | 3.06 | 2.65 |
| Change | +0.14 | −0.06 | −0.03 |
The typical household in Hilo holds 2.89 people, more than the U.S. average of 2.65. Even so, the typical household here is smaller than in Hawaii as a whole, where it has 3.06 people. Since 2006–10, household size has climbed from 2.75, even as the national average fell.
Household size: the average number of people living in each occupied home. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25010).
Median age in Hilo
| Period | Hilo | Hawaii | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 40.8 | 39.1 | 37.7 |
| 2010–14 | 41.1 | 39.8 | 38.6 |
| 2015–19 | 41.0 | 41.0 | 39.6 |
| 2020–24 | 43.6 | 42.3 | 40.1 |
| Change | +2.8 | +3.2 | +2.3 |
The median resident of Hilo is 43.6 years old, older than the national median of 40.1. Since 2006–10, the median age has climbed from 40.8, as it has nationally. The youngest areas are in the center, the oldest in the northeast.
Median age: the age that splits residents into two equal halves. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B01002).
Single-parent households in Hilo
| Period | Hilo | Hawaii | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 11.3% | 11.8% | 12.3% |
| 2010–14 | 12.6% | 11.3% | 12.3% |
| 2015–19 | 12.4% | 10.5% | 11.6% |
| 2020–24 | 12.3% | 11.6% | 11.6% |
| Change | +1.0 pts | −0.2 pts | −0.6 pts |
Single-parent households are about as common in Hilo as they are nationally: 12.3%, against 11.6%. Since 2006–10, the single-parent share has edged up 1.0 points, even as the national share fell.
Single-parent households: households where one adult with no spouse present lives with children under 18. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B11003).
Housing in Hilo
Renters in Hilo
| Period | Hilo | Hawaii | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 36.3% | 40.7% | 33.3% |
| 2010–14 | 35.9% | 42.9% | 35.6% |
| 2015–19 | 39.2% | 41.1% | 36.0% |
| 2020–24 | 33.7% | 37.0% | 34.8% |
| Change | −2.6 pts | −3.7 pts | +1.5 pts |
Renting in Hilo is about as common as it is nationally: 33.7% of households rent, against 34.8%. Renters make up a smaller share here than in Hawaii as a whole (37.0%). Among homeowners, 49.7% have no mortgage at all, above the national share of 39.8%. The renter share has fallen 2.6 points since 2006–10, even as the national share rose.
Renters: occupied homes that are rented rather than owned. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25003).
Vacant homes in Hilo
| Period | Hilo | Hawaii | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 9.3% | 11.2% | 11.4% |
| 2010–14 | 13.1% | 11.2% | 11.4% |
| 2015–19 | 11.8% | 11.9% | 11.1% |
| 2020–24 | 8.4% | 10.8% | 9.6% |
| Change | −0.8 pts | −0.3 pts | −1.8 pts |
About as many homes sit empty in Hilo as nationally: 8.4%, against 9.6%. The rate is lower than in Hawaii overall (10.8%). Since 2006–10, vacancy has edged down 0.8 points, mirroring the country.
Vacant homes: homes with no one living in them, including vacation homes and homes for sale or rent. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25002).
Age of homes in Hilo
| Period | Hilo | Hawaii | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 1974 | 1977 | 1974 |
| 2010–14 | 1978 | 1978 | 1975 |
| 2015–19 | 1978 | 1979 | 1977 |
| 2020–24 | 1980 | 1981 | 1980 |
| Change | +6 | +4 | +6 |
The typical home in Hilo was built around 1980, the same vintage as the country's housing overall. The median year built has moved up from 1974 in 2006–10, a sign of steady new building. Newer construction is concentrated in the southeast, while the northwest has the oldest housing.
Age of homes: the year that splits the housing stock into older and newer halves. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25035).
Rent in Hilo
| Period | Hilo | Hawaii | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | $978 | $1,393 | $965 |
| 2010–14 | $1,018 | $1,482 | $1,040 |
| 2015–19 | $1,169 | $1,829 | $1,213 |
| 2020–24 | $1,555 | $2,199 | $1,571 |
| Change | +$577 | +$806 | +$606 |
A typical rental in Hilo costs $1,555 a month with utilities, close to the national median of $1,571. Rents here are lower than in Hawaii as a whole ($2,199). Rents are up $577 a month from 2006–10, a 59% rise, a slower climb than the nation's. Rent takes 31.9% of the typical renter's income, just over the 30% mark often used to define affordable rent.
Rent: monthly rent plus the utilities renters pay themselves. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25064).
Education in Hilo
Bachelor's degrees in Hilo
| Period | Hilo | Hawaii | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 29.8% | 28.9% | 28.4% |
| 2010–14 | 27.7% | 29.8% | 29.6% |
| 2015–19 | 34.0% | 32.5% | 32.1% |
| 2020–24 | 34.2% | 35.3% | 35.6% |
| Change | +4.4 pts | +6.4 pts | +7.2 pts |
About a third of adults 25 and older in Hilo (34.2%) hold at least a bachelor's degree, close to the national share of 35.6%. The share with a degree has risen 4.4 points since 2006–10, mirroring the country. College graduates are most concentrated in the west and least in the center.
Bachelor's degrees: adults 25 and older with a bachelor's degree or higher. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B15003).
High school graduates in Hilo
| Period | Hilo | Hawaii | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 89.8% | 89.8% | 84.9% |
| 2010–14 | 90.3% | 90.6% | 86.1% |
| 2015–19 | 93.5% | 91.9% | 87.7% |
| 2020–24 | 94.4% | 93.1% | 89.3% |
| Change | +4.6 pts | +3.3 pts | +4.3 pts |
High school completion is high in Hilo: 94.4% of adults 25 and older have a diploma or equivalent, well above the national rate of 89.3%. That is in line with the rest of Hawaii. Since 2006–10, the share with a diploma has risen 4.6 points, as it has nationally.
High school graduates: adults 25 and older with a high school diploma, GED or more. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B15003).
Jobs in Hilo
| Period | Hilo | Hawaii | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 8.5% | 6.0% | 8.1% |
| 2010–14 | 7.8% | 6.9% | 9.4% |
| 2015–19 | 6.1% | 4.5% | 5.6% |
| 2020–24 | 6.7% | 5.0% | 5.4% |
| Change | −1.8 pts | −1.0 pts | −2.7 pts |
Jobs have been a little harder to find in Hilo than nationally: unemployment was 6.7%, against 5.4%. Since 2006–10, unemployment has fallen 1.8 points, mirroring the country. Because the Census pools five years of responses (2020–24), these rates smooth over short swings and lag the current job market.
Unemployment: people looking for work as a share of everyone working or looking. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B23025).
Hilo compared with nearby cities
| City | Household size | Median age | Single parents | Renters | Vacant homes | Median year built | Median rent | Bachelor's degree | High school diploma | Unemployment |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hilo | 2.89 | 43.6 | 12.3% | 33.7% | 8.4% | 1980 | $1,555 | 34.2% | 94.4% | 6.7% |
| Wainaku | 2.90 | 43.5 | 8.2% | 27.3% | 16.7% | 1971 | $1,657 | 26.8% | 91.6% | 2.3% |
| Waiakea | 2.83 | 43.6 | 6.9% | 26.2% | 8.0% | 1992 | $1,138 | 26.1% | 92.9% | 5.6% |
| Kukui | 3.29 | 39.1 | 12.6% | 21.1% | 9.5% | 1990 | $1,623 | 36.0% | 91.4% | 1.4% |
| Keaukaha | 2.05 | 52.9 | 6.4% | 31.5% | 13.4% | 1984 | $1,314 | 42.0% | 94.7% | 5.0% |
| Papaikou | 3.26 | 41.2 | 18.1% | 23.0% | 21.3% | 1966 | $1,480 | 24.8% | 93.7% | 3.6% |
| Kurtistown | 3.10 | 38.3 | 11.9% | 13.9% | 11.7% | 1994 | $1,598 | 19.9% | 93.4% | 2.0% |
| Piihonua | 2.71 | 42.5 | 6.5% | 28.0% | 17.4% | 1983 | $1,892 | 26.8% | 93.2% | 1.6% |
| Pepeekeo | 3.68 | 36.3 | 11.0% | 35.7% | 14.8% | 1979 | $823 | 31.5% | 86.5% | 8.7% |
| Keaau | 2.82 | 42.4 | 7.8% | 18.6% | 10.0% | 1995 | $1,272 | 23.5% | 91.9% | 2.6% |
| Onomea | 2.26 | 56.9 | 2.0% | 10.9% | 16.0% | 1981 | $1,401 | 40.4% | 93.3% | 6.6% |
All figures 2020–24.
Cities with similar populations: Rohnert Park, CA · Morrisville, NC · Moses Lake, WA · Arlington, WA · Navarre, FL · Neenah, WI · Newbury Park, CA · North Atlanta, GA · North Tonawanda, NY · Northport, AL
About these numbers
Every figure on this page is a BestNeighborhood calculation from the Census Bureau's American Community Survey (ACS), built up from the Census block groups that make up Hilo. Each ACS 5-year release pools five years of responses; this page shows the last 15 releases, 2006–10 through 2020–24. Neighboring releases share four of their five years, so they move gradually and small changes between them are within the survey's margin of error; in small places the lines can jump from one release to the next for the same reason. The maps show the same measures for each neighborhood, ranked against the whole country.
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