Population 73,731 · Census ACS 2020–24
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Population and households in Kauai County
Household size in Kauai County
| Period | Kauai County | Hawaii | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 3.03 | 3.12 | 2.68 |
| 2010–14 | 3.08 | 3.20 | 2.73 |
| 2015–19 | 3.15 | 3.18 | 2.71 |
| 2020–24 | 3.22 | 3.06 | 2.65 |
| Change | +0.19 | −0.06 | −0.03 |
Households in Kauai County are large by national standards, averaging 3.22 people against 2.65 for the U.S. That usually means more families with children at home. Since 2006–10, household size has climbed from 3.03, 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 Kauai County
| Period | Kauai County | Hawaii | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 41.3 | 39.1 | 37.7 |
| 2010–14 | 41.6 | 39.8 | 38.6 |
| 2015–19 | 43.0 | 41.0 | 39.6 |
| 2020–24 | 43.9 | 42.3 | 40.1 |
| Change | +2.6 | +3.2 | +2.3 |
The median resident of Kauai County is 43.9 years old, older than the national median of 40.1. Since 2006–10, the median age has climbed from 41.3, as it has nationally.
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 Kauai County
| Period | Kauai County | Hawaii | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 12.2% | 11.8% | 12.3% |
| 2010–14 | 10.3% | 11.3% | 12.3% |
| 2015–19 | 11.1% | 10.5% | 11.6% |
| 2020–24 | 12.6% | 11.6% | 11.6% |
| Change | +0.4 pts | −0.2 pts | −0.6 pts |
Single parents head about one in eight households in Kauai County (12.6%), close to the national share of 11.6%. Single parents are more common here than in Hawaii as a whole (11.6%).
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 Kauai County
Renters in Kauai County
| Period | Kauai County | Hawaii | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 35.0% | 40.7% | 33.3% |
| 2010–14 | 37.3% | 42.9% | 35.6% |
| 2015–19 | 36.8% | 41.1% | 36.0% |
| 2020–24 | 31.4% | 37.0% | 34.8% |
| Change | −3.6 pts | −3.7 pts | +1.5 pts |
Most households in Kauai County own their homes; 31.4% rent, a little below the national share of 34.8%. About four in ten owners (39.7%) have paid off their mortgages, about the same as nationally. Renting is most common in the east and least common in the north. The renter share is down 3.6 points from 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 Kauai County
| Period | Kauai County | Hawaii | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 18.1% | 11.2% | 11.4% |
| 2010–14 | 18.0% | 11.2% | 11.4% |
| 2015–19 | 19.2% | 11.9% | 11.1% |
| 2020–24 | 16.4% | 10.8% | 9.6% |
| Change | −1.7 pts | −0.3 pts | −1.8 pts |
Vacancy is high in Kauai County: 16.4% of homes are empty, far above the national rate of 9.6%. In resort and lake areas that usually means seasonal and vacation homes; elsewhere it can point to weak demand. Vacancy has fallen 1.7 points since 2006–10, as it has nationally.
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 Kauai County
| Period | Kauai County | Hawaii | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 1981 | 1977 | 1974 |
| 2010–14 | 1983 | 1978 | 1975 |
| 2015–19 | 1983 | 1979 | 1977 |
| 2020–24 | 1983 | 1981 | 1980 |
| Change | +3 | +4 | +6 |
The typical home in Kauai County was built around 1983, about the same vintage as the country's housing overall (1980). Newer construction is concentrated in the north, while the west 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 Kauai County
| Period | Kauai County | Hawaii | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | $1,263 | $1,393 | $965 |
| 2010–14 | $1,274 | $1,482 | $1,040 |
| 2015–19 | $1,428 | $1,829 | $1,213 |
| 2020–24 | $1,914 | $2,199 | $1,571 |
| Change | +$651 | +$806 | +$606 |
A typical rental in Kauai County costs $1,914 a month with utilities, well above the national median of $1,571. Even so, rents here are lower than in Hawaii overall ($2,199). Rents are up $651 a month from 2006–10, a 52% rise, a slower climb than the nation's. The typical renter here spends 31.5% of household income on rent, 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 Kauai County
Bachelor's degrees in Kauai County
| Period | Kauai County | Hawaii | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 22.7% | 28.9% | 28.4% |
| 2010–14 | 26.9% | 29.8% | 29.6% |
| 2015–19 | 29.7% | 32.5% | 32.1% |
| 2020–24 | 30.0% | 35.3% | 35.6% |
| Change | +7.3 pts | +6.4 pts | +7.2 pts |
College degrees are a little less common in Kauai County than nationally: 30.0% of adults 25 and older have a bachelor's or higher, against 35.6%. The share with a degree has risen 7.3 points since 2006–10, as it has nationally. College graduates are most concentrated in the north and least in the west.
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 Kauai County
| Period | Kauai County | Hawaii | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 88.3% | 89.8% | 84.9% |
| 2010–14 | 91.0% | 90.6% | 86.1% |
| 2015–19 | 92.6% | 91.9% | 87.7% |
| 2020–24 | 92.5% | 93.1% | 89.3% |
| Change | +4.2 pts | +3.3 pts | +4.3 pts |
High school completion in Kauai County is a bit above the national rate: 92.5% of adults have a diploma or equivalent, against 89.3%. The picture is much the same across Hawaii. Since 2006–10, the share with a diploma has risen 4.2 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 Kauai County
| Period | Kauai County | Hawaii | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 5.6% | 6.0% | 8.1% |
| 2010–14 | 6.1% | 6.9% | 9.4% |
| 2015–19 | 3.8% | 4.5% | 5.6% |
| 2020–24 | 3.6% | 5.0% | 5.4% |
| Change | −2.0 pts | −1.0 pts | −2.7 pts |
Unemployment in Kauai County runs below the national rate: 3.6% of the labor force was out of work and looking, against 5.4% nationally. Since 2006–10, unemployment has fallen 2.0 points, as it has nationally. 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).
Kauai County compared with nearby counties
| County | Household size | Median age | Single parents | Renters | Vacant homes | Median year built | Median rent | Bachelor's degree | High school diploma | Unemployment |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kauai County | 3.22 | 43.9 | 12.6% | 31.4% | 16.4% | 1983 | $1,914 | 30.0% | 92.5% | 3.6% |
| Honolulu County | 3.10 | 41.5 | 10.9% | 40.2% | 8.9% | 1979 | $2,359 | 37.3% | 93.0% | 4.7% |
| Kalawao County | 1.15 | 39.5 | 10.1% | 100.0% | 62.6% | 1938 | $1,271 | 22.4% | 80.6% | 0.0% |
| Maui County | 3.04 | 43.8 | 12.6% | 34.4% | 16.0% | 1985 | $2,046 | 30.8% | 93.3% | 5.8% |
| Hawaii County | 2.84 | 44.6 | 13.7% | 26.0% | 14.5% | 1988 | $1,617 | 30.5% | 93.4% | 6.1% |
| Santa Cruz County | 2.94 | 39.2 | 16.9% | 30.7% | 10.0% | 1990 | $997 | 22.0% | 76.2% | 12.6% |
| Cochise County | 2.47 | 44.7 | 11.1% | 29.0% | 14.0% | 1986 | $1,026 | 28.4% | 89.1% | 7.0% |
| El Paso County | 3.01 | 34.9 | 16.9% | 35.8% | 8.0% | 1990 | $1,234 | 25.8% | 81.7% | 6.0% |
| Hudspeth County | 3.60 | 40.0 | 16.6% | 26.4% | 22.2% | 1981 | $785 | 10.0% | 57.9% | 9.3% |
| Culberson County | 2.47 | 44.4 | 14.2% | 29.8% | 22.3% | 1979 | $1,043 | 15.1% | 72.2% | 1.8% |
| Presidio County | 2.51 | 41.6 | 7.2% | 22.7% | 29.3% | 1976 | $483 | 27.3% | 68.0% | 6.4% |
All figures 2020–24.
Counties with similar populations: Vermilion County, IL · Chatham County, NC · Chelan County, WA · Clearfield County, PA · Clinton County, MI · Clinton County, NY · Cole County, MO · Sullivan County, NY · Talladega County, AL · Umatilla County, OR
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 Kauai County. 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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