Population 1,774 · Census ACS 2020–24
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Population and households in Pahala
Household size in Pahala
| Period | Pahala | Hawaii | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 3.50 | 3.12 | 2.68 |
| 2010–14 | 3.10 | 3.20 | 2.73 |
| 2015–19 | 4.26 | 3.18 | 2.71 |
| 2020–24 | 3.65 | 3.06 | 2.65 |
| Change | +0.15 | −0.06 | −0.03 |
Households in Pahala are large by national standards, averaging 3.65 people against 2.65 for the U.S. That usually means more families with children at home. Household size has climbed from 3.50 in 2006–10, but in a place this small, much of that may be survey noise rather than real change.
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 Pahala
| Period | Pahala | Hawaii | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 36.1 | 39.1 | 37.7 |
| 2010–14 | 48.5 | 39.8 | 38.6 |
| 2015–19 | 30.3 | 41.0 | 39.6 |
| 2020–24 | 33.7 | 42.3 | 40.1 |
| Change | −2.4 | +3.2 | +2.3 |
With a median age of just 33.7, Pahala is far younger than the country as a whole (40.1), a population that tilts toward young families with children.
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 Pahala
| Period | Pahala | Hawaii | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 20.1% | 11.8% | 12.3% |
| 2010–14 | 11.6% | 11.3% | 12.3% |
| 2015–19 | 22.1% | 10.5% | 11.6% |
| 2020–24 | 10.0% | 11.6% | 11.6% |
| Change | −10.1 pts | −0.2 pts | −0.6 pts |
Single parents head about one in ten households in Pahala (10.0%), a little below the national share of 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 Pahala
Renters in Pahala
| Period | Pahala | Hawaii | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 42.9% | 40.7% | 33.3% |
| 2010–14 | 38.9% | 42.9% | 35.6% |
| 2015–19 | 25.9% | 41.1% | 36.0% |
| 2020–24 | 19.5% | 37.0% | 34.8% |
| Change | −23.4 pts | −3.7 pts | +1.5 pts |
Only 19.5% of households in Pahala rent their homes, far below the national share of 34.8%, so most residents are owners who tend to stay put. Among homeowners, 47.5% have no mortgage at all, above the national share of 39.8%.
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 Pahala
| Period | Pahala | Hawaii | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 32.7% | 11.2% | 11.4% |
| 2010–14 | 26.7% | 11.2% | 11.4% |
| 2015–19 | 19.4% | 11.9% | 11.1% |
| 2020–24 | 13.8% | 10.8% | 9.6% |
| Change | −18.8 pts | −0.3 pts | −1.8 pts |
Vacant homes make up 13.8% of the housing in Pahala, 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.
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 Pahala
| Period | Pahala | Hawaii | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 1972 | 1977 | 1974 |
| 2010–14 | 1957 | 1978 | 1975 |
| 2015–19 | 1962 | 1979 | 1977 |
| 2020–24 | 1975 | 1981 | 1980 |
| Change | +3 | +4 | +6 |
Homes in Pahala run a bit older than the national norm, with a median build year of 1975 against 1980.
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 Pahala
| Period | Pahala | Hawaii | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | $801 | $1,393 | $965 |
| 2010–14 | $695 | $1,482 | $1,040 |
| 2015–19 | $825 | $1,829 | $1,213 |
| 2020–24 | $1,193 | $2,199 | $1,571 |
| Change | +$392 | +$806 | +$606 |
The median renter in Pahala pays $1,193 a month for rent and utilities, well below the national median of $1,571. Rent takes 24.1% of the typical renter's income, comfortably under 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 Pahala
Bachelor's degrees in Pahala
| Period | Pahala | Hawaii | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 15.7% | 28.9% | 28.4% |
| 2010–14 | 12.6% | 29.8% | 29.6% |
| 2015–19 | 17.1% | 32.5% | 32.1% |
| 2020–24 | 26.4% | 35.3% | 35.6% |
| Change | +10.6 pts | +6.4 pts | +7.2 pts |
Just over a quarter of adults 25 and older in Pahala (26.4%) have a bachelor's degree or higher, below the national share of 35.6%.
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 Pahala
| Period | Pahala | Hawaii | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 82.5% | 89.8% | 84.9% |
| 2010–14 | 84.7% | 90.6% | 86.1% |
| 2015–19 | 85.2% | 91.9% | 87.7% |
| 2020–24 | 95.4% | 93.1% | 89.3% |
| Change | +12.9 pts | +3.3 pts | +4.3 pts |
High school completion is high in Pahala: 95.4% of adults 25 and older have a diploma or equivalent, well above the national rate of 89.3%.
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 Pahala
| Period | Pahala | Hawaii | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 9.9% | 6.0% | 8.1% |
| 2010–14 | 13.1% | 6.9% | 9.4% |
| 2015–19 | 6.8% | 4.5% | 5.6% |
| 2020–24 | 12.6% | 5.0% | 5.4% |
| Change | +2.7 pts | −1.0 pts | −2.7 pts |
Unemployment in Pahala runs well above the national rate: 12.6% of the labor force was out of work and looking, against 5.4%. 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).
Pahala 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pahala | 3.65 | 33.7 | 10.0% | 19.5% | 13.8% | 1975 | $1,193 | 26.4% | 95.4% | 12.6% |
| Punaluu | 2.34 | 46.6 | 6.5% | 27.0% | 9.5% | 1986 | $1,193 | 35.1% | 94.6% | 2.1% |
| Waiohinu | 2.06 | 53.5 | 5.6% | 24.4% | 11.7% | 1991 | $1,311 | 33.8% | 94.6% | 2.8% |
| Naalehu | 2.60 | 51.9 | 9.6% | 19.9% | 20.8% | 1981 | $1,610 | 20.9% | 92.3% | 7.1% |
| Ocean View | 2.07 | 52.7 | 6.1% | 24.6% | 12.5% | 1991 | $1,280 | 33.3% | 93.9% | 2.9% |
| Hawaiian Ocean View | 2.35 | 52.8 | 17.0% | 21.9% | 24.8% | 2001 | $1,467 | 18.2% | 88.4% | 17.9% |
| Volcano | 2.17 | 56.1 | 2.5% | 19.0% | 21.2% | 1996 | $1,867 | 49.2% | 96.3% | 3.2% |
| Papa | 2.40 | 56.7 | 5.1% | 5.1% | 33.9% | 1992 | $1,414 | 40.8% | 95.5% | 1.1% |
| Hookena | 2.54 | 60.0 | 4.0% | 8.1% | 39.0% | 1993 | $1,225 | 38.5% | 96.8% | 1.5% |
| Paauhau | 3.08 | 40.1 | 16.5% | 34.5% | 13.1% | 1978 | $1,654 | 25.8% | 89.9% | 3.5% |
| Fern Forest | 1.82 | 57.2 | 2.5% | 12.7% | 6.3% | 1998 | $770 | 16.3% | 93.2% | 4.5% |
All figures 2020–24.
Cities with similar populations: Jackson, NC · Terrell, NC · Tabor, IA · Swords Creek, VA · Sweet Water, AL · Stetsonville, WI · Morrison, OK · Millport, NY · Marmet, WV · Logantown, KY
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 Pahala. 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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