Population 690 · Census ACS 2020–24
Choose a measure to map it.Tap a measure to map it. Swipe the row for more. Arrows show the change since 2006–10.
Median age by neighborhoodHistory and comparison ↓︎
Younger residents
Older residents
Colorblind friendly
off
More maps of Puako: Best Neighborhoods · Walk Grade · Household income · Home prices · Race · Politics · Traffic noise · Internet
Population and households in Puako
Household size in Puako
| Period | Puako | Hawaii | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 2.30 | 3.12 | 2.68 |
| 2010–14 | 2.47 | 3.20 | 2.73 |
| 2015–19 | 2.34 | 3.18 | 2.71 |
| 2020–24 | 1.99 | 3.06 | 2.65 |
| Change | −0.31 | −0.06 | −0.03 |
Puako is a place of small households, averaging 1.99 people against 2.65 for the U.S., which points to many singles, couples and roommates and relatively few children. Since 2006–10, household size has dropped from 2.30, 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 Puako
| Period | Puako | Hawaii | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 51.0 | 39.1 | 37.7 |
| 2010–14 | 47.2 | 39.8 | 38.6 |
| 2015–19 | 50.9 | 41.0 | 39.6 |
| 2020–24 | 65.9 | 42.3 | 40.1 |
| Change | +14.9 | +3.2 | +2.3 |
With a median age of 65.9, Puako is noticeably older than the country as a whole (40.1), an age mix that tilts toward empty nesters and retirees.
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 Puako
| Period | Puako | Hawaii | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 5.7% | 11.8% | 12.3% |
| 2010–14 | 4.9% | 11.3% | 12.3% |
| 2015–19 | 6.9% | 10.5% | 11.6% |
| 2020–24 | 2.9% | 11.6% | 11.6% |
| Change | −2.9 pts | −0.2 pts | −0.6 pts |
Single parents head only 2.9% of households in Puako, well 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 Puako
Renters in Puako
| Period | Puako | Hawaii | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 33.7% | 40.7% | 33.3% |
| 2010–14 | 34.2% | 42.9% | 35.6% |
| 2015–19 | 31.9% | 41.1% | 36.0% |
| 2020–24 | 19.6% | 37.0% | 34.8% |
| Change | −14.1 pts | −3.7 pts | +1.5 pts |
Puako is largely a place of homeowners: only 19.6% of households rent, far below the national share of 34.8%. Owner-heavy areas like this tend to see less turnover. More than four in ten owners (44.8%) have paid off their mortgages, 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 Puako
| Period | Puako | Hawaii | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 61.8% | 11.2% | 11.4% |
| 2010–14 | 68.1% | 11.2% | 11.4% |
| 2015–19 | 68.2% | 11.9% | 11.1% |
| 2020–24 | 70.6% | 10.8% | 9.6% |
| Change | +8.8 pts | −0.3 pts | −1.8 pts |
Vacancy is high in Puako: 70.6% 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.
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 Puako
| Period | Puako | Hawaii | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 2000 | 1977 | 1974 |
| 2010–14 | 2001 | 1978 | 1975 |
| 2015–19 | 1996 | 1979 | 1977 |
| 2020–24 | 2003 | 1981 | 1980 |
| Change | +3 | +4 | +6 |
Much of the housing in Puako is relatively new: half of its homes were built after 2003, compared with 1980 for the U.S. as a whole.
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 Puako
| Period | Puako | Hawaii | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | $1,612 | $1,393 | $965 |
| 2010–14 | $1,691 | $1,482 | $1,040 |
| 2015–19 | $1,747 | $1,829 | $1,213 |
| 2020–24 | $2,156 | $2,199 | $1,571 |
| Change | +$544 | +$806 | +$606 |
A typical rental in Puako costs $2,156 a month with utilities, well above the national median of $1,571. Hawaii as a whole looks much the same. The typical renter here spends 28.6% of household income on rent, just under the 30% mark often used to define affordable rent, and a smaller share than renters pay nationally.
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 Puako
Bachelor's degrees in Puako
| Period | Puako | Hawaii | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 39.2% | 28.9% | 28.4% |
| 2010–14 | 46.0% | 29.8% | 29.6% |
| 2015–19 | 56.4% | 32.5% | 32.1% |
| 2020–24 | 57.5% | 35.3% | 35.6% |
| Change | +18.3 pts | +6.4 pts | +7.2 pts |
College graduates are unusually common in Puako: 57.5% of adults 25 and older have a bachelor's degree or higher, against 35.6% nationally. Education tends to track local incomes and the kinds of jobs nearby.
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 Puako
| Period | Puako | Hawaii | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 95.7% | 89.8% | 84.9% |
| 2010–14 | 96.3% | 90.6% | 86.1% |
| 2015–19 | 97.7% | 91.9% | 87.7% |
| 2020–24 | 96.9% | 93.1% | 89.3% |
| Change | +1.3 pts | +3.3 pts | +4.3 pts |
High school completion is high in Puako: 96.9% 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 Puako
| Period | Puako | Hawaii | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 5.3% | 6.0% | 8.1% |
| 2010–14 | 13.9% | 6.9% | 9.4% |
| 2015–19 | 9.5% | 4.5% | 5.6% |
| 2020–24 | 3.6% | 5.0% | 5.4% |
| Change | −1.8 pts | −1.0 pts | −2.7 pts |
Jobs have been easier to find in Puako than nationally: unemployment was 3.6%, 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).
Puako 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Puako | 1.99 | 65.9 | 2.9% | 19.6% | 70.6% | 2003 | $2,156 | 57.5% | 96.9% | 3.6% |
| Waikoloa | 3.03 | 40.6 | 18.8% | 29.4% | 24.5% | 1993 | $2,097 | 30.9% | 97.5% | 9.8% |
| Puukohola Heiau National Historic Site | 2.08 | 63.4 | 3.7% | 16.4% | 57.0% | 2002 | $2,192 | 56.9% | 97.3% | 3.5% |
| Waikoloa Village | 2.94 | 40.5 | 14.8% | 37.3% | 41.7% | 1991 | $2,154 | 39.8% | 95.0% | 0.7% |
| Kawaihae | 2.42 | 54.1 | 7.3% | 3.9% | 12.5% | 2000 | $2,297 | 53.2% | 98.2% | 3.8% |
| Kuhio Village | 2.50 | 47.9 | 17.8% | 25.6% | 12.9% | 1992 | $1,925 | 46.5% | 92.8% | 5.5% |
| Waimea | 2.74 | 41.2 | 18.4% | 25.8% | 8.6% | 1993 | $1,928 | 40.9% | 94.3% | 5.4% |
| Honomakau | 3.67 | 40.7 | 30.2% | 21.0% | 19.5% | 1979 | $1,908 | 32.8% | 98.0% | 4.1% |
| Waipio | 2.82 | 44.9 | 13.2% | 7.7% | 15.0% | 1982 | $2,607 | 28.7% | 93.3% | 9.4% |
| Niulii | 3.98 | 37.5 | 35.8% | 33.2% | 21.5% | 1974 | $1,811 | 27.8% | 97.9% | 4.2% |
| Kapaau | 3.58 | 41.1 | 25.5% | 24.5% | 15.5% | 1979 | $1,861 | 19.4% | 97.3% | 3.9% |
All figures 2020–24.
Cities with similar populations: Phoenicia, NY · Pocahontas, TN · Plantersville, AL · Pisgah, MS · Piney Park, MO · Pine Hill, TX · Pine Grove, MI · Pike, OK · Piedra, CA · Pope, TN
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 Puako. 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.
No other site shows detail at this level for free. We are able to keep this site free by receiving a small commission from the referring links on this page. Please share or cite this page if you aren’t able to otherwise support our work.