Population 12,002 · Census ACS 2020–24
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Population and households in Waialae-Kahala
Household size in Waialae-Kahala
| Period | Waialae-Kahala | Honolulu area | Hawaii | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 2.74 | 3.21 | 3.12 | 2.68 |
| 2010–14 | 2.65 | 3.29 | 3.20 | 2.73 |
| 2015–19 | 2.64 | 3.26 | 3.18 | 2.71 |
| 2020–24 | 2.81 | 3.10 | 3.06 | 2.65 |
| Change | +0.07 | −0.11 | −0.06 | −0.03 |
The typical household in Waialae-Kahala holds 2.81 people, slightly more than the U.S. average of 2.65. Locally, though, the typical household here is smaller than in the Honolulu area as a whole, where it has 3.10 people. Since 2006–10, household size has crept up from 2.74, 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 Waialae-Kahala
| Period | Waialae-Kahala | Honolulu area | Hawaii | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 49.5 | 38.5 | 39.1 | 37.7 |
| 2010–14 | 49.4 | 39.2 | 39.8 | 38.6 |
| 2015–19 | 52.9 | 40.2 | 41.0 | 39.6 |
| 2020–24 | 50.5 | 41.5 | 42.3 | 40.1 |
| Change | +1.0 | +3.0 | +3.2 | +2.3 |
With a median age of 50.5, Waialae-Kahala is noticeably older than the country as a whole (40.1), an age mix that tilts toward empty nesters and retirees. The median age has climbed from 49.5 in 2006–10, in line with the national trend. No other Honolulu neighborhood is older.
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 Waialae-Kahala
| Period | Waialae-Kahala | Honolulu area | Hawaii | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 6.5% | 11.4% | 11.8% | 12.3% |
| 2010–14 | 7.0% | 10.8% | 11.3% | 12.3% |
| 2015–19 | 5.8% | 10.0% | 10.5% | 11.6% |
| 2020–24 | 6.7% | 10.9% | 11.6% | 11.6% |
| Change | +0.2 pts | −0.5 pts | −0.2 pts | −0.6 pts |
Single-parent households are relatively rare in Waialae-Kahala: 6.7% of households, against 11.6% nationally. The single-parent share is little changed from 2006–10, while 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 Waialae-Kahala
Renters in Waialae-Kahala
| Period | Waialae-Kahala | Honolulu area | Hawaii | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 27.3% | 42.4% | 40.7% | 33.3% |
| 2010–14 | 29.4% | 45.1% | 42.9% | 35.6% |
| 2015–19 | 26.7% | 43.8% | 41.1% | 36.0% |
| 2020–24 | 21.5% | 40.2% | 37.0% | 34.8% |
| Change | −5.8 pts | −2.2 pts | −3.7 pts | +1.5 pts |
Only 21.5% of households in Waialae-Kahala rent their homes, far below the national share of 34.8%, so most residents are owners who tend to stay put. Nearly half of owners (47.3%) have paid off their mortgages, above the national share of 39.8%. Since 2006–10, the renter share has fallen 5.8 points, even as the national share rose. No other Honolulu neighborhood has a lower share of renters.
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 Waialae-Kahala
| Period | Waialae-Kahala | Honolulu area | Hawaii | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 10.6% | 9.1% | 11.2% | 11.4% |
| 2010–14 | 12.6% | 8.2% | 11.2% | 11.4% |
| 2015–19 | 11.1% | 9.1% | 11.9% | 11.1% |
| 2020–24 | 15.9% | 8.9% | 10.8% | 9.6% |
| Change | +5.2 pts | −0.2 pts | −0.3 pts | −1.8 pts |
Vacant homes make up 15.9% of the housing in Waialae-Kahala, 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. Since 2006–10, vacancy has risen 5.2 points, even as the national rate fell.
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 Waialae-Kahala
| Period | Waialae-Kahala | Honolulu area | Hawaii | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 1964 | 1975 | 1977 | 1974 |
| 2010–14 | 1963 | 1976 | 1978 | 1975 |
| 2015–19 | 1964 | 1977 | 1979 | 1977 |
| 2020–24 | 1965 | 1979 | 1981 | 1980 |
| Change | +2 | +4 | +4 | +6 |
Waialae-Kahala is a place of older homes: half were built before 1965, while the national median is 1980. That means established neighborhoods, and more houses that may need updating. Newer construction is concentrated in the southwest, while the northwest has the oldest housing. Of Honolulu's 18 neighborhoods, only two have older homes.
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 Waialae-Kahala
| Period | Waialae-Kahala | Honolulu area | Hawaii | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | $1,929 | $1,466 | $1,393 | $965 |
| 2010–14 | $1,960 | $1,594 | $1,482 | $1,040 |
| 2015–19 | $2,544 | $2,010 | $1,829 | $1,213 |
| 2020–24 | $2,683 | $2,359 | $2,199 | $1,571 |
| Change | +$754 | +$894 | +$806 | +$606 |
Rent in Waialae-Kahala runs $2,683 a month at the median, utilities included, well above the U.S. median of $1,571. Rent has climbed $754 a month since 2006–10, up 39%, a slower climb than the nation's. The typical renter here spends 32.8% of household income on rent, just over the 30% mark often used to define affordable rent. Only one other Honolulu neighborhood has higher rents.
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 Waialae-Kahala
Bachelor's degrees in Waialae-Kahala
| Period | Waialae-Kahala | Honolulu area | Hawaii | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 56.1% | 30.4% | 28.9% | 28.4% |
| 2010–14 | 54.2% | 31.6% | 29.8% | 29.6% |
| 2015–19 | 61.4% | 34.3% | 32.5% | 32.1% |
| 2020–24 | 62.6% | 37.3% | 35.3% | 35.6% |
| Change | +6.4 pts | +6.9 pts | +6.4 pts | +7.2 pts |
Waialae-Kahala is highly educated: just over six in ten adults 25 and older (62.6%) hold at least a bachelor's degree, far above the national share of 35.6%. The share with a degree is up 6.4 points from 2006–10, in line with the national trend. Waialae-Kahala has the highest share of college graduates of any Honolulu neighborhood.
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 Waialae-Kahala
| Period | Waialae-Kahala | Honolulu area | Hawaii | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 96.8% | 89.9% | 89.8% | 84.9% |
| 2010–14 | 97.3% | 90.5% | 90.6% | 86.1% |
| 2015–19 | 97.2% | 91.8% | 91.9% | 87.7% |
| 2020–24 | 97.9% | 93.0% | 93.1% | 89.3% |
| Change | +1.2 pts | +3.1 pts | +3.3 pts | +4.3 pts |
Finishing high school is nearly universal in Waialae-Kahala: 97.9% of adults 25 and older have a diploma or equivalent, well above the national rate of 89.3%. The share with a diploma is up 1.2 points from 2006–10, a smaller shift than nationally. Few Honolulu neighborhoods have a higher share of high school graduates: only two of 18.
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 Waialae-Kahala
| Period | Waialae-Kahala | Honolulu area | Hawaii | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 3.1% | 5.5% | 6.0% | 8.1% |
| 2010–14 | 3.2% | 6.3% | 6.9% | 9.4% |
| 2015–19 | 2.1% | 4.2% | 4.5% | 5.6% |
| 2020–24 | 2.7% | 4.7% | 5.0% | 5.4% |
| Change | −0.3 pts | −0.7 pts | −1.0 pts | −2.7 pts |
Unemployment in Waialae-Kahala has been low: just 2.7% of the labor force was out of work and looking, well below the national rate of 5.4%. No other Honolulu neighborhood has lower unemployment. 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).
Waialae-Kahala compared with nearby neighborhoods
| Neighborhood | Household size | Median age | Single parents | Renters | Vacant homes | Median year built | Median rent | Bachelor's degree | High school diploma | Unemployment |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Waialae-Kahala | 2.81 | 50.5 | 6.7% | 21.5% | 15.9% | 1965 | $2,683 | 62.6% | 97.9% | 2.7% |
| Kaimuki | 2.96 | 47.1 | 8.9% | 34.4% | 7.3% | 1962 | $2,292 | 49.9% | 94.4% | 3.6% |
| Palolo | 3.01 | 45.9 | 6.5% | 33.6% | 5.0% | 1963 | $1,840 | 36.8% | 88.6% | 3.1% |
| Diamond Head-Kapahulu-St Louis | 2.46 | 46.2 | 6.4% | 50.1% | 14.4% | 1968 | $2,135 | 49.5% | 93.3% | 4.4% |
| Kuliouou-Kalani Iki | 3.02 | 49.8 | 8.2% | 13.4% | 11.6% | 1971 | $3,055 | 59.8% | 98.6% | 5.2% |
| Manoa | 2.45 | 43.9 | 8.3% | 37.5% | 7.0% | 1966 | $2,244 | 60.3% | 98.2% | 4.9% |
| Waikiki | 1.64 | 49.5 | 2.6% | 60.1% | 29.5% | 1974 | $1,993 | 45.0% | 94.3% | 6.6% |
| Mxcully-Moiliili | 1.99 | 44.4 | 5.5% | 63.7% | 11.3% | 1973 | $1,628 | 40.1% | 89.9% | 3.5% |
| Makiki | 2.03 | 44.5 | 10.5% | 55.1% | 9.0% | 1973 | $1,822 | 46.3% | 91.3% | 6.4% |
| Ala Moana-Kakaako | 1.85 | 45.6 | 5.5% | 47.1% | 16.5% | 2000 | $2,203 | 53.0% | 95.9% | 4.2% |
| Nuuanu-Punchbowl | 2.68 | 43.5 | 8.6% | 37.9% | 10.6% | 1970 | $2,342 | 46.6% | 94.7% | 3.5% |
All figures 2020–24.
Neighborhoods with similar populations: Sunnyside, Clackamas, OR · Cheltenham, Chicago, IL · Chinatown, Los Angeles, CA · Cleveland Park, Washington, DC · College Hill, Providence, RI · Como, St. Paul, MN · Copperfield, Houston, TX · Coulwood West, Charlotte, NC · Cow Hollow, San Francisco, CA · Daniel Island, Charleston, SC
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 Waialae-Kahala. 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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