Median Income
$87,895
household / year
Median Home Value
$691,400
owner-occupied
Median Rent
$1,829
gross / month
Cost of Living
106
national avg = 100

Is Kapaa, HI a Good Place to Live?

Kapaa is a small city of 10,846 in Hawaii, with a median household income of $87,895 and a 1.9% unemployment rate. Its cost of living index is 106 (US average = 100), which is 6% above the national average.

Strengths: Kapaa stands out for solid school ratings (B+), a well-educated population, short average commutes.

Trade-offs: Potential downsides include high home prices. Whether Kapaa is right for you depends on your priorities — the full breakdown is below.

All Kapaa city data on this page comes from official government sources — the US Census Bureau, FBI, NCES, BEA, and NOAA — updated annually.

Cost of Living

Index: 106.4

Kapaa's overall cost of living index is 106.4, where 100 represents the US national average. Living in Kapaa costs roughly 6% more than the average American city.

Metric Kapaa, HI National Avg
Median Home Value $691,400 $244,900
Median Monthly Rent $1,829 $1,163
Homeownership Rate 63.4% 65.9%
Median Household Income $87,895 $74,755

Crime & Safety

Safer than Average

Kapaa's violent crime rate is 260.1 per 100,000 residents — 32% lower than the national average of ~380 per 100,000.

Violent Crime
260.1 /100k
Property Crime
1748.4 /100k

Vertical marker = national average. Source: FBI UCR Program.

Schools & Education

Kapaa is served primarily by Hawaii Department of Education. The student-to-teacher ratio is 13.7:1 (better than the national average of ~16:1).

Metric Kapaa, HI National Avg
School District Hawaii Department of Education —
Elementary Schools 183 —
Middle Schools 42 —
High Schools 46 —
Student/Teacher Ratio 13.7:1 16:1
Bachelor's Degree or Higher 36.1% 35.4%
High School Diploma or Higher 93.3% 91.1%

Weather & Climate

Kapaa sees average highs of 78.6°F in January and 84.6°F in July, with 73.8 inches of annual precipitation .

MetricKapaa, HI
Average High — January78.6°F
Average High — July84.6°F
Annual Precipitation73.8"
Annual SnowfallTrace / None

Demographics

MetricKapaa, HINational Avg
Population10,846—
Median Age45.738.9
Unemployment Rate1.9%3.7%
Avg Commute Time23.8 min26 min
White (non-Hispanic)32.7%59.3%
Black or African American0.4%13.6%
Hispanic or Latino3.2%18.9%
Asian33.8%6.3%
Under 1817.2%22.2%
65 and over20.4%16.8%

Nearby Cities

Wailua Homesteads, HI 2 mi Wailua, HI 3 mi Anahola, HI 5 mi Hanamaulu, HI 6 mi Lihue, HI 8 mi

ZIP Codes in Kapaa

Kapaa, HI is covered by 1 ZIP code:

96746

Kapaa vs Other Cities

Kapaa, HI vs Wailua Homesteads, HI Kapaa, HI vs Wailua, HI Kapaa, HI vs Anahola, HI Kapaa, HI vs Hanamaulu, HI Kapaa, HI vs Lihue, HI

Frequently Asked Questions

Kapaa's cost of living index is 106, where 100 is the national average. That puts Kapaa roughly 6% above the national average in cost. The median home price is $691,400 and median rent is $1,829/month.
Kapaa's violent crime rate is 260.1 per 100,000 residents — the national average is ~380 per 100,000. Property crime is 1748.4 per 100,000 (national avg ~2,100). Data from the FBI Uniform Crime Reporting Program.
Public schools in Kapaa are operated by Hawaii Department of Education. The district has 183 elementary, 42 middle, and 46 high schools. The student-to-teacher ratio is 13.7:1. 36.1% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Kapaa, HI has a population of 10,846, a median household income of $87,895, and an unemployment rate of 1.9%. Whether it's right for you depends on your priorities — use the compare tool above to stack it against another city you're considering.
Kapaa averages 78.6°F in January and 84.6°F in July. Annual rainfall is 73.8 inches . Based on NOAA 30-year climate normals (1991–2020).
Kapaa, HI is covered by 1 ZIP code: 96746.
The population of Kapaa, Hawaii is 10,846 with a median age of 45.7. Source: US Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.
Key numbers for living in Kapaa: cost of living index 106 (100 = US average), median home $691,400, median household income $87,895, crime index 74 (100 = US average, lower is safer), schools rated B+. Whether these are benefits or drawbacks depends on where you're coming from — compare Kapaa side by side with your current city to see the trade-offs.