Median Income
$65,076
household / year
Median Home Value
$481,700
owner-occupied
Median Rent
$1,378
gross / month
Cost of Living
102
national avg = 100

Is Kapaau, HI a Good Place to Live?

Kapaau is a small town of 1,972 in Hawaii, with a median household income of $65,076 and a 5.4% unemployment rate. Its cost of living index is 102 (US average = 100), which is 2% above the national average.

Strengths: Kapaau stands out for solid school ratings (B-).

Trade-offs: Potential downsides include high home prices, an elevated unemployment rate. Whether Kapaau is right for you depends on your priorities — the full breakdown is below.

All Kapaau 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: 102.4

Kapaau's overall cost of living index is 102.4, where 100 represents the US national average. Living in Kapaau costs roughly 2% more than the average American city.

Metric Kapaau, HI National Avg
Median Home Value $481,700 $244,900
Median Monthly Rent $1,378 $1,163
Homeownership Rate 78.2% 65.9%
Median Household Income $65,076 $74,755

Crime & Safety

Crime data for Kapaau is not currently available from the FBI's Uniform Crime Reporting program. Not all local agencies report to the UCR each year.

Schools & Education

Kapaau 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 Kapaau, 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 14.9% 35.4%
High School Diploma or Higher 93.5% 91.1%

Weather & Climate

Kapaau sees average highs of 82.2°F in January and 87.9°F in July, with 71.7 inches of annual precipitation .

MetricKapaau, HI
Average High — January82.2°F
Average High — July87.9°F
Annual Precipitation71.7"
Annual SnowfallTrace / None

Demographics

MetricKapaau, HINational Avg
Population1,972—
Median Age45.838.9
Unemployment Rate5.4%3.7%
Avg Commute Time28.7 min26 min
White (non-Hispanic)22.1%59.3%
Black or African American1.6%13.6%
Hispanic or Latino11.2%18.9%
Asian26.1%6.3%
Under 1814.7%22.2%
65 and over24.3%16.8%

Nearby Cities

Halaula, HI 2 mi Hawi, HI 3 mi Kukuihaele, HI 17 mi Waimea CDP (Hawaii County), HI 19 mi Puako, HI 19 mi

ZIP Codes in Kapaau

Kapaau, HI is covered by 1 ZIP code:

96755

Kapaau vs Other Cities

Kapaau, HI vs Halaula, HI Kapaau, HI vs Hawi, HI Kapaau, HI vs Kukuihaele, HI Kapaau, HI vs Waimea CDP (Hawaii County), HI Kapaau, HI vs Puako, HI

Frequently Asked Questions

Kapaau's cost of living index is 102, where 100 is the national average. That puts Kapaau roughly 2% above the national average in cost. The median home price is $481,700 and median rent is $1,378/month.
Crime data for Kapaau is not available in the current FBI UCR reporting year. Not all jurisdictions submit data annually.
Public schools in Kapaau 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. 14.9% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Kapaau, HI has a population of 1,972, a median household income of $65,076, and an unemployment rate of 5.4%. Whether it's right for you depends on your priorities — use the compare tool above to stack it against another city you're considering.
Kapaau averages 82.2°F in January and 87.9°F in July. Annual rainfall is 71.7 inches . Based on NOAA 30-year climate normals (1991–2020).
Kapaau, HI is covered by 1 ZIP code: 96755.
The population of Kapaau, Hawaii is 1,972 with a median age of 45.8. Source: US Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.
Key numbers for living in Kapaau: cost of living index 102 (100 = US average), median home $481,700, median household income $65,076, schools rated B-. Whether these are benefits or drawbacks depends on where you're coming from — compare Kapaau side by side with your current city to see the trade-offs.