What are the schools like in Keaau, HI?

Keaau is served primarily by Hawaii Department of Education. The district operates 183 elementary schools, 42 middle schools, and 46 high schools with a student-to-teacher ratio of 13.7:1.

What is the median household income in Keaau?

The median household income in Keaau, HI is $79,821 according to the most recent US Census American Community Survey 5-year estimates. The unemployment rate is 0.5%.

What is the weather like in Keaau, HI?

Keaau has an average high temperature of 75.3°F in January and 79.1°F in July. Annual precipitation averages 151.2 inches.

Keaau, HI Cost of Living, Crime & Is It a Good Place to Live? (2026)

Q: Is Keaau, HI affordable or expensive?

Keaau's cost of living index is 92, where 100 represents the national average. This means Keaau is 8% less expensive than the average US city. The median home value is $298,500 and the median rent is $531 per month.

Q: What is the crime rate in Keaau, HI?

Crime rate data for Keaau is not currently available from the FBI's reported data.

Is Keaau, HI a Good Place to Live?

Keaau is a small town of 1,290 in Hawaii, with a median household income of $79,821 and a 0.5% unemployment rate. Its cost of living index is 92 (US average = 100), which is 8% below the national average.

Strengths: Keaau stands out for an affordable cost of living, solid school ratings (B-).

Trade-offs: Potential downsides include longer commutes. Whether Keaau is right for you depends on your priorities — the full breakdown is below.

All Keaau 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: 92.4

Keaau's overall cost of living index is 92.4, where 100 represents the US national average. Living in Keaau costs roughly 8% less than the average American city.

Metric	Keaau, HI	National Avg
Median Home Value	$298,500	$244,900
Median Monthly Rent	$531	$1,163
Homeownership Rate	65.7%	65.9%
Median Household Income	$79,821	$74,755

Crime & Safety

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

Schools & Education

Keaau 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	Keaau, 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	18.6%	35.4%
High School Diploma or Higher	91.3%	91.1%

Weather & Climate

Keaau sees average highs of 75.3°F in January and 79.1°F in July, with 151.2 inches of annual precipitation .

Metric	Keaau, HI
Average High — January	75.3°F
Average High — July	79.1°F
Annual Precipitation	151.2"
Annual Snowfall	Trace / None

Demographics

Metric	Keaau, HI	National Avg
Population	1,290	—
Median Age	45.2	38.9
Unemployment Rate	0.5%	3.7%
Avg Commute Time	34.1 min	26 min
White (non-Hispanic)	6.9%	59.3%
Black or African American	0.0%	13.6%
Hispanic or Latino	0.9%	18.9%
Asian	49.6%	6.3%
Under 18	21.6%	22.2%
65 and over	26.0%	16.8%

Nearby Cities

Kurtistown, HI 3 mi Hilo, HI 5 mi Orchidlands Estates, HI 5 mi Hawaiian Paradise Park, HI 5 mi Hawaiian Acres, HI 6 mi

Keaau vs Other Cities

Keaau, HI vs Kurtistown, HI Keaau, HI vs Hilo, HI Keaau, HI vs Orchidlands Estates, HI Keaau, HI vs Hawaiian Paradise Park, HI Keaau, HI vs Hawaiian Acres, HI

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Keaau, HI affordable or expensive?

Keaau's cost of living index is 92, where 100 is the national average. That makes Keaau roughly 8% less expensive than a typical US city — a meaningful affordability advantage. The median home price is $298,500 and median rent is $531/month.

What is the crime rate in Keaau, HI?

Crime data for Keaau is not available in the current FBI UCR reporting year. Not all jurisdictions submit data annually.

What are the schools like in Keaau?

Public schools in Keaau 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. 18.6% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

Is Keaau, HI a good place to live?

Keaau, HI has a population of 1,290, a median household income of $79,821, and an unemployment rate of 0.5%. It offers below-average costs of living, which stretches take-home pay further than in most American cities. Whether it's right for you depends on your priorities — use the compare tool above to stack it against another city you're considering.

What is the weather like in Keaau?

Keaau averages 75.3°F in January and 79.1°F in July. Annual rainfall is 151.2 inches . Based on NOAA 30-year climate normals (1991–2020).

What is the population of Keaau?

The population of Keaau, Hawaii is 1,290 with a median age of 45.2. Source: US Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.

What are the pros and cons of living in Keaau?

Key numbers for living in Keaau: cost of living index 92 (100 = US average), median home $298,500, median household income $79,821, schools rated B-. Whether these are benefits or drawbacks depends on where you're coming from — compare Keaau side by side with your current city to see the trade-offs.