Median Income
$54,688
household / year
Median Home Value
$190,100
owner-occupied
Median Rent
$1,181
gross / month
Cost of Living
97
national avg = 100

Is Naalehu, HI a Good Place to Live?

Naalehu is a small town of 890 in Hawaii, with a median household income of $54,688 and a 4.4% unemployment rate. Its cost of living index is 97 (US average = 100), which is 3% below the national average.

Strengths: Naalehu stands out for an affordable cost of living, below-average home prices, solid school ratings (B-).

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

All Naalehu 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: 96.6

Naalehu's overall cost of living index is 96.6, where 100 represents the US national average. Living in Naalehu costs roughly 3% less than the average American city.

Metric Naalehu, HI National Avg
Median Home Value $190,100 $244,900
Median Monthly Rent $1,181 $1,163
Homeownership Rate 71.6% 65.9%
Median Household Income $54,688 $74,755

Crime & Safety

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

Schools & Education

Naalehu 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 Naalehu, 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 8.5% 35.4%
High School Diploma or Higher 89.5% 91.1%

Weather & Climate

Naalehu sees average highs of 79.4°F in January and 84.0°F in July, with 40.4 inches of annual precipitation .

MetricNaalehu, HI
Average High — January79.4°F
Average High — July84.0°F
Annual Precipitation40.4"
Annual SnowfallTrace / None

Demographics

MetricNaalehu, HINational Avg
Population890—
Median Age29.938.9
Unemployment Rate4.4%3.7%
Avg Commute Time49.8 min26 min
White (non-Hispanic)5.8%59.3%
Black or African American0.4%13.6%
Hispanic or Latino4.3%18.9%
Asian29.8%6.3%
Under 1835.8%22.2%
65 and over13.7%16.8%

Nearby Cities

Waiohinu, HI 3 mi Discovery Harbour, HI 4 mi Pahala, HI 11 mi Hawaiian Ocean View, HI 13 mi Volcano Golf Course, HI 32 mi

Naalehu vs Other Cities

Naalehu, HI vs Waiohinu, HI Naalehu, HI vs Discovery Harbour, HI Naalehu, HI vs Pahala, HI Naalehu, HI vs Hawaiian Ocean View, HI Naalehu, HI vs Volcano Golf Course, HI

Frequently Asked Questions

Naalehu's cost of living index is 97, where 100 is the national average. That makes Naalehu roughly 3% less expensive than a typical US city — a meaningful affordability advantage. The median home price is $190,100 and median rent is $1,181/month.
Crime data for Naalehu is not available in the current FBI UCR reporting year. Not all jurisdictions submit data annually.
Public schools in Naalehu 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. 8.5% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Naalehu, HI has a population of 890, a median household income of $54,688, and an unemployment rate of 4.4%. Whether it's right for you depends on your priorities — use the compare tool above to stack it against another city you're considering.
Naalehu averages 79.4°F in January and 84.0°F in July. Annual rainfall is 40.4 inches . Based on NOAA 30-year climate normals (1991–2020).
The population of Naalehu, Hawaii is 890 with a median age of 29.9. Source: US Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.
Key numbers for living in Naalehu: cost of living index 97 (100 = US average), median home $190,100, median household income $54,688, schools rated B-. Whether these are benefits or drawbacks depends on where you're coming from — compare Naalehu side by side with your current city to see the trade-offs.