Median Income
$113,750
household / year
Median Home Value
$875,000
owner-occupied
Median Rent
$2,406
gross / month
Cost of Living
106
national avg = 100

Is Paia, HI a Good Place to Live?

Paia is a small town of 2,211 in Hawaii, with a median household income of $113,750 and a 12.9% unemployment rate. Its cost of living index is 106 (US average = 100), which is 6% above the national average.

Strengths: Paia stands out for solid school ratings (B+).

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

All Paia 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: 106.3

Paia's overall cost of living index is 106.3, where 100 represents the US national average. Living in Paia costs roughly 6% more than the average American city.

Metric Paia, HI National Avg
Median Home Value $875,000 $244,900
Median Monthly Rent $2,406 $1,163
Homeownership Rate 63.8% 65.9%
Median Household Income $113,750 $74,755

Crime & Safety

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

Schools & Education

Paia 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 Paia, 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 35.0% 35.4%
High School Diploma or Higher 88.2% 91.1%

Weather & Climate

Paia sees average highs of 82.2°F in January and 89.2°F in July, with 30.0 inches of annual precipitation .

MetricPaia, HI
Average High — January82.2°F
Average High — July89.2°F
Annual Precipitation30.0"
Annual SnowfallTrace / None

Demographics

MetricPaia, HINational Avg
Population2,211—
Median Age42.338.9
Unemployment Rate12.9%3.7%
Avg Commute Time26.9 min26 min
White (non-Hispanic)39.5%59.3%
Black or African American0.0%13.6%
Hispanic or Latino3.6%18.9%
Asian16.7%6.3%
Under 1815.9%22.2%
65 and over15.8%16.8%

Nearby Cities

Haliimaile, HI 4 mi Haiku-Pauwela, HI 4 mi Makawao, HI 5 mi Pukalani, HI 6 mi Kahului, HI 7 mi

ZIP Codes in Paia

Paia, HI is covered by 1 ZIP code:

96779

Paia vs Other Cities

Paia, HI vs Haliimaile, HI Paia, HI vs Haiku-Pauwela, HI Paia, HI vs Makawao, HI Paia, HI vs Pukalani, HI Paia, HI vs Kahului, HI

Frequently Asked Questions

Paia's cost of living index is 106, where 100 is the national average. That puts Paia roughly 6% above the national average in cost. The median home price is $875,000 and median rent is $2,406/month.
Crime data for Paia is not available in the current FBI UCR reporting year. Not all jurisdictions submit data annually.
Public schools in Paia 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. 35.0% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Paia, HI has a population of 2,211, a median household income of $113,750, and an unemployment rate of 12.9%. Whether it's right for you depends on your priorities — use the compare tool above to stack it against another city you're considering.
Paia averages 82.2°F in January and 89.2°F in July. Annual rainfall is 30.0 inches . Based on NOAA 30-year climate normals (1991–2020).
Paia, HI is covered by 1 ZIP code: 96779.
The population of Paia, Hawaii is 2,211 with a median age of 42.3. Source: US Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.
Key numbers for living in Paia: cost of living index 106 (100 = US average), median home $875,000, median household income $113,750, schools rated B+. Whether these are benefits or drawbacks depends on where you're coming from — compare Paia side by side with your current city to see the trade-offs.