Median Income
$81,433
household / year
Median Home Value
$655,400
owner-occupied
Median Rent
$1,411
gross / month
Cost of Living
104
national avg = 100

Is Wahiawa, HI a Good Place to Live?

Wahiawa is a small city of 17,400 in Hawaii, with a median household income of $81,433 and a 3.6% unemployment rate. Its cost of living index is 104 (US average = 100), which is 4% above the national average.

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

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

All Wahiawa 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: 104.1

Wahiawa's overall cost of living index is 104.1, where 100 represents the US national average. Living in Wahiawa costs roughly 4% more than the average American city.

Metric Wahiawa, HI National Avg
Median Home Value $655,400 $244,900
Median Monthly Rent $1,411 $1,163
Homeownership Rate 51.2% 65.9%
Median Household Income $81,433 $74,755

Crime & Safety

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

Schools & Education

Wahiawa 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 Wahiawa, 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 21.5% 35.4%
High School Diploma or Higher 92.8% 91.1%

Weather & Climate

Wahiawa sees average highs of 76.3°F in January and 81.5°F in July, with 64.1 inches of annual precipitation .

MetricWahiawa, HI
Average High — January76.3°F
Average High — July81.5°F
Annual Precipitation64.1"
Annual SnowfallTrace / None

Demographics

MetricWahiawa, HINational Avg
Population17,400—
Median Age41.838.9
Unemployment Rate3.6%3.7%
Avg Commute Time33.7 min26 min
White (non-Hispanic)11.8%59.3%
Black or African American2.2%13.6%
Hispanic or Latino3.7%18.9%
Asian42.8%6.3%
Under 1820.7%22.2%
65 and over19.7%16.8%

Nearby Cities

Whitmore Village, HI 1 mi Wheeler AFB, HI 2 mi Waipio Acres, HI 2 mi Mililani Mauka, HI 2 mi Helemano, HI 2 mi

Wahiawa vs Other Cities

Wahiawa, HI vs Whitmore Village, HI Wahiawa, HI vs Wheeler AFB, HI Wahiawa, HI vs Waipio Acres, HI Wahiawa, HI vs Mililani Mauka, HI Wahiawa, HI vs Helemano, HI

Frequently Asked Questions

Wahiawa's cost of living index is 104, where 100 is the national average. That puts Wahiawa roughly 4% above the national average in cost. The median home price is $655,400 and median rent is $1,411/month.
Crime data for Wahiawa is not available in the current FBI UCR reporting year. Not all jurisdictions submit data annually.
Public schools in Wahiawa 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. 21.5% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Wahiawa, HI has a population of 17,400, a median household income of $81,433, and an unemployment rate of 3.6%. Whether it's right for you depends on your priorities — use the compare tool above to stack it against another city you're considering.
Wahiawa averages 76.3°F in January and 81.5°F in July. Annual rainfall is 64.1 inches . Based on NOAA 30-year climate normals (1991–2020).
The population of Wahiawa, Hawaii is 17,400 with a median age of 41.8. Source: US Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.
Key numbers for living in Wahiawa: cost of living index 104 (100 = US average), median home $655,400, median household income $81,433, schools rated B-. Whether these are benefits or drawbacks depends on where you're coming from — compare Wahiawa side by side with your current city to see the trade-offs.