The Town FilesHilo, Hawaii
Community in Hawaii County · population 44,186 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $483,000
- Household income
- $81,779
- Jan low / Jul high
- 64° / 83°
- Snow a year
- 0 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 4
- Median age
- 42.7
Hilo is a community of 44,186 people in Hawaii County, Hawaii. The median home is worth $483,000, below the typical Hawaii town ($802,600). It ranks better for first-time buyers than 95% of Hawaii towns, more vibrant than 78% of Hawaii towns, better for cycling than 78% of Hawaii towns.
How Hilo ranks
Percentile among Hawaii towns with at least 500 people on The Town Files lifestyle rankings. 50 is typical for the state; 90 means better than 90% of Hawaii towns.
Homes and cost of living
The median home in Hilo is worth $483,000, below the typical Hawaii town ($802,600). Homes cost about 5.9 times the median household income of $81,779, which is more affordable than 83% of Hawaii towns. Median rent is $1,427 a month. 66.1% of households own their home.
| Housing | Hilo | Typical Hawaii town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $483,000 | $802,600 |
| Median rent | $1,427 | $1,931 |
| Median household income | $81,779 | $95,243 |
| Home value ÷ income | 5.9× | 7.7× |
| Homeownership | 66.1% | 71.0% |
| Median year built | 1978 | 1983 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 1.6% | — |
Who lives in Hilo
| People | Hilo | Typical Hawaii town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 42.7 | 42.2 |
| Age 65 and over | 22.7% | 21.1% |
| Under 18 | 20.0% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 34.6% | 30.4% |
| Below the poverty line | 14.5% | 10.1% |
| Veterans | 6.8% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 11.0% | — |
| Work from home | 8.9% | 8.1% |
| Average commute | 20.3 min | 29.1 min |
| Homes with broadband | 91.4% | 93.2% |
Weather in Hilo
July highs average 82.8°F and January lows 64.1°F. About 120.4 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 0.0 inches of snow (typical Hawaii town: 0.0 in). Expect about 2 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 0 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
4 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Hilo since 1950, compared with 2 for the typical Hawaii town. The strongest, an F1, struck on March 20, 1980 about 1.4 miles from the town center. The most recent was on April 3, 1986.
Severe weather in Hawaii County since 1996
Hawaii County has been included in 35 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for fire, flood, tsunami.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| October 7, 2026 | Hurricane | DR-4951: Hurricane Lala |
| September 25, 2026 | Tropical Storm | EM-3654: Tropical Storm Nolo |
| September 1, 2026 | Earthquake | DR-4936: Earthquake |
| August 25, 2026 | Tropical Storm | EM-3652: Hurricane Lala |
| July 26, 2026 | Fire | FM-5650: Kawaihae Road Fire |
Jobs and pay in Hawaii County
Hawaii County had 74,029 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $57,868 a year. Unemployment was 3% in 2023; in Hilo itself the ACS puts it at 6.9%.
Public schools in Hilo
16 public schools with 7,991 students, about 14.2 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Waiakea High School | 9-12 | 1,217 | 15.8 |
| Hilo High School | 9-12 | 1,192 | 15.3 |
| Waiakea Intermediate School | 6-8 | 854 | 15.5 |
| Waiakea Elementary School | PK-5 | 725 | 14.2 |
| Waiakeawaena Elementary School | PK-5 | 672 | 13.2 |
| Hilo Intermediate School | 7-8 | 486 | 12.8 |
| Ernest Bowen DeSilva Elementary School | PK-6 | 465 | 18.6 |
| Hilo Union Elementary School | PK-6 | 446 | 11.4 |
| Chiefess Kapiolani Elementary School | PK-6 | 384 | 13.7 |
| Keaukaha Elementary School | PK-6 | 358 | 12.8 |
| Connections - New Century PCS (charter) | K-12 | 346 | 11.9 |
| Ka Umeke Kaeo - PCS (charter) | PK-12 | 275 | 12.5 |
Towns near Hilo
- Kurtistown, HI7.1 mi · 2,515 people · home $448,600
- Hawaiian Paradise Park, HI10.0 mi · 14,957 people · home $457,100
- Orchidlands Estates, HI10.1 mi · 3,165 people · home $385,900
- Hawaiian Acres, HI11.0 mi · 3,426 people · home $318,400
- Mountain View, HI12.5 mi · 4,215 people · home $356,800
- Ainaloa, HI12.9 mi · 3,609 people · home $228,300
- Hawaiian Beaches, HI14.1 mi · 3,976 people · home $272,700
Hilo questions
Is Hilo, Hawaii a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Hilo scores better for retirees than 36% of Hawaii towns and quieter than 32%. 22.7% of residents are 65 or older (median age 42.7).
How much does a house cost in Hilo?
The median owner-occupied home in Hilo is valued at $483,000 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $81,779, so homes cost about 5.9 times income. Median rent is $1,427 a month.
What is the weather like in Hilo?
July highs average 82.8°F and January lows 64.1°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 120.4 inches of precipitation a year and 0.0 inches of snow.
Does Hilo get tornadoes?
4 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Hilo since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F1 on March 20, 1980. The typical Hawaii town has had 2.
- U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates (2020–2024)
- U.S. Census Bureau, 2020 Census and 2025 Gazetteer (2020 / 2025)
- NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals (1991–2020)
- NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database (1950–2026)
- FEMA OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations (this product uses the FEMA OpenFEMA API but is not endorsed by FEMA) (1953–2026)
- NCES Common Core of Data (2023–24)
- BLS Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages; USDA ERS county unemployment (BLS LAUS) (2000–2024)
- The Town Files lifestyle rankings, built from federal demographic, school, crime and housing data (2025)