The Town FilesKailua, Hawaii
Community in Hawaii County · population 19,713 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $667,400
- Household income
- $88,211
- Jan low / Jul high
- 69° / 86°
- Snow a year
- 0 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 1
- Median age
- 41.6
Kailua is a community of 19,713 people in Hawaii County, Hawaii. The median home is worth $667,400, below the typical Hawaii town ($802,600). It ranks better for a vacation home than 79% of Hawaii towns, better for young professionals than 78% of Hawaii towns, more vibrant than 77% of Hawaii towns.
How Kailua 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 Kailua is worth $667,400, below the typical Hawaii town ($802,600). Homes cost about 7.6 times the median household income of $88,211, which is more affordable than 53% of Hawaii towns. Median rent is $1,754 a month. 67.0% of households own their home.
| Housing | Kailua | Typical Hawaii town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $667,400 | $802,600 |
| Median rent | $1,754 | $1,931 |
| Median household income | $88,211 | $95,243 |
| Home value ÷ income | 7.6× | 7.7× |
| Homeownership | 67.0% | 71.0% |
| Median year built | 1985 | 1983 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 9.6% | — |
Who lives in Kailua
| People | Kailua | Typical Hawaii town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 41.6 | 42.2 |
| Age 65 and over | 19.7% | 21.1% |
| Under 18 | 20.3% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 33.6% | 30.4% |
| Below the poverty line | 14.3% | 10.1% |
| Veterans | 6.3% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 19.6% | — |
| Work from home | 10.2% | 8.1% |
| Average commute | 20.3 min | 29.1 min |
| Homes with broadband | 92.4% | 93.2% |
Weather in Kailua
July highs average 86.1°F and January lows 68.6°F. About 9.9 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 0.0 inches of snow (typical Hawaii town: 0.0 in). Expect about 7 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 0 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
1 tornado has passed within 10 miles of Kailua since 1950, compared with 2 for the typical Hawaii town. The strongest, unrated, struck on January 28, 1971 about 1.7 miles from the town center. The most recent was on January 28, 1971.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 2 times; the largest was 1.00 inches on March 24, 2006.
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 Kailua itself the ACS puts it at 4%.
Public schools in Kailua
5 public schools with 3,765 students, about 16.2 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kealakehe High School | 9-12 | 1,397 | 17.2 |
| Kealakehe Elementary School | PK-5 | 900 | 14.1 |
| Kealakehe Intermediate School | 6-8 | 690 | 16.0 |
| Kahakai Elementary School | PK-5 | 538 | 16.8 |
| Innovations - PCS (charter) | K-8 | 240 | 18.5 |
Towns near Kailua
- Holualoa, HI5.4 mi · 2,994 people · home $1,115,600
- Kahaluu-Keauhou, HI5.7 mi · 4,778 people · home $886,900
- Kaiminani, HI7.7 mi · 12,590 people · home $772,800
- Captain Cook, HI12.2 mi · 3,253 people · home $770,600
- Waikoloa Village, HI24.1 mi · 7,104 people · home $802,600
Kailua questions
Is Kailua, Hawaii a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Kailua scores better for retirees than 51% of Hawaii towns and quieter than 44%. 19.7% of residents are 65 or older (median age 41.6).
How much does a house cost in Kailua?
The median owner-occupied home in Kailua is valued at $667,400 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $88,211, so homes cost about 7.6 times income. Median rent is $1,754 a month.
What is the weather like in Kailua?
July highs average 86.1°F and January lows 68.6°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 9.9 inches of precipitation a year and 0.0 inches of snow.
Does Kailua get tornadoes?
1 tornado has passed within 10 miles of Kailua since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events). 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)