The Town FilesLanai City, Hawaii
Community in Maui County · population 3,332 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $630,000
- Household income
- $92,167
- Jan low / Jul high
- 60° / 83°
- Snow a year
- 0 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 3
- Median age
- 42.1
Lanai City is a community of 3,332 people in Maui County, Hawaii. The median home is worth $630,000, below the typical Hawaii town ($802,600). It ranks better for first-time buyers than 100% of Hawaii towns, more seaside character than 94% of Hawaii towns, better for a vacation home than 90% of Hawaii towns.
- #1 in The 15 Quietest Small Towns in Hawaii
- #1 in The 22 Best Small Towns for First-Time Home Buyers in Hawaii
- #4 in The 11 Most Affordable Seaside Small Towns in Hawaii
- #5 in The 16 Best Small Towns to Retire in Hawaii
- #12 in 19 Small Towns in Hawaii With the Cheapest Homes
- #18 in The 25 Most Affordable Small Towns in Hawaii
How Lanai City 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 Lanai City is worth $630,000, below the typical Hawaii town ($802,600). Homes cost about 6.8 times the median household income of $92,167, which is more affordable than 69% of Hawaii towns. Median rent is $1,051 a month. 53.0% of households own their home.
| Housing | Lanai City | Typical Hawaii town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $630,000 | $802,600 |
| Median rent | $1,051 | $1,931 |
| Median household income | $92,167 | $95,243 |
| Home value ÷ income | 6.8× | 7.7× |
| Homeownership | 53.0% | 71.0% |
| Median year built | 1987 | 1983 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 7.9% | — |
Who lives in Lanai City
| People | Lanai City | Typical Hawaii town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 42.1 | 42.2 |
| Age 65 and over | 21.5% | 21.1% |
| Under 18 | 23.4% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 28.0% | 30.4% |
| Below the poverty line | 6.7% | 10.1% |
| Veterans | 6.8% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 27.3% | — |
| Work from home | 8.0% | 8.1% |
| Average commute | 15.9 min | 29.1 min |
| Homes with broadband | 87.1% | 93.2% |
Weather in Lanai City
July highs average 82.5°F and January lows 59.9°F. About 15.7 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 0.0 inches of snow (typical Hawaii town: 0.0 in). Expect about 0 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 0 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
3 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Lanai City since 1950, compared with 2 for the typical Hawaii town. The strongest, an EF0, struck on September 23, 2008 about 1.4 miles from the town center. The most recent was on September 23, 2008.
Severe weather in Maui County since 1996
Maui County has been included in 33 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for fire, flood, tsunami.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| October 7, 2026 | Hurricane | DR-4951: Hurricane Lala |
| October 7, 2026 | Hurricane | DR-4952: Hurricane Lowell |
| September 25, 2026 | Tropical Storm | EM-3654: Tropical Storm Nolo |
| April 7, 2026 | Flood | DR-4909: Severe Storms, Flooding, Landslides, And Mudslides |
| September 23, 2025 | Fire | FM-5613: Holomua Fire |
Jobs and pay in Maui County
Maui County had 73,656 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $61,830 a year. Unemployment was 4.4% in 2023; in Lanai City itself the ACS puts it at 2.2%.
Public schools in Lanai City
1 public school with 567 students, about 12.6 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lanai High & Elementary School | PK-12 | 567 | 12.6 |
Towns near Lanai City
- Lahaina, HI16.5 mi · 12,702 people · home $881,700
- Napili-Honokowai, HI19.0 mi · 7,042 people · home $878,900
- Kaunakakai, HI19.2 mi · 3,419 people · home $368,100
- Waikapu, HI24.8 mi · 3,437 people · home $884,400
- Wailuku, HI26.8 mi · 17,697 people · home $855,700
- Waihee-Waiehu, HI27.1 mi · 9,234 people · home $777,000
- Kahului, HI29.1 mi · 28,219 people · home $862,600
Lanai City questions
Is Lanai City, Hawaii a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Lanai City scores better for retirees than 86% of Hawaii towns and quieter than 89%. 21.5% of residents are 65 or older (median age 42.1).
How much does a house cost in Lanai City?
The median owner-occupied home in Lanai City is valued at $630,000 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $92,167, so homes cost about 6.8 times income. Median rent is $1,051 a month.
What is the weather like in Lanai City?
July highs average 82.5°F and January lows 59.9°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 15.7 inches of precipitation a year and 0.0 inches of snow.
Does Lanai City get tornadoes?
3 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Lanai City since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was an EF0 on September 23, 2008. 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)