The Town FilesUrban Honolulu, Hawaii
Community in Honolulu County · population 350,964 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $843,400
- Household income
- $86,504
- Jan low / Jul high
- 63° / 79°
- Snow a year
- 0 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 6
- Median age
- 43.0
Urban Honolulu is a community of 350,964 people in Honolulu County, Hawaii. The median home is worth $843,400, above the typical Hawaii town ($802,600). It ranks better transit than 99% of Hawaii towns, more walkable than 97% of Hawaii towns, more vibrant than 97% of Hawaii towns.
How Urban Honolulu 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 Urban Honolulu is worth $843,400, above the typical Hawaii town ($802,600). Homes cost about 9.7 times the median household income of $86,504, which is more affordable than 21% of Hawaii towns. Median rent is $1,823 a month. 48.9% of households own their home.
| Housing | Urban Honolulu | Typical Hawaii town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $843,400 | $802,600 |
| Median rent | $1,823 | $1,931 |
| Median household income | $86,504 | $95,243 |
| Home value ÷ income | 9.7× | 7.7× |
| Homeownership | 48.9% | 71.0% |
| Median year built | 1974 | 1983 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 3.7% | — |
Who lives in Urban Honolulu
| People | Urban Honolulu | Typical Hawaii town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 43.0 | 42.2 |
| Age 65 and over | 22.0% | 21.1% |
| Under 18 | 16.5% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 41.5% | 30.4% |
| Below the poverty line | 11.9% | 10.1% |
| Veterans | 6.4% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 27.6% | — |
| Work from home | 9.8% | 8.1% |
| Average commute | 21.9 min | 29.1 min |
| Homes with broadband | 89.2% | 93.2% |
Weather in Urban Honolulu
July highs average 79.0°F and January lows 63.1°F. About 151.0 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
6 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Urban Honolulu since 1950, compared with 2 for the typical Hawaii town. 2 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F2, struck on February 11, 1982 about 8.2 miles from the town center. The most recent was on March 9, 2012.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 5 times; the largest was 4.25 inches on March 9, 2012.
Severe weather in Honolulu County since 1996
Honolulu County has been included in 25 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 |
| April 7, 2026 | Flood | DR-4909: Severe Storms, Flooding, Landslides, And Mudslides |
| August 19, 2025 | Fire | FM-5609: Kunia Road Fire |
| February 15, 2022 | Severe Storm | DR-4639: Severe Storms, Flooding, And Landslides |
Jobs and pay in Honolulu County
Honolulu County had 453,193 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $69,851 a year. Unemployment was 2.7% in 2023; in Urban Honolulu itself the ACS puts it at 4.8%.
Public schools in Urban Honolulu
50 public schools with 23,090 students, about 14.1 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Governor Wallace Rider Farrington High School | 9-12 | 2,072 | 15.2 |
| President Theodore Roosevelt High School | 9-12 | 1,337 | 16.5 |
| President William McKinley High School | 9-12 | 1,328 | 14.8 |
| Kaimuki Middle School | 6-8 | 1,006 | 17.6 |
| King David Kalakaua Middle School | 6-8 | 889 | 14.8 |
| Maemae Elementary School | PK-5 | 664 | 14.4 |
| President George Washington Middle School | 6-8 | 604 | 11.4 |
| Prince David Kawananakoa Middle School | 6-8 | 595 | 13.2 |
| Waikiki Elementary School | PK-5 | 571 | 15.9 |
| Governor Sanford B Dole Middle School | 6-8 | 568 | 11.8 |
| Kaimuki High School | 9-12 | 550 | 12.0 |
| Robert Louis Stevenson Middle School | 6-8 | 548 | 14.1 |
Towns near Urban Honolulu
- Halawa, HI5.8 mi · 15,016 people · home $1,051,900
- Aiea, HI6.5 mi · 10,408 people · home $1,065,700
- Heeia, HI6.9 mi · 5,001 people · home $1,200,200
- Hickam Housing, HI6.9 mi · 7,581 people · home —
- Kaneohe, HI7.0 mi · 37,430 people · home $1,029,700
- Waimalu, HI7.2 mi · 13,817 people · home $597,800
- Waimanalo, HI7.7 mi · 6,057 people · home $799,200
- Ahuimanu, HI7.9 mi · 8,969 people · home $910,600
Urban Honolulu questions
Is Urban Honolulu, Hawaii a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Urban Honolulu scores better for retirees than 26% of Hawaii towns and quieter than 9%. 22.0% of residents are 65 or older (median age 43.0).
How much does a house cost in Urban Honolulu?
The median owner-occupied home in Urban Honolulu is valued at $843,400 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $86,504, so homes cost about 9.7 times income. Median rent is $1,823 a month.
What is the weather like in Urban Honolulu?
July highs average 79.0°F and January lows 63.1°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 151.0 inches of precipitation a year and 0.0 inches of snow.
Does Urban Honolulu get tornadoes?
6 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Urban Honolulu since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F2 on February 11, 1982. 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)