The Town FilesWaimea, Hawaii
Community in Hawaii County · population 9,904 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $677,400
- Household income
- $100,198
- Jan low / Jul high
- 68° / 88°
- Snow a year
- 0 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 0
- Median age
- 42.5
Waimea is a community of 9,904 people in Hawaii County, Hawaii. The median home is worth $677,400, below the typical Hawaii town ($802,600). It ranks better for retirees than 94% of Hawaii towns, better for families than 83% of Hawaii towns, more upscale than 81% of Hawaii towns.
- #1 in The 16 Best Small Towns to Retire in Hawaii
- #3 in 50 Small Towns in America With the Mildest Winters
- #3 in 50 Small Towns in America With the Fewest Tornadoes Since 1950
- #3 in 21 Small Towns in Hawaii With the Mildest Winters
- #5 in 50 Places in America With the Mildest Winters
- #8 in The 25 Best Small Towns for Families in Hawaii
How Waimea 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 Waimea is worth $677,400, below the typical Hawaii town ($802,600). Homes cost about 6.8 times the median household income of $100,198, which is more affordable than 69% of Hawaii towns. Median rent is $1,867 a month. 73.0% of households own their home.
| Housing | Waimea | Typical Hawaii town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $677,400 | $802,600 |
| Median rent | $1,867 | $1,931 |
| Median household income | $100,198 | $95,243 |
| Home value ÷ income | 6.8× | 7.7× |
| Homeownership | 73.0% | 71.0% |
| Median year built | 1994 | 1983 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 2.1% | — |
Who lives in Waimea
| People | Waimea | Typical Hawaii town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 42.5 | 42.2 |
| Age 65 and over | 24.3% | 21.1% |
| Under 18 | 22.8% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 41.6% | 30.4% |
| Below the poverty line | 12.3% | 10.1% |
| Veterans | 5.8% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 9.7% | — |
| Work from home | 18.9% | 8.1% |
| Average commute | 27.1 min | 29.1 min |
| Homes with broadband | 92.7% | 93.2% |
Weather in Waimea
July highs average 87.9°F and January lows 68.3°F. About 9.0 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 0.0 inches of snow (typical Hawaii town: 0.0 in). Expect about 12 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 0 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
NOAA's Storm Events Database has no tornado within 10 miles of Waimea since 1950.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 1 times; the largest was 1.00 inches on March 8, 2012.
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 Waimea itself the ACS puts it at 5.4%.
Public schools in Waimea
3 public schools with 1,290 students, about 12.1 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kanu o ka Aina - New Century PCS (charter) | K-12 | 625 | 12.3 |
| Waimea Elementary School | PK-5 | 456 | 14.3 |
| Waimea Middle - PCCS (charter) | 6-8 | 209 | 8.7 |
Towns near Waimea
- Honokaa, HI11.4 mi · 2,699 people · home $610,600
- Waikoloa Village, HI12.5 mi · 7,104 people · home $802,600
Waimea questions
Is Waimea, Hawaii a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Waimea scores better for retirees than 94% of Hawaii towns and quieter than 69%. 24.3% of residents are 65 or older (median age 42.5).
How much does a house cost in Waimea?
The median owner-occupied home in Waimea is valued at $677,400 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $100,198, so homes cost about 6.8 times income. Median rent is $1,867 a month.
What is the weather like in Waimea?
July highs average 87.9°F and January lows 68.3°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 9.0 inches of precipitation a year and 0.0 inches of snow.
Does Waimea get tornadoes?
No tornado has been recorded within 10 miles of Waimea in NOAA's Storm Events Database since 1950.
- 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)