Best Life Index › States › Hawaii › Cities › Hilo

Hawaii city profile

What Is It Like to Live in Hilo?

What it costs to live in Hilo, and how it compares with other Hawaii cities, in plain numbers.

Value score

64

6th best value in Hawaii

How much you get for what you pay, versus other Hawaii cities.

Overall livability

54

8th overall in Hawaii

Cost, safety, schools, jobs and quality of life combined.

Hilo is home to about 46,559 people. A typical home runs $364,100 and a household earns around $70,400, a price-to-income ratio of 5.2. Among Hawaii's largest cities, it ranks 6th for value and 8th overall.

Hilo at a glance

Median home price

$364,100

1st in HI of 18

Median rent

$1,136/mo

Median household income

$70,400

Home price to income

5.2x

Unemployment

6.9%

18th in HI of 18

School rating

6/10

17th in HI of 18

Air quality (AQI)

45

0th in HI of 18

Walk score

4/100

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‹ See all top Hawaii cities ranked  ยท  Hawaii state profile ›

Sources: Home prices and rent from Zillow; income, unemployment and commute from the U.S. Census; school ratings from state education data; crime from the FBI; air quality from the EPA. City rankings are within Hawaii only. Updated 2026.