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Honolulu County, HI

RANK #777 / 996  ·  POP 1,010,100  ·  HI

PROJECTED GROWTH: -0.4%

Honolulu County ranks in the bottom tier of U.S. counties on economic momentum.

[01] Why Honolulu County?

Honolulu County, encompassing the entire island of Oʻahu, is distinguished by its blend of urban development and natural scenery, with the iconic Diamond Head crater overlooking the capital city of Honolulu. Located over 2,400 miles from the U.S. mainland, it is one of the most isolated major metropolitan areas globally. Commute options include TheBus, a public bus system, and the new Skyline rail, which aims to alleviate traffic congestion. The community offers extensive outdoor recreation, from surfing and snorkeling to hiking trails and numerous parks.

Life in Honolulu County offers a unique blend of cultures, influenced by Native Hawaiian heritage and diverse immigration from across the Pacific. The economy is driven by tourism, military presence, and ongoing efforts to diversify into sustainable sectors. Recent economic developments focus on building a resilient economy, with investments in renewable energy, water conservation, and local food production. Public schools are generally above average, and the county also has notable private institutions like Punahou School and 'Iolani School.

[02] Market Snapshot

Housing Ratio
12.3x

Overvalued relative to economy

GDP Growth
+2.6%

Below national median

Home Prices
-0.6%

Prices declining

Climate & Terrain

No data

Price/Rent
25x

Prices detached from rents

Housing looks overvalued at 12.3x — home prices are high relative to local economic output. The typical U.S. county is 4–6x.

[03] Signal Profile

[04] Home Value Growth vs National

Honolulu County U.S. National

The Numbers

DEMOGRAPHICS
Population
1,010,100
-0.5% YoY
Median Household Income
$99,816
Median Home Value
$832,200
-0.56% 12mo
Median Rent
$1,976
Average Annual Pay
$69,851
+4.8% YoY
Employment
453,193
+1.1% YoY
Income-to-Home-Value
0.1199
Less affordable than average
Migration Inflow
0.36%
of pop. from another state

Market Activity

REAL ESTATE
Median Sale Price
$700,000
Days on Market
100
Slower market
Months of Supply
7.7
Buyer's market
Sale-to-List Ratio
97.6%
Negotiation room for buyers
Sold Above List
17.3%
Listings w/ Price Drops
14.4%
Building Permits (2024)
1,638
Single-Family Permits
706

Source: Redfin · Census BPS — Browse sales on Redfin →

[05] Capital Investment

$1,210M
TOTAL
PROJECT AMOUNT STATUS
Ward Village Master-Planned Community
Howard Hughes
$500M Under Construction
Kapolei Energy Storage (KES)
Plus Power
$400M Operating
Mililani Solar (39 MW) and Waiawa Solar (36 MW) with Battery Storage
Clearway Energy Group
$140M Operating
Mahi Solar & Storage Project
Longroad Energy
$120M Planned
Na Pua Makani Wind Farm
AES Hawaii
$50M Operating

Source: public records, news, corporate announcements. Amounts are estimates where noted.

[06] Score Breakdown

GDP Growth +2.6% 48 percentile
Population Growth -0.5% 11 percentile
Income Growth +7.8% 32 percentile
Vacancy Rate 1.2% 40 percentile
Home Price Change -0.6% 25 percentile
Rent Growth +4.8% 77 percentile
Price/Rent 25x 2 percentile

Bars show percentile rank among all 996 counties.

[07] Frequently Asked Questions

Is Honolulu County, HI a good place to move to?

Honolulu County has a Boom Town Index score of 22/100, ranking #777 among 996 U.S. counties. With job growth at +1.1% and a median household income of $99,816, it faces some economic headwinds compared to faster-growing counties.

Is Honolulu County affordable?

The median home value in Honolulu County is $832,200 with median rent at $1,976/month. The income-to-home-value ratio is 0.1199, which is less affordable than the national average.

Is Honolulu County growing or shrinking?

Population growth: -0.5% year-over-year. Job growth: +1.1%. Home values changed -0.6% in the past 12 months.

[08] Similar Metros

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