This article, the forty-second in a 50-state series, ranks the best places to live in Hawaii based on three criteria: (1) median household income (adjusted for cost of living); (2) educational attainment (% of residents 25 years and over who have earned a bachelor’s degree or higher); and (3) property crime rates per 1,000 residents (burglary and automobile thefts). For purposes of these rankings, “places” are census-designated places (CDP) with populations greater than 2,000–all of Hawaii’s communities are CDP.
Among the twenty best places to live in Hawaii, nine are suburbs of Honolulu on the Island of Oahu, six are western shore communities on the Island of Hawaii (Big Island), four are suburbs of Wailuku on the Island of Maui, and one is a suburb of Kahului on the Island of Maui. By county, nine of the best places to live in Hawaii are located in Honolulu County, six in Hawaii County, and five in Maui County.
After reading “Best Places to Live in Hawaii (2011),” return to this link to read “Largest Cities in Hawaii (2011).” A collection of similar articles for the remaining 49 states can be found at these links: Alabama, Alaska, Arizona, Arkansas, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Vermont, Virginia, Washington, West Virginia, Wisconsin and Wyoming.
For the culmination of the 50-state series, read “Best Places to Live in America (2011).”
1. Best Places to Live in Hawaii (2011) – Kailua, HI (Honolulu County)
Population: 35,141
Median household income (adjusted for cost of living): $87,929
Bachelor’s degree or higher (25 years and over): 46.2%
Property crime rate per 1,000 residents (burglary and auto thefts): 10.72*
Distance to Familiar Cities:
Honolulu, HI: 13 miles SW
2. Best Places to Live in Hawaii (2011) – Maunawili, HI (Honolulu County)
Population: 4,807
Median household income (adjusted for cost of living): $68,875
Bachelor’s degree or higher (25 years and over): 46.5%
Property crime rate per 1,000 residents (burglary and auto thefts): 10.72*
Distance to Familiar Cities:
Honolulu, HI: 9 miles SW
3. Best Places to Live in Hawaii (2011) – Wailea-Makena, HI (Maui County)
Population: 6,589
Median household income (adjusted for cost of living): $66,045
Bachelor’s degree or higher (25 years and over): 45.4%
Property crime rate per 1,000 residents (burglary and auto thefts): 10.9*
Distance to Familiar Cities:
Kahului, HI: 18 miles N
4. Best Places to Live in Hawaii (2011) – Ahuimanu, HI (Honolulu County)
Population: 8,953
Median household income (adjusted for cost of living): $70,153
Bachelor’s degree or higher (25 years and over): 40.9%
Property crime rate per 1,000 residents (burglary and auto thefts): 10.72*
Distance to Familiar Cities:
Honolulu, HI: 14 miles SSW
5. Best Places to Live in Hawaii (2011) – Heeia, HI (Honolulu County)
Population: 4,287
Median household income (adjusted for cost of living): $73,892
Bachelor’s degree or higher (25 years and over): 37.8%
Property crime rate per 1,000 residents (burglary and auto thefts): 10.72*
Distance to Familiar Cities:
Honolulu, HI: 13 miles SSW
6. Best Places to Live in Hawaii (2011) – Waikoloa Village, HI (Hawaii County)
Population: 5,802
Median household income (adjusted for cost of living): $73,559
Bachelor’s degree or higher (25 years and over): 34.4%
Property crime rate per 1,000 residents (burglary and auto thefts): 10.74*
Distance to Familiar Cities:
Hilo, HI: 70 miles ESE
7. Best Places to Live in Hawaii (2011) – Paia, HI (Maui County)
Population: 3,212
Median household income (adjusted for cost of living): $62,481
Bachelor’s degree or higher (25 years and over): 40.1%
Property crime rate per 1,000 residents (burglary and auto thefts): 10.9*
Distance to Familiar Cities:
Wailuku, HI: 10 miles E
8. Best Places to Live in Hawaii (2011) – Hickam Housing (AFB), HI (Honolulu County)
Population: 6,159
Median household income (adjusted for cost of living): $36,454
Bachelor’s degree or higher (25 years and over): 48.9%
Property crime rate per 1,000 residents (burglary and auto thefts): 10.72*
Distance to Familiar Cities:
Honolulu, HI: 8 miles ESE
9. Best Places to Live in Hawaii (2011) – Waimea, HI (Hawaii County)
Population: 9,162
Median household income (adjusted for cost of living): $76,722
Bachelor’s degree or higher (25 years and over): 26.4%
Property crime rate per 1,000 residents (burglary and auto thefts): 10.74
Distance to Familiar Cities:
Hilo, HI: 55 miles SE
10. Best Places to Live in Hawaii (2011) – Laie, HI (Honolulu County)
Population: 5,626
Median household income (adjusted for cost of living): $49,376
Bachelor’s degree or higher (25 years and over): 40.1%
Property crime rate per 1,000 residents (burglary and auto thefts): 10.72*
Distance to Familiar Cities:
Honolulu, HI: 33 miles S
11. Best Places to Live in Hawaii (2011) – Mililani, HI (Honolulu County)
Population: 29,532
Median household income (adjusted for cost of living): $59,266
Bachelor’s degree or higher (25 years and over): 32.5%
Property crime rate per 1,000 residents (burglary and auto thefts): 10.72*
Distance to Familiar Cities:
Honolulu, HI: 17 miles SE
12. Best Places to Live in Hawaii (2011) – Holualoa, HI (Hawaii County)
Population: 8,808
Median household income (adjusted for cost of living): $59,379
Bachelor’s degree or higher (25 years and over): 32.1%
Property crime rate per 1,000 residents (burglary and auto thefts): 10.74*
Distance to Familiar Cities:
Hilo, HI: 88 miles E
13. Best Places to Live in Hawaii (2011) – Waimalu, HI (Honolulu County)
Population: 30,409
Median household income (adjusted for cost of living): $51,583
Bachelor’s degree or higher (25 years and over): 35.3%
Property crime rate per 1,000 residents (burglary and auto thefts): 10.72*
Distance to Familiar Cities:
Honolulu, HI: 11 miles SE
14. Best Places to Live in Hawaii (2011) – Napili-Honokowai, HI (Maui County)
Population: 7,357
Median household income (adjusted for cost of living): $59,876
Bachelor’s degree or higher (25 years and over): 30.1%
Property crime rate per 1,000 residents (burglary and auto thefts): 10.9*
Distance to Familiar Cities:
Wailuku, HI: 29 miles SE
15. Best Places to Live in Hawaii (2011) – Kahaluu-Keauhou, HI (Hawaii County)
Population: 2,969
Median household income (adjusted for cost of living): $41,055
Bachelor’s degree or higher (25 years and over): 39.5%
Property crime rate per 1,000 residents (burglary and auto thefts): 10.74*
Distance to Familiar Cities:
Hilo, HI: 91 miles E
16. Best Places to Live in Hawaii (2011) – Pukalani, HI (Maui County)
Population: 8,617
Median household income (adjusted for cost of living): $64,282
Bachelor’s degree or higher (25 years and over): 26.7%
Property crime rate per 1,000 residents (burglary and auto thefts): 10.9*
Distance to Familiar Cities:
Wailuku, HI: 13 miles NW
17. Best Places to Live in Hawaii (2011) – Kalaoa, HI (Hawaii County)
Population: 8,576
Median household income (adjusted for cost of living): $65,814
Bachelor’s degree or higher (25 years and over): 24.2%
Property crime rate per 1,000 residents (burglary and auto thefts): 10.74*
Distance to Familiar Cities:
Hilo, HI: 80 miles E
18. Best Places to Live in Hawaii (2011) – Mokuleia, HI (Honolulu County)
Population: 2,284
Median household income (adjusted for cost of living): $37,958
Bachelor’s degree or higher (25 years and over): 39.2%
Property crime rate per 1,000 residents (burglary and auto thefts): 10.72*
Distance to Familiar Cities:
Honolulu, HI: 31 miles SE
19. Best Places to Live in Hawaii (2011) – Captain Cook, HI (Hawaiil County)
Population: 3,242
Median household income (adjusted for cost of living): $62,560
Bachelor’s degree or higher (25 years and over): 24.8%
Property crime rate per 1,000 residents (burglary and auto thefts): 10.74*
Distance to Familiar Cities:
Hilo, HI: 97 miles ENE
20. Best Places to Live in Hawaii (2011) – Waihee-Waiehu, HI (Maui County)
Population: 7,894
Median household income (adjusted for cost of living): $74,062
Bachelor’s degree or higher (25 years and over): 17.0%
Property crime rate per 1,000 residents (burglary and auto thefts): 10.9*
Distance to Familiar Cities:
Wailuku, HI: 7 miles SSE
*In some cases, municipalities do not report their crime statistics to the FBI or they contract for services with the state or a county law enforcement agency. For those towns, crime rates are extrapolated from municipal, county, state, or contiguous municipality data.
The sources used in support of this article include the latest 1, 3, and 5-year estimates from the U.S. Census and the most recent FBI Uniform Crime Report.
More Articles from J.C. Grant
“Average ACT Scores by State (2010)”
“Average SAT Scores by State (2010)”
“Largest U.S. Cities: Population Size (2011)”
“Most_Dangerous_Cities_in_America – Murder Rates”
State Education Rankings: Graduation Rates for High School, College, and Grad/Professional School
“State Education Rankings: SAT Scores”
Source(s):
“All Cities in Hawaii,” City-Data.com
“2009 ACS 1-year Estimates,” U.S. Census Bureau
“2007-2009 ACS 3-year Estimates,” U.S. Census Bureau
“2006-2008 ACS 3-year Estimates,” U.S. Census Bureau
“2005-2009 ACS 5-Year Estimates,” U.S. Census Bureau
“Crime in Hawaii,” Attorney General, State of Hawaii
