Census: The Gap Between Rich And Poor In Hawaii Is Growing
Home values and household income in Hawaii vary widely depending on where you live.
New census data reveals the median home value for owner-occupied houses in Hawaii is $563,900 鈥斅爑p from $517,000 five years ago 鈥斅燼nd median household income is now $74,923, compared to $67,492.
But while incomes and home values are up statewide, they vary widely depending on what neighborhood you live in. The median income gap between Hawaii’s richest census tract and poorest is more than $152,000, compared with $137,917 five years ago.
The data comes from the American Community Survey conducted by the U.S. Census Bureau between 2013 and 2017. The Department of Business, Economic Development and Tourism analyzed the information by census tract and released its analysis Thursday.
East Honolulu residents continue to boast the highest median income and biggest home values. The median household income in Waialae Iki, for instance, is $174,844, compared with $74,923 statewide.
The median home value for owner-occupied units in Diamond Head now exceeds $2 million. Lanikai is close behind at more than $1.9 million and in both Waialae-Kahala and Portlock the median home value for owner-occupied units is more than $1.6 million.
By contrast, residents of Mayor Wright Housing in Kalihi 鈥斅爐he state’s biggest public housing complex 鈥斅爃ave the lowest median household income at $22,837 and those living in Chinatown have the second-lowest median household income at $25,594.
The income disparity has grown since the 2008-2012 survey, when Waialae Iki had the highest median household income at $157,991 compared to Mayor Wright Housing at $21,974. The poorest census tract back then was called Civic Center with a median household income of about $20,000.
East Honolulu had the highest home values back then too, with owner-occupied homes worth聽more than $1 million in Portlock, Waialae Iki, Waialae-Kahala and Diamond Head.
The 2013-2017 survey data shows the lowest median owner-occupied home value on Oahu is $168,900 in Makua Valley in West Oahu, down from $196,700 according to 2008-2012 data.
Most of the lowest median home values in Hawaii are on the Big Island with Ka’u the lowest at $166,900. That’s slightly up from $168,300 between 2008-2012.
