In Hilo, a typical home is worth $483,000 and typical rent is $1,427 a month. Compared with all of Hawaii County, the typical home value is 7% lower, typical rent is 5% lower, and the share of households that own their home is 8 points lower.
Typical home value from Zillow, September 2021 to September 2026: from $433,904 to $562,242.
Typical rent
$2,129a month
Typical rent from Zillow, December 2025 to September 2026: from $2,065 to $2,129.
From Zillow (ZHVI/ZORI), September 2026. The Census figures above are 5-year averages (2020–2024).
Hilo is in Hawaii County. The FHA loan limit ($586,500 for a one-unit home), the fair market rents and the help on this page are those of all of Hawaii County. See the county
What this place has that others do not, from public data, most unusual first.
1
Hilo has the 4th lowest typical home value of the 55 cities in Hawaii with more than 5,000 people ($483,000).
2
According to Zillow, in the 12 months to September 2026 the typical home value in Hilo rose 5.4%; in Hawaii, it rose 1.4%.
3
Hilo has the 5th lowest typical rent of the 57 cities in Hawaii with more than 5,000 people ($1,427).
4
66% of households in Hilo own their home, against 74% in Hawaii County.
5
Hilo has the 6th lowest typical household income of the 58 cities in Hawaii with more than 5,000 people ($81,779).
Sources: U.S. Census Bureau (Average 2020–2024); Zillow (September 2026 data). Zillow data
The homes here
Housing in Hilo
What homes there are in Hilo, what they cost, how that changed and how people live, from Census figures (2020–2024).
What homes there are
U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-year, 2020–2024
Kind of home
Detached houseAttached houseBuilding of 2 to 4Apartments (5 or more)Mobile homeBoat, RV and otherUnreliable estimate
Hilo
Hawaii County
Hawaii
United States
Kind of home: Hilo and its comparisons
Measure
Hilo
Hawaii County
Hawaii
United States
Detached house
77%
77%
54%
61%
Attached house
2%
4%
9%
6%
Building of 2 to 4
4%
5%
6%
8%
Apartments (5 or more)
16%
14%
31%
19%
Mobile home
Unreliable estimate
0%
0%
6%
Boat, RV and other
Unreliable estimate
Unreliable estimate
0%
0%
The detached house is the most common home in Hilo: 77% of homes, near the figure in Hawaii County (77%).
Year built
Before 19601960–19791980–19992000–20092010 or later
Hilo
Hawaii County
Hawaii
United States
Year built: Hilo and its comparisons
Measure
Hilo
Hawaii County
Hawaii
United States
Before 1960
18%
10%
14%
26%
1960–1979
36%
25%
36%
24%
1980–1999
31%
35%
28%
25%
2000–2009
9%
21%
12%
14%
2010 or later
7%
10%
9%
11%
In Hilo, half of the homes were built before 1978; in Hawaii County, before 1989.
In Hilo, 71% of homes have 3 bedrooms or more, more than in Hawaii County (62%).
What it costs here
U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-year, 2020–2024
Value of owner-occupied homes
Under the limitOver the limit
Under $100K4%
$100K–$200K4%
$200K–$300K7%
$300K–$500K39%
$500K–$750K31%
FHA limit: $586,500
$750K–$1M10%
$1M or more6%
Value of owner-occupied homes: Hilo and its comparisons
Measure
Hilo
Under $100K
4%
$100K–$200K
4%
$200K–$300K
7%
$300K–$500K
39%
$500K–$750K
31%
$750K–$1M
10%
$1M or more
6%
About 64% of owner-occupied homes in Hilo are worth less than the FHA loan limit for Hawaii County ($586,500); the rest are worth more.
Monthly rent with utilities
Under the limitOver the limitUnreliable estimate
Under $50012%
$500–$99912%
$1,000–$1,49930%
$1,500–$1,99934%
$2,000–$2,4999%
HUD fair market rent, 2 bedrooms: $2,081
$2,500–$2,999Unreliable
$3,000 or moreUnreliable
Monthly rent with utilities: Hilo and its comparisons
Measure
Hilo
Under $500
12%
$500–$999
12%
$1,000–$1,499
30%
$1,500–$1,999
34%
$2,000–$2,499
9%
$2,500–$2,999
Unreliable estimate
$3,000 or more
Unreliable estimate
HUD's 2-bedroom fair market rent (FMR) for Hawaii County is $2,081; about 90% of rents in Hilo are below it.
With a mortgage
$2,060 a month
Hawaii County: $2,157 a month
Without a mortgage
$467 a month
Hawaii County: $477 a month
Owners with a mortgage
52%
Hawaii County: 54%
Owning costs about the same in Hilo as in Hawaii County: with a mortgage, $2,060 a month; without one, $467.
How it changed
U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-year, 2015–2019 and 2020–2024
Change since 2015–2019
Typical home value
Hilo+47%
Hawaii County+48%
Hawaii+36%
United States+53%
Typical rent
Hilo+37%
Hawaii County+28%
Hawaii+22%
United States+33%
Typical household income
Hilo+29%
Hawaii County+26%
Hawaii+24%
United States+29%
Change since 2015–2019: Hilo and its comparisons
Measure
Hilo
Hawaii County
Hawaii
United States
Typical home value
+47%
+48%
+36%
+53%
Typical rent
+37%
+28%
+22%
+33%
Typical household income
+29%
+26%
+24%
+29%
Much as in Hawaii County, the typical home value in Hilo rose 47% since 2015–2019.
The typical rent in Hilo rose 37% over the same time; in Hawaii County, it rose 28%.
Housing prices ran ahead of income in Hilo: typical income rose 29%, against +47% for home values and +37% for rent.
How people live
U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-year, 2020–2024
How people live: Hilo and its comparisons
Measure
Hilo
Hawaii County
Hawaii
United States
Rental vacancy
6.5%
10.6%
7.4%
5.5%
Homeowner vacancy
Unreliable estimate
1.4%
0.9%
0.9%
More than one person per room
6.9%
8.4%
8.8%
3.4%
People per household
2.76
2.74
2.85
2.53
Drive alone
72%
68%
65%
69%
Carpool
14%
15%
14%
9%
Public transit
Unreliable estimate
1%
4%
3%
Walk or bike
3%
2%
5%
3%
Work from home
9%
12%
10%
15%
Other means
2%
2%
2%
2%
Typical commute
10 to 19 minutes
20 to 29 minutes
20 to 29 minutes
20 to 29 minutes
The rental vacancy rate in Hilo is 6.5%, lower than in Hawaii County (10.6%).
In Hilo, 6.9% of households live with more than one person per room, against 8.4% in Hawaii County.
By size, households in Hilo look like those in Hawaii County: 2.76 people on average.
The car rules in Hilo: 72% of workers drive to work alone, and the typical trip takes 10 to 19 minutes.
Do the math
What would you pay each month for a home in Hilo?
A typical home costs more than the typical income allows
We start with a typical home in Hilo, worth $483,000, an FHA loan with 3.5% down and the latest average rate (7.18%). That payment would take 55% of the typical household income in Hilo, which is $81,779 a year. For that payment to be 28% of income, a household would need to earn about $160,127 a year.
The calculator's FHA and conventional loan limits are those of all of Hawaii County.
Change the price, the down payment or the loan: the payment updates right away.
Your numbers
Local data
$
Starts at the typical home value in Hilo. Change it to the price you have in mind.
Your score changes which loans apply and FHA's minimum down payment. Your real rate also depends on your credit.
Down payment
%
That is $16,905 (3.5% of the price). The usual minimum for this loan is 3.5%.
This week's average ± a quarter or half point.
National average as of November 5, 2026 (Freddie Mac); your rate may be different.
Adjust advanced details⌄
Estimated monthly payment
Local data
$3,736
at 7.18% · 30 years
Loan amount
$474,252
Total interest
$682,337
Paid off in
November 2056
Includes $8,157 FHA upfront mortgage insurance premium.
Does it fit the income?
Comfortable
up to $1,908 a month
Tight
$1,908 to $2,453 a month
Hard
more than $2,453 a month
Your payment · 55%
Compared with the typical household income in Hilo ($81,779 a year). Reference: HUD calls paying more than 30% of income for housing a cost burden.
Monthly payment breakdown
Principal & interest
$3,213
Property tax
$109
Home insurance
$201
FHA mortgage insurance (MIP)
$214
You need at least $16,905 for the down payment, plus closing costs.
This is an estimate to give you an idea, not a loan offer. Your real payment depends on your rate, your credit, and the insurance and taxes on the home you buy.
Total monthly payment $3,736; principal and interest $3,213.
The city and its county
Hilo and Hawaii County
Hilo is in Hawaii County, Hawaii. The U.S. Census Bureau publishes its own numbers for the city: home values, rent, household income, how many households own their home and the property tax. They are American Community Survey estimates (average 2020–2024).
Hilo
Map of Hawaii County, Hawaii, with Hilo marked. Around it, the neighboring counties.
Hilo
Hawaii County
Other cities with a page
Hilo's own numbers
Typical home value
$483,000
Typical monthly rent
$1,427
Typical yearly household income
$81,779
Households that own their home
66%
Effective property tax rate
0.27%
U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey (average 2020–2024).
Numbers for all of Hawaii County
FHA limit, one-unit home
$586,500
Conventional limit, one unit
$1,249,125
HUD fair market rent, 2 bedrooms
$2,081
Price change over 5 years (FHFA)
+59%
HUD, FHFA and FEMA don't publish these numbers by city.
Other numbers are not published by city, only for the whole county: FHA and conventional loan limits, HUD’s fair market rents, FHFA’s price index and FEMA’s flood data. On this page, those numbers always say they are for all of Hawaii County.
A typical home in Hilo is worth $483,000: 7% below the county and 42% below Hawaii. With the typical household income in Hilo ($81,779 a year), a typical home costs 5.9 times what the household earns in a year.
Years of income to pay for a typical home
The typical home value divided by the typical household income for one year. The lower it is, the less buying weighs.
Hilo5.9 years
Hawaii6.6 years
Hawaii8.4 years
United States4.1 years
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, Average 2020–2024
How prices have changed in Hawaii County
According to FHFA’s house price index, home prices in Hawaii County rose 92% in the 10 years through 2025.
FHFA does not publish this index by city: these are the numbers for all of Hawaii County.
Yearly change in FHFA’s price index in Hawaii County, 2016 to 2025
2016: +2.5% +2.5% 2016
2017: +5.5% +5.5% 2017
2018: +5.3% +5.3% 2018
2019: +3.1% +3.1% 2019
2020: +3.3% +3.3% 2020
2021: +10.3% +10.3% 2021
2022: +23.2% +23.2% 2022
2023: +5.7% +5.7% 2023
2024: +3.9% +3.9% 2024
2025: +6.1% +6.1% 2025
Change in FHFA’s price index in Hawaii County, Hawaii and the United States
Period
County
Hawaii
U.S.
Last year (2025)
+6.1%
+2.9%
+2.9%
5 years (2020–2025)
+59%
+46%
+47%
10 years (2015–2025)
+92%
+73%
+85%
The index follows the price of the same homes over time (sales and appraisals with Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac loans). It is not the average price of a home. FHFA considers its annual county indexes experimental. Source: FHFA, 2025 data
Hilo next to Hawaii County, Hawaii and the U.S.
Three numbers side by side. “Typical” means the median: half are above it and half below.
Typical home value
Hilo$483,000
Hawaii$519,300
Hawaii$839,100
United States$332,700
Typical monthly rent
Hilo$1,427
Hawaii$1,510
Hawaii$1,971
United States$1,413
Typical yearly household income
Hilo$81,779
Hawaii$78,639
Hawaii$100,389
United States$80,734
See the full table
Hilo next to Hawaii County and Hawaii
Measure
Hilo
Hawaii County
Hawaii
U.S.
Typical home value
$483,000 ▼7% below the county
$519,300
$839,100
$332,700
Typical monthly rent
$1,427 ▼5% below the county
$1,510
$1,971
$1,413
Typical yearly household income
$81,779 ▲4% above the county
$78,639
$100,389
$80,734
Households that own their home
66% ▼8 points below the county
74%
63%
65%
Typical yearly property tax
$1,294 ▼11% below the county
$1,459
$2,239
$3,119
Effective property tax rate
0.27% ▼0.01 points below the county
0.28%
0.27%
0.94%
Renters with high rent for their income
54% ▲2 points above the county
52%
57%
51%
“Typical” means the median: half are above and half are below. ▲ and ▼ say whether the city is above or below Hawaii County. “High rent” is the Census measure: renter households that pay 30% or more of their income in rent.
Four ways to pay for a typical home in Hilo
For a typical $483,000 home in Hilo, at Freddie Mac's average rate (7.18% as of November 5, 2026) over 30 years. The monthly payment adds principal and interest, Hilo's typical property tax, an example home insurance and mortgage insurance when it applies.
FHA, 3.5% down$3,736a month
Least cash to close
Down payment
$16,905
Cash to close
$31,395
Rate
7.18%
Mortgage insurance
FHA MIP · $214
Conventional, 5% down$3,648a month
Down payment
$24,150
Cash to close
$38,640
Rate
7.18%
Mortgage insurance
PMI · $229
Conventional, 20% down, no PMI$2,928a month
Down payment
$96,600
Cash to close
$111,090
Rate
7.18%
Mortgage insurance
None
ITIN, 15% down (example)$3,374a month
Down payment
$72,450
Cash to close
$86,940
Rate
8.18%
Mortgage insurance
None
Four ways to pay for a typical home in Hilo
Loan
Monthly payment
Down payment
Loan amount
Rate
Mortgage insurance
Cash to close
Minimum score
FHA, 3.5% down Least cash to close
$3,736
$16,905
$474,252
7.18%
FHA MIP · $214
$31,395
580
Conventional, 5% down
$3,648
$24,150
$458,850
7.18%
PMI · $229
$38,640
620*
Conventional, 20% down, no PMI
$2,928
$96,600
$386,400
7.18%
None
$111,090
620*
ITIN, 15% down (example)
$3,374
$72,450
$410,550
8.18%
None
$86,940
Set by the lender
The option that asks for the least cash to close is FHA, 3.5% down.
Cash to close = down payment plus 3% of the price in closing costs (example).
Minimum score: FHA requires 580 or higher for the minimum down payment (HUD Handbook 4000.1). * Fannie Mae requires 620 when a loan is underwritten by hand; its automated system has no fixed minimum.
The ITIN row is an example with a rate 1 percentage point higher: ITIN loans follow no federal rule and each lender sets its own down payment and rate. Nothing in this table promises an approval.
Typical rent in Hilo is $1,427 a month: 5% below the county. In Hilo, 54% of renter households pay 30% or more of their income in rent.
HUD publishes a fair market rent for all of Hawaii County, by unit size. To pay the 2-bedroom one ($2,081 a month) without spending more than 30% of your income, you would need to earn $40.02 an hour working full time.
What you need to earn to pay it without spending more than 30% of income, working full time.
HUD fair market rent in Hawaii County (Fiscal year 2027)
Size
Fair rent a month
Hourly wage
Yearly income
Studio
$1,605
$30.87
$64,200
1 bedroom
$1,615
$31.06
$64,600
2 bedrooms
$2,081
$40.02
$83,240
3 bedrooms
$2,620
$50.38
$104,800
4 bedrooms
$2,910
$55.96
$116,400
Includes basic utilities. It isn't the lowest or highest rent: it's a reference point. Source: HUD, Fiscal year 2027
By ZIP code
Fair market rent by ZIP code in Hilo
HUD also publishes a fair market rent for each ZIP code (Small Area FMR, fiscal year 2027). Hilo is in ZIP code 96720.
For 2 bedrooms it is $1,930: $151 less than the fair market rent for Hawaii County ($2,081).
Fair market rent by ZIP code and size in Hilo, fiscal year 2027.
ZIP code
Studio
1 bd
2 bd
3 bd
4 bd
96720
$1,490
$1,500
$1,930
$2,430
$2,730
ZIP code2 bd3 bd
96720 $1,930$2,430
1 of these ZIP codes crosses the city line: HUD sets the rent by ZIP code, not by city. A ZIP code counts for Hilo when at least 50% of its land is inside the city or it covers at least 15% of the city (Census 2020 boundaries). Source: Small Area Fair Market Rents (HUD)Fiscal year 2027Small Area Fair Market Rents (HUD) (external site)Source: Census Bureau ZCTA-to-place relationship fileData from 2020 dataCensus Bureau ZCTA-to-place relationship file (external site)
HUD lists 15 buildings with rents for lower incomes in Hilo. These are the largest.
Lanakila Homes I925A Ululani St, Hilo 96720338 low-income homes · Run by Hawaii Public Housing Authority · Average payment: $585 a month · Average wait: 79 months(808) 832-4694
Hale Hoaloha119 W Lanikaula St, Hilo 9672081 homes, 80 low-income · 1 bd: 12 · 2 bd: 30 · 3 bd: 29 · 4 bd: 9 · In service since 2001 · For families(808) 456-7303
Riverside Apartments333 Ohai St, Hilo 9672074 homes, 73 low-income · 1 bd: 12 · 2 bd: 55 · 3 bd: 6 · In service since 2014 · For families(808) 935-1098
Kamana Elderly145 Kamana St, Hilo 9672062 homes, 61 low-income · 1 bd: 61 · In service since 2016 · For older adults(808) 935-1098
Mohouli Heights Senior Neighborhood Phase 1555 Kupuna Pl, Hilo 9672059 low-income homes · 1 bd: 59 · In service since 2013 · For older adults(808) 339-8803
You do not have to do this alone. A HUD-approved housing counseling agency helps for free or at low cost: getting ready to buy, understanding your credit, or solving a problem with your rent.
There are 2 HUD-approved agencies with an office in Hawaii County; none says it serves in Spanish.
No down payment, repair or rent-help program on our list is for Hilo or Hawaii County. The ones below are statewide in Hawaii: they work in Hilo the same as in the rest of the state.
Hawaii state corporation 30-year fixed mortgage for first-time buyers, with optional down payment assistance whose terms the agency has not yet published.Offered by Hawaiʻi Housing Finance & Development Corporation (HHFDC).
No legal help resource on our list is for Hilo or Hawaii County in particular.
If you have a problem with your landlord, an eviction notice or a scam, the Legal Services Corporation (LSC) search shows the free legal aid offices that serve your area.
Short answers with the numbers for Hilo and all of Hawaii County. If your case is different, a HUD-approved counseling agency can guide you for free or at low cost.
How much does a typical home cost in Hilo?
The typical home value in Hilo is $483,000, according to the U.S. Census Bureau (average 2020–2024). For comparison, in Hawaii County it is $519,300.
How much does it cost to rent in Hilo?
Typical rent in Hilo is $1,427 a month, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. HUD’s fair market rent for 2 bedrooms in Hawaii County is $2,081.
What is the FHA loan limit in Hilo?
Hilo uses the FHA limit for all of Hawaii County (2026): $586,500 for a one-unit home and $1,127,900 for a four-unit home.
How much property tax do owners pay in Hilo?
The typical homeowner in Hilo pays $1,294 a year, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. That is 0.27% of the home’s value; in Hawaii County, the rate is 0.28%.
Where can I find free help to buy or rent in Hilo?
There are 2 HUD-approved counseling agencies with an office in Hawaii County. They can help you get ready to buy, with your credit, or with rent.
