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County in Hawaii

Honolulu County, Hawaii

With 1,001,146 residents, Honolulu County is the most populous county in Hawaii. In Honolulu County, the FHA loan limit for a one-unit home is $828,000, and a typical home is worth $897,500. To rent a 2-bedroom apartment at Fair Market Rent ($2,542 a month) without going over 30% of your income, you need to earn about $48.88 an hour.

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  • Typical home price

    $897,500

    +7% vs. Hawaii +170% vs. U.S.

    Half of owner-occupied homes are worth more and half are worth less.

    • Honolulu
    • Hawaii
    • United States

    Source: U.S. Census Bureau, Average 2020–2024

  • Fair market rent, 2 bedrooms

    $2,542 a month

    +3% vs. Hawaii +45% vs. U.S.

    HUD's reference rent for a two-bedroom apartment, with basic utilities.

    • Honolulu
    • Hawaii
    • United States

    Source: HUD, Fiscal year 2027

  • FHA limit 2026, 1 unit

    $828,000

    FHA high-cost area

    The most you can borrow with an FHA loan for a one-unit home here.

    • Honolulu
    • Floor
    • Ceiling

    Source: HUD, 2026 data

  • Property tax

    0.28% of value per year

    +4% vs. Hawaii −70% vs. U.S.

    $2,553 a year for the typical owner

    • Honolulu
    • Hawaii
    • United States

    Source: U.S. Census Bureau, Average 2020–2024

Market now, with Zillow data

Zillow data
Typical home value
$855,988
2.6% more than 12 months ago
Typical rent
$3,015 a month
4% more than 12 months ago

From Zillow (ZHVI/ZORI), September 2026. The Census figures above are 5-year averages (2020–2024).

Data from October 2026

In short

What is housing like in Honolulu County today?

With an FHA loan and the minimum down payment, a typical home would cost about $7,095 a month: 80% of the typical household income here. For that payment to be 28% of income, a household would need to earn about $304,051 a year; the typical income here is $106,195. This is a high-cost area for FHA: the limit is above the national floor.

58% of renter households spend 30% or more of their income on housing. There are 2 agencies with HUD-approved housing counselors who speak Spanish near here.

Sources: U.S. Census Bureau (Average 2020–2024); HUD (2026 data); HUD (Retrieved November 6, 2026).

Only here

What sets Honolulu County apart

  1. Honolulu County has the highest typical rent in its area: $2,083, more than any of its 3 neighboring counties; next is Maui County ($1,916).

  2. Nearby, in Hawaii County, the typical home value is $519,300: 42% less than in Honolulu County ($897,500).

  3. From 2020 to 2025, home prices in Honolulu County rose 37% on FHFA's index, slower than in Hawaii (46%).

Sources: U.S. Census Bureau (Average 2020–2024); FHFA (2025 data).

The homes here

Housing in Honolulu County

What homes there are in Honolulu County, 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

In Honolulu County there is a bit of everything: no kind of home reaches half. The most common are detached houses (45%); in Hawaii, 54%.

Year built

In Honolulu County, half of the homes were built before 1977; in Hawaii, before 1980.

In Honolulu County, 54% of homes have 3 bedrooms or more, about the same as in Hawaii.

All homes, occupied or empty. A figure the Census cannot measure precisely enough here is not shown.

Census tables: B25024, B25034, B25035, B25041

What it costs here

U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-year, 2020–2024

Value of owner-occupied homes

About 43% of owner-occupied homes in Honolulu County are worth less than the FHA loan limit for this county ($828,000); the rest are worth more.

Monthly rent with utilities

Measured against HUD's 2-bedroom fair market rent ($2,542), about 65% of rented homes in Honolulu County cost less.

With a mortgage

$3,111 a month

Hawaii: $2,904 a month

Without a mortgage

$783 a month

Hawaii: $697 a month

Owners with a mortgage

65%

Hawaii: 63%

In Honolulu County, 65% of owners have a mortgage, and their typical cost is $3,111 a month, against $2,904 in Hawaii. Without one it drops to $783.

Value: what owners think their home is worth. Rent: rent plus utilities, for homes of every size. The FHA limit is the most an FHA loan (Federal Housing Administration) lends for a one-unit home; the fair market rent (FMR) is the one HUD uses for housing vouchers.

Census tables: B25075, B25063, B25088, B25081

How it changed

U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-year, 2015–2019 and 2020–2024

Change since 2015–2019

Homes in Honolulu County gained value more slowly than in Hawaii: 32% since 2015–2019, against 36%.

The typical rent in Honolulu County rose 19% since 2015–2019, about the same as in Hawaii (22%).

The typical household income in Honolulu County rose 24% over that time; home values changed +32% and rent +19%.

Change between two 5-year periods that do not overlap, in each period's dollars, not adjusted for inflation.

Census tables: B25077, B25064, B19013

How people live

U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-year, 2020–2024

MeasureHonolulu CountyHawaiiUnited States
Rental vacancy 5.6%7.4%5.5%
Homeowner vacancy 0.9%0.9%0.9%
More than one person per room 8.9%8.8%3.4%
People per household 2.852.852.53
Drive alone 63%65%69%
Carpool 14%14%9%
Public transit 5%4%3%
Walk or bike 6%5%3%
Work from home 9%10%15%
Other means 3%2%2%
Typical commute 20 to 29 minutes20 to 29 minutes20 to 29 minutes

The rental vacancy rate in Honolulu County is 5.6%, lower than in Hawaii (7.4%).

Much as in Hawaii, 8.9% of households in Honolulu County have more than one person per room.

By size, households in Honolulu County look like those in Hawaii: 2.85 people on average.

To get to work, 63% of workers in Honolulu County drive alone; in Hawaii, 65%.

Vacancy: empty homes offered for rent or for sale. Rooms: every room in the home, not only bedrooms. Commute: the minute range of the typical worker.

Census tables: B25004, B25003, B25014, B25010, B08301, B08303

Do the math

What would you pay each month in Honolulu County?

A typical home costs more than the typical income allows

We start with a typical home of $897,500, an FHA loan with 3.5% down and the latest average rate (7.18%). That payment would take 80% of the typical household income here, which is $106,195 a year. For that payment to be 28% of income, a household would need to earn about $304,051 a year.

Your numbers

Local data
$

Starts at the typical home value in Honolulu County. Change it to the price you have in mind.

Loan type
Your credit score

Your score changes which loans apply and FHA's minimum down payment. Your real rate also depends on your credit.

Down payment
%

That is $31,413 (3.5% of the price). The usual minimum for this loan is 3.5%.

This week's average ± a quarter or half point.

Term

National average as of November 5, 2026 (Freddie Mac); your rate may be different.

Adjust advanced details

Estimated monthly payment

Local data

$7,095

at 7.18% · 30 years

Loan amount
$881,244
Total interest
$1,267,903
Paid off in
November 2056

Includes $15,157 FHA upfront mortgage insurance premium.

Does it fit the income?

  • Comfortable

    up to $2,478 a month

  • Tight

    $2,478 to $3,186 a month

  • Hard

    more than $3,186 a month

    Your payment · 80%

Compared with the typical household income in Honolulu County ($106,195 a year). Reference: HUD calls paying more than 30% of income for housing a cost burden.

Show the result as
per month$7,095
Principal & interest$5,970
Property tax$209
Home insurance$374
FHA mortgage insurance (MIP)$541

This loan is over the FHA limit

You'd borrow $866,087, but the FHA limit for a one-unit home in Honolulu County is $828,000. You'd need a bigger down payment or a different loan.

You need at least $31,413 for the down payment, plus closing costs.

Next step

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.

Buying a home

Buying a home in Honolulu County

Here you'll see how prices have changed, how Honolulu County compares with Hawaii and the country, and what you'd pay each month with four kinds of loans.

How have home prices changed?

According to the FHFA House Price Index, home prices in Honolulu County rose 59% in the 10 years through 2025. FHFA's index follows the price of the same homes over the years.

Period Here Hawaii United States
In 2025 +1.4% +2.9% +2.9%
5 years (2020–2025) +37% +46% +47%
10 years (2015–2025) +59% +73% +85%
See each year's change

The index follows the prices of the same homes over time (sales and appraisals on loans bought or guaranteed by Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac). It is not the average price of a home. FHFA considers its annual county indexes experimental. Source: FHFA, 2025 data

Honolulu County compared with Hawaii and the United States

Home value, rent and household income, side by side. "Typical" is the median: half are above it and half below.

Typical home value
  • Honolulu $897,500
  • Hawaii $839,100
  • United States $332,700
Typical rent a month
  • Honolulu $2,083
  • Hawaii $1,971
  • United States $1,413
Typical household income a year
  • Honolulu $106,195
  • Hawaii $100,389
  • United States $80,734
See the full table
Honolulu compared with Hawaii and the United States
MeasureHereHawaiiU.S.
Residents1,001,1461,445,235334,922,499
Typical home value$897,500$839,100$332,700
Typical household income$106,195$100,389$80,734
Typical rent$2,083$1,971$1,413
Fair Market Rent (2 bedrooms)$2,542$2,467$1,750
Hourly wage to rent a 2-bedroom$48.88$47.44$33.65
Typical property tax$2,553$2,239$3,119
Effective tax rate0.28%0.27%0.94%
Households that own their home60%63%65%
Renters spending 30% or more on rent58%57%51%
FHA limit (1 unit)*$828,000$1,110,900$541,287

FHA limit: Hawaii shows the median of its counties; the United States, the national floor. Download CSV

Four ways to pay for a typical home in Honolulu County

For a typical $897,500 home at Freddie Mac's average rate (7.18% as of November 5, 2026) over 30 years. The monthly payment adds principal and interest, the county's property tax, an example homeowners insurance and mortgage insurance when it applies.

Loan Monthly payment Down payment Loan amount Rate Mortgage insurance Cash to close Minimum score
FHA, 3.5% down $7,095 $31,413 $881,244 7.18% FHA MIP · $541 $58,338 580
Conventional, 5% down $6,786 $44,875 $852,625 7.18% PMI · $426 $71,800 620*
Conventional, 20% down, no PMI $5,447 $179,500 $718,000 7.18% None $206,425 620*
ITIN, 15% down (example) $6,277 $134,625 $762,875 8.18% None $161,550 Set by the lender
  • 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.

Everything about buying in Honolulu County: income, limits and help How much house can I afford? Closing costs

Loan limits

This is a high-cost area, so FHA limits in Honolulu County are above the national floor. The limit is set for the whole metro area (Urban Honolulu, HI). If the loan you need is above these amounts, it doesn't fit FHA or it becomes a "jumbo" loan.

VA loans. If you have full VA entitlement, VA doesn't cap the loan amount. If you've used part of your entitlement, the calculation uses the county limit ($1,249,125 for one unit). VA loan limits (va.gov)

USDA loans. They're for homes in eligible rural areas and households with incomes within USDA's limit. Check whether the address and your income qualify on the official site. USDA eligibility (usda.gov)

Home type FHA limit Conforming limit
1 unit $828,000 $1,249,125
2 units $1,060,000 $1,599,375
3 units $1,281,300 $1,933,200
4 units $1,592,350 $2,402,625

Source: HUD, 2026 data · Source: FHFA, 2026 data

Taxes and risks

Property tax and flooding in Honolulu County

Two costs that change a lot from place to place and that a house payment does include: property tax and, in risk zones, flood insurance.

Property tax

In Honolulu County, the typical owner pays $2,553 a year: about 0.28% of the home's value. That is close to the rest of Hawaii and less than the national average.

  • Honolulu 0.28%
  • Hawaii 0.27%
  • United States 0.94%

What Hawaii publishes Each county runs its own property tax (Hawaii Department of Taxation)

Exemptions and deadlines in Hawaii

Is there a flood risk?

According to FEMA, in Honolulu County 4.9% of homes (8,317) are in a high-risk flood zone. Of those homes, 54% have NFIP flood insurance.

  • A high-risk zone (Special Flood Hazard Area) has a 1% or greater chance of flooding each year. (44 CFR 59.1)
  • If the home is in that zone and the loan comes from a regulated lender, federal law requires flood insurance for the life of the loan, in communities that take part in the NFIP. (42 U.S.C. 4012a)
  • Most homeowners insurance does not cover flood damage. (FEMA, FloodSmart)

Source: FEMA, As of August 3, 2026

Look up your address on FEMA’s map

Owning a home here

Owning a home in Honolulu County

The natural hazards FEMA measures in Honolulu County, a maintenance plan for your climate and what the trades earn in your area.

Risks to your home

FEMA, National Risk Index 1.20.0 (December 2025)

According to FEMA, the natural hazard risk in Honolulu County is relatively high.

To rate it, FEMA weighs the expected loss with social vulnerability and community resilience.

The loss FEMA expects each year in Honolulu County from all natural hazards is $517 million, counting buildings, people and crops.

For homes and buildings, the costliest hazard here is inland flooding, at about $318 million in losses a year.

Loss FEMA expects each year to homes and buildings, by hazard
  1. Inland floodingVery high $318 million a year
  2. EarthquakeRelatively high $54.1 million a year
  3. WildfireRelatively high $24.9 million a year
  4. Coastal floodingRelatively moderate $1.8 million a year
  5. HurricaneRelatively low $781,317 a year

What it means for your home

The ratings are FEMA's own. FEMA says its data is meant for planning and does not replace a local study. Drought is not shown: FEMA counts its loss in crops only.

National Risk Index, version 1.20.0 (December 2025), retrieved November 6, 2026

FEMA notice: This product uses the Federal Emergency Management Agency's National Risk Index dataset API or downloadable datasets but is not endorsed by FEMA. The Federal Government or FEMA cannot vouch for the data or analyses derived from these data after the data have been retrieved from the Agency's website(s).

Climate and upkeep

Department of Energy (PNNL), 2021 IECC zones

Honolulu County is climate zone 1A in the home energy code (IECC): hot and humid.

The zone's number says how hot or cold it gets; the letter says how humid: A is moist, B is dry and C is marine.

  • Spring

    • Book the air conditioner's check-up before the heat: ENERGY STAR advises checking the cooling system in the spring, because contractors get busy once summer comes. ENERGY STAR (EPA)
    • Clean and repair the roof gutters. EPA

  • Summer

    • Keep indoor humidity below 60 % (ideally between 30 % and 50 %). A humidity meter is inexpensive and sold at hardware stores. EPA
    • Keep the air conditioner's drip pan clean and its drain line flowing: a plugged drain can cause water damage in the house. ENERGY STAR (EPA)

  • Fall

    • Book the heating check-up in the fall. If it runs on gas or oil, the technician should check the connections: faulty ones are a fire hazard. ENERGY STAR (EPA)
    • Check that the ground slopes away from the house, so water does not collect around the foundation. EPA

  • Winter

    • Look for drafts at windows and doors: close the window on a piece of paper; if it moves back and forth easily, it needs thicker weather stripping. ENERGY STAR (EPA)
    • Seal the air ducts that run through the attic, crawlspace, basement or garage with duct mastic or foil tape, then wrap them in insulation. ENERGY STAR (EPA)

All year

  • Check the air filter every month, especially in heavy-use months. If it looks dirty, change it; change it at least every 3 months. ENERGY STAR (EPA)
  • Test the smoke alarms every month and replace their batteries at least once a year. USFA (FEMA)

Each task comes from the official page beside it. The spring air-conditioning and fall heating check-ups are the timing ENERGY STAR advises; the rest is a suggested order.

Climate zones by county, 2021 IECC

What the trades charge here

BLS, wages for May 2025

TradeTypical hourly wage8 in 10 earn between
Electricians$48.21$21.99 and $59.64
Plumbers, pipefitters and steamfitters$39.00$23.78 and $55.33
Heating, air conditioning and refrigeration mechanics$31.47$20.73 and $47.64
Roofers$28.47$21.99 and $38.17
Carpenters$45.34$25.89 and $55.52
Painters, construction and maintenance$31.81$22.48 and $43.40
Maintenance and repair workers, general$26.58$18.07 and $38.53

According to BLS, an electrician earns about $48.21 an hour in the Urban Honolulu, HI area; a plumber, about $39.00.

These are workers' hourly wages, not the price of a job.

Need help paying for a repair?

Renting

Renting in Honolulu County

The typical rent in Honolulu County is $2,083 a month. HUD also publishes a “fair market rent” by unit size: it's the one programs like Section 8 use.

58% of renter households in Honolulu County spend 30% or more of their income on housing. 29% spend half or more.

Fair market rent by size

To pay the fair market rent without spending more than 30% of income, working full time (40 hours a week).

Size Fair rent a month Hourly wage Income needed per year
Studio $1,836 $35.31 $73,440
1 bedroom $1,951 $37.52 $78,040
2 bedrooms $2,542 $48.88 $101,680
3 bedrooms $3,520 $67.69 $140,800
4 bedrooms $4,249 $81.71 $169,960

Includes basic utilities. It isn't the lowest or highest rent: it's a reference point. Source: HUD, Fiscal year 2027

Free help in Honolulu County

Programs and counseling in Honolulu County

There are 9 HUD-approved housing counseling agencies in Honolulu County. They can help you get ready to buy, with your credit, with rent, or if you've fallen behind on payments.

Official programs for the down payment and loans for buyers. Check which ones you might qualify for with your income and your county.

The simple kitchen of an apartment, with an electric stove, a refrigerator and wood cabinets.

HUD counseling is free or low-cost

Hawaii down payment programs

  1. Down Payment Loan Program

    Only in: Honolulu County

    City and County of Honolulu loan, with federal HOME funds, of up to $40,000 at 0% and with no fees, for the down payment only, repaid over 20 years; for first-time buyers on Oʻahu with incomes up to 80% of the area median who put down at least 5% of the price

    First-time buyers only. Run by City and County of Honolulu Department of Community Services (DCS).

    Repayable Verified November 5, 2026

  2. Hale Kamaʻāina Mortgage Program

    Hawaii state corporation 30-year fixed mortgage for first-time buyers, with optional down payment assistance whose terms the agency has not yet published

    First-time buyers only. Run by Hawaiʻi Housing Finance & Development Corporation (HHFDC).

    Type not stated Verified November 5, 2026

Which programs do I qualify for? See all Hawaii programs

Help in Spanish in Honolulu County

2 of the 9 agencies on this list say they serve in Spanish.

Ask for service in Spanish

When you call, say “Spanish, please” or ask if someone speaks Spanish. If not, ask whether they offer an interpreter.

Public housing agencies

They run public housing and Section 8 vouchers (Housing Choice Vouchers) in this county.

Free legal help

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.

Find legal aid (lsc.gov)

Housing counseling nearby

These agencies have an office in Honolulu County. The full list is on the Hawaii counselors page. Official HUD list. Confirm hours and fees with the agency before you go.

  • Money Management International - Honolulu

    500 Ala Moana Blvd Ste 7400, Honolulu · Spanish

    • Mortgage delinquency and default
    • Budget and financial counseling
    • and 2 more
    (866) 232-9080

  • NSC (naca Counseling Subsidiary) - Honolulu, HI

    1516 S King St, Honolulu · Spanish

    • Mortgage delinquency and default
    • Mortgage delinquency workshops
    • and 7 more
    (310) 412-2600

  • Council for Native Hawaiian Advancement

    91-1270 Kinoiki St, Kapolei

    Also serves in other languages.

    • Budget and financial counseling
    • Budget and credit workshops
    • and 3 more
    (808) 596-8155
See every agency in Hawaii

Places

Cities in Honolulu County

Each city has its own page with prices, rents and help. These are the largest.

See all 37 cities of Honolulu County

Nearby counties

Each row compares its typical value, typical rent and FHA limit with Honolulu County.

Read next

Guides that help here

We picked them by this county's numbers: what weighs most here is what's worth understanding first.

Frequently asked questions

What is the FHA loan limit in Honolulu County in 2026?

Honolulu County has an FHA limit of $828,000 for a one-unit home. For 2 units it's $1,060,000, for 3 it's $1,281,300 and for 4 it's $1,592,350. It's a high-cost area, so the limit is above the national floor.

What is the conforming loan limit in Honolulu County?

Honolulu County has a conforming limit of $1,249,125 for one-unit conventional loans in 2026. A bigger loan is a “jumbo” loan.

How much does a typical home cost in Honolulu County?

The typical home value in Honolulu County is $897,500 (Average 2020–2024, U.S. Census). Across Hawaii it's $839,100.

How much does it cost to rent in Honolulu County?

Honolulu County has a typical rent of $2,083 a month (Average 2020–2024, U.S. Census). HUD's fair market rent for a 2-bedroom apartment is $2,542 (Fiscal year 2027).

How much do you need to earn to rent a 2-bedroom apartment in Honolulu County?

About $48.88 an hour working full time (2,080 hours a year), or $101,680 a year, so the fair market rent of $2,542 stays under 30% of income.

Sources: American Community Survey (Average 2020–2024); FHA mortgage limits (2026 data); Conforming loan limits (2026 data); Fair Market Rents (Fiscal year 2027); Income Limits (Fiscal year 2026); HUD-approved housing counseling agencies (Retrieved November 6, 2026); Public Housing Agencies (Retrieved November 6, 2026); Freddie Mac Primary Mortgage Market Survey (As of November 5, 2026); FHFA House Price Index (2025 data); Homes with flood insurance (As of August 3, 2026); National Risk Index (2025 data); IECC climate zones by county (2021 data); Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (2025 data); Census Bureau cartographic boundary files (2024 data).