Kauai County, Hawaii Demographics 2026

Name: Kauai County, Hawaii Demographics
Creator: U.S. Census Bureau
License: https://www.census.gov/data/developers/about/terms-of-service.html

Kauai County, Hawaii has a population of 73,731, the 4th most populous county in Hawaii. The median household income is $97,668 and the median home value is $873,200. The poverty rate is 9.1%.

Data vintage: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2020–2024 5-Year Estimates · refreshed July 2026 · Methodology & source notes

Kauai County Quick Facts

Population 73,731

Median Household Income $97,668

Median Home Value $873,200

Poverty Rate 9.1%

Unemployment Rate 3.9%

Median Age 43.1 years

Homeownership Rate 68.6%

Affordability Ratio 8.9x

Bachelor's Degree+ 30.1%

High School Graduation 93.1%

Cities/Places 24

Population 73,731 4th of 5

Median Income $97,668 3% lower than state

Poverty Rate 9.1%

Unemployment 3.9%

How Kauai County Changed

Change from the 2019–2023 ACS period to 2020–2024. These are rolling five-year estimates, not year-over-year measurements.

Metric	2019–2023	2020–2024	Change
Population	73,610	73,731	+0.2%
Median household income	$93,612	$97,668	+4.3%
Median home value	$817,900	$873,200	+6.8%

Median Household Income

Kauai

$97,668

$100,389

National

$80,734

Median Home Value

Kauai

$873,200

$839,100

National

$332,700

Economy & Housing

Household Income Distribution

Under $25K 10.5%

$25K-$50K 12.5%

$50K-$100K 28.4%

$100K+ 48.6%

Detailed income brackets

Under $10K

4.1%

$10K-$15K

1.9%

$15K-$20K

2.3%

$20K-$25K

2.1%

$25K-$30K

2.5%

$30K-$35K

3.3%

$35K-$40K

2.6%

$40K-$45K

1.9%

$45K-$50K

2.2%

$50K-$60K

5.1%

$60K-$75K

11.9%

$75K-$100K

11.4%

$100K-$125K

11.1%

$125K-$150K

10.0%

$150K-$200K

12.1%

$200K+

15.4%

Employment

3.9% Unemployment Rate State: 4.9%|National: 5.2%

64.3% Labor Force Participation

Housing Overview

Owner 68.6%

Renter 31.4%

Affordability Index Very Expensive

8.9x home value to income ratio

Median gross rent $1,870/mo 23.0% of median household income annually

People & Demographics

Age Distribution

Under 18

21.2%

18-34

17.7%

35-54

25.4%

55-74

26.5%

75+

9.2%

Race & Ethnicity

Diversity Index

Very High Diversity

This community is exceptionally diverse, with no single racial or ethnic group dominating the population.

State average: 76 | National average: 61

Education

Educational Attainment (Adults 25+)

Cities & Places in Kauai County

City	Population	Median Income	Poverty	Home Value
Kapaa	11,094	$89,477	7.5%	$861,300
Lihue	7,901	$92,850	6.3%	$878,500
Wailua Homesteads	5,431	$89,717	9.9%	$943,400
Hanamaulu	4,972	$82,358	6.2%	$687,500
Kalaheo	4,435	$110,607	11.4%	$956,900
Puhi	4,362	$137,292	8.6%	$701,400
Kekaha	3,768	$84,375	18.9%	$682,900
Kilauea	3,146	$91,984	18.5%	$1,087,400
Anahola	3,067	$100,688	10.3%	$530,100
Koloa	2,907	$77,868	7.1%	$927,300
Lawai	2,718	$104,286	9.9%	$849,800
Wailua	2,697	$69,167	12.8%	$790,800
Hanapepe	2,638	$100,000	3.2%	$715,700
Eleele	2,522	$118,438	6.1%	$777,200
Princeville	2,020	$102,109	6.2%	$1,421,000
Waimea (Kauai County)	1,840	$89,205	8.5%	$769,700
Omao	1,528	$101,667	3.1%	$1,021,800
Poipu	1,175	$143,333	8.5%	$1,110,000
Kaumakani	1,012	$95,625	14.9%	N/A
Haena	631	$127,708	24.9%	$1,172,300
Wainiha	362	$99,375	4.1%	$961,500
Pakala Village	292	$46,250	20.2%	N/A
Hanalei	272	$123,750	0.7%	$2,000,000+
Kalihiwai	219	$127,813	6.9%	$2,000,000+

Explore Hawaii Rankings

Cities by Population All cities ranked by size Richest Cities Ranked by median income Most Educated By bachelor's degree rate Most Affordable By housing affordability

Population Overview

Kauai County is located in Hawaii with a total population of 73,731. It is the 4th most populous county out of 5 in Hawaii. The county encompasses 24 Census-designated places.

Age Demographics

The median age in Kauai County is 43.1 years. This is 5% higher than the state median of 40.9 years.

Economy, Income & Housing

The median household income in Kauai County is $97,668. This is 3% lower than the state median of $100,389. It is also 21% higher than the national median of $80,734. The poverty rate stands at 9.1%. This is 9% lower than the state poverty rate of 10.0%. The unemployment rate is 3.9%. This is 22% lower than the state rate of 4.9%. The median home value is $873,200. Housing costs are 4% higher than the state median of $839,100. The home-value-to-income ratio of 8.9x suggests that housing affordability is a significant concern for many residents. 68.6% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied. This homeownership rate is 9% higher than the state average of 63.0%.

Race & Ethnicity

Kauai County is a highly diverse community where no single racial or ethnic group constitutes a majority of the population. White (non-Hispanic) residents account for 28.7%. The Black or African American population (0.8%) is well below the state average of 1.8%.

Education

30.1% of residents aged 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or higher. This is 17% lower than the state rate of 36.1%. Nationally, 35.7% of adults hold at least a bachelor's degree. The high school graduation rate (or equivalent) is 93.1%.

Data Sources & Methodology

All figures for Kauai County come from the U.S. Census Bureau's American Community Survey (ACS) 2020–2024 5-Year Estimates, with comparisons drawn against Hawaii and national averages from the same dataset. See our methodology page for how each metric is defined, or data.census.gov for official tables with margins of error.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the population of Kauai County, Hawaii?

Kauai County has a population of 73,731, making it the 4th most populous county in Hawaii.

What is the median income in Kauai County?

The median household income in Kauai County is $97,668 with a poverty rate of 9.1%.

How many cities are in Kauai County, Hawaii?

Kauai County contains 24 Census-designated places.