Puako, Hawaii Demographics & Population 2026

A note before these figures: with a population of 259, Puako's ACS estimates come from a small number of survey responses and carry wide margins of error. Individual percentages below — particularly rates that round to 0% or 100% — are approximations, not precise measurements. See data.census.gov for the published margins of error.

Population Overview

Puako is a small community located in Hawaii, within Hawaii County. The total population is 259. It ranks as the 153rd most populous out of 163 Census-designated places in Hawaii.

Age Demographics

The median age in Puako is 66.4 years. This is 62% higher than the state median of 40.9 years. Only 7.3% of residents are under 18, indicating fewer families with children. 18.9% of residents are 75 or older, suggesting a significant retirement-age population with implications for healthcare services and senior housing.

Economy, Income & Housing

The median household income in Puako is $122,813. This is 22% higher than the state median of $100,389. It is also 52% higher than the national median of $80,734. The poverty rate stands at 11.6%. This is 15% higher than the state poverty rate of 10.0%. The unemployment rate is 16.3%. This is 232% higher than the state rate of 4.9%. The median home value is $1,267,900. Housing costs are 51% higher than the state median of $839,100. The home-value-to-income ratio of 10.3x suggests that housing affordability is a significant concern for many residents. 69.8% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied. This homeownership rate is 11% higher than the state average of 63.0%.

Race & Ethnicity

The largest racial or ethnic group in Puako is White (non-Hispanic), making up 77.6% of the population. Asian residents account for 12.4%. The White (non-Hispanic) population is significantly higher than the state average (77.6% vs 20.9%). The Hispanic or Latino population (1.5%) is well below the state average of 9.9%. The Asian population (12.4%) is well below the state average of 36.4%.

Education

53.7% of residents aged 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or higher. This places Puako in the top 10% of all cities in the state for educational attainment. This is 49% higher 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 98.7%. Notably, 21.6% of adults hold a graduate or professional degree, indicating a highly educated workforce.

Data Sources & Methodology

All demographic data for Puako, Hawaii is sourced from the U.S. Census Bureau's American Community Survey (ACS) 2020–2024 5-Year Estimates. The ACS collects data from approximately 3.5 million households annually and pools five years of responses so that even small communities can be measured, though the margin of error widens as the population falls. Comparisons are made against Hawaii state averages and national averages calculated from the same dataset. Rankings reflect the city's position among all 163 Census-designated places in Hawaii. Read more about how these figures are produced on our methodology page, or visit data.census.gov for official data.