Hilo 61 Average
Hilo Livability #69 ranked city in Hawaii#17,105 ranked city in the USARanks better than 41% of areas

Pros and Cons of Living in Hilo

PROS
  • Housing

    High scores in the housing category are attributed to this area, possibly pointing to a favorable home affordability ratio, robust appreciation rates or elevated home values.

  • Health & Safety

    Achieving a high health and safety score relies on factors including great air quality and convenient access to vital health facilities such as hospitals, doctors, clinics and police stations.

CONS
  • Amenities

    A large portion of amenities are not ideally situated within walking distance, potentially requiring residents to utilize a vehicle or public transportation.

  • Commute

    Access to public transportation in this particular area may be limited, which can result in longer-than-average commute times to reach workplaces.

  • Cost Of Living

    The cost of living in this area is notably high, making it a more expensive place to live. You'll find higher expenses for everyday goods and services, housing and groceries.

  • Crime

    This area exhibits elevated crime rates per 100,000 residents, which may suggest it's a potentially unsafe place to reside. These rates encompass both property and violent crimes.

New Real Estate Listings in Hilo Area
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What's it like Living in Hilo?

Hilo is a moderately-sized city located in the state of Hawaii. The city has a population of 45,248 inhabitants. If you are not a fan of long commutes, you will enjoy living in Hilo. With an average one way commute time of only 18 minutes, getting to and from work is a breeze compared to the national average of 26 minutes.

Whether you’re relocating to a new area to be closer to family, friends or for a new job, living in Hilo could be a positive experience compared to other cities in Hawaii if you know where to look. Don't forget to determine what matters most to you in a neighborhood. Consider factors such as safety, proximity to work or school, access to amenities (like parks, fitness facilities, grocery stores, restaurants), public transportation options, community atmosphere and the overall vibe you're looking for. Using the livability score which includes data from categories like amenities, crime, health & safety, you can easily compare the best places to live in Hilo and also determine if there are any nearby cities that might be a better match for your lifestyle. You can also compare Hilo to Hawaii and the national average.

With a livability score of 60/100, Hilo is ranked #17,071 in the United States and #72 in Hawaii. This score ranks well below the national average. With such a low livability score, it might be worth investigating a little further. On a more negative note, Hilo does not have favorable scores for the following: amenities (F), crime (D) and cost of living (F). If we take a look at the data, we can find out why.

Certain items on your wish list like shopping, restaurants, nightlife, parks and proximity to public transportation are all important things to look for. Having said that, perhaps the most important metric to consider when contemplating a move to Hilo is real estate affordability. Median real estate prices in Hilo come in at $341,500, which is 36.6% lower than the Hawaii average. The home price to income ratio compares the median home prices to the median household income. In Hilo, the home price to income ratio is 5.2, which is 30.7% lower than the Hawaii average.

Best Places to Live in and Around Hilo

See all the best places to live around Hilo

How Do You Rate The Livability In Hilo?

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Compare Hilo, HI Livability

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      Hilo transportation information

      Statistic Hilo Hawaii National
      Average one way commute18min27min26min
      Workers who drive to work72.9%66.6%76.4%
      Workers who carpool15.5%14.1%9.3%
      Workers who take public transit0.6%6.7%5.1%
      Workers who bicycle0.7%1.0%0.6%
      Workers who walk2.9%4.4%2.8%
      Working from home6.5%4.6%4.6%
      Source: The Hilo, HI data and statistics displayed above are derived from the United States Census Bureau American Community Survey (ACS).