Livability Awards
Hilo, Hawaii is a mid-sized city with a population of 45,579 residents. 70% of the people in Hilo (over the age of 15) are married and 68% have kids under the age of eighteen. Knowing that, it’s safe to say that this area could be a great place for other families to lay down roots. Not a fan of sitting in traffic? One big advantage of living in Hilo is the reasonable commute times to work. With an average one way commute time of 18 minutes, getting to work is faster than the national average of 26 minutes.
If you’re considering moving to any new city, it could be a very intimidating task. However, it could also be a positive experience if you are willing to get to know the area before actually living in Hilo, Hawaii. Using the livability score which includes data from categories like amenities, cost of living, weather, employment, 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.
Using data and statistics Hilo has received a livability score of 61/100. This score is ranked in the 24th percentile when compared to all other cities. If we probe a little deeper into each category within the livability score, we see that Hilo has higher than average scores for the following: amenities (A+) and weather (A). On a more negative note, Hilo does not have favorable scores for the following: crime (F), cost of living (F), education (F) and housing (F). If we take a look at the data, we can find out why.
Based on the proximity of local amenities like grocery stores, restaurants, coffee shops, parks, librairies, etc., Hilo has received a higher than average score for its local amenities. If you’re planning on relocating and making this area your permanent home, it’s nice to know that there is an ample amount of amenities and things to do within walking distance or a short drive. Some of the interesting things to do and attractions include: Akaka Falls State Park, Rainbow Falls, and Safari Helicopter Tours.
Being close to public transportation, grocery stores, parks and other conveniences are all important when weighing your options for a new home in Hilo. Before you determine if any of these amenities are available in the area, you will also want to know if the real estate prices in Hilo are affordable. Median real estate prices in Hilo come in at $298,500, which is 44.6% 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 5.4, which is 28% lower than the Hawaii average. For most people, purchasing a new home is the biggest investment they will make in their lifetime. Taking a look at overall real estate appreciation rates in Hilo will offer some insight into determining if your home purchase will be a solid investment for years to come. In Hilo, the year-over-year appreciation rates were 4.7%, and the 5 year appreciation rates came in at 5.9%.
| Statistic | Hilo | Hawaii | National |
| Average one way commute | 18min | 27min | 26min |
| Workers who drive to work | 78.2% | 66.6% | 76.4% |
| Workers who carpool | 12.7% | 14.1% | 9.3% |
| Workers who take public transit | 0.7% | 6.7% | 5.1% |
| Workers who bicycle | 0.1% | 1.0% | 0.6% |
| Workers who walk | 1.5% | 4.4% | 2.8% |
| Working from home | 5.1% | 4.6% | 4.6% |
| Walk | Bike | Compact | Car | S.U.V. | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Distance | |||||
| Duration | |||||
| Cost/Month |
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