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Buying a home in Honolulu County, Hawaii

The typical owner-occupied home in Honolulu County is worth about $897,500, 7% above the Hawaii median of $839,100 and 2.7 times the national median of $332,700. Owners pay a median $2,553 a year in property taxes, about 0.28% of their home's value, higher than the Hawaii rate of 0.27%. The median household earns $106,195 a year, so the median home costs 8.5 times the median income (8.4 times for Hawaii). 60% of occupied homes here are lived in by their owners, and 65% of those owners still have a mortgage.

Honolulu County at a glance

Honolulu County Hawaii U.S.
Median home value $897,500 $839,100 $332,700
Median property tax paid per year $2,553 $2,239 $3,119
Property tax as a share of value 0.28% 0.27% 0.94%
Median household income $106,195 $100,389 $80,734
Homes lived in by their owners 60% 63% 65%
Owner homes with a mortgage 65% 63% 61%
Median monthly costs, owners with a mortgage $3,111 $2,904 $1,963
Those costs as a share of the owners' income 25.8% 25.7% 21.0%
Median rent $2,083 $1,971 $1,413
Rent as a share of renters' income 33.7% 33.2% 30.6%
Median year homes were built 1977 1980 1980
Vacant homes 9.5% 13.3% 10.1%
Population 1,001,146 1,445,235 334,922,499

What a typical home costs per month in Honolulu County

At this week's average 30-year rate of 7.11%, buying the median Honolulu County home of $897,500 with 20% down costs about $5,413 a month, including property taxes and insurance. With an FHA loan and 3.5% down, it's about $7,053, because the loan is bigger and FHA adds mortgage insurance.

Lenders usually want housing costs under about 28% of gross income, which means an income of roughly $232,003 for the 20%-down payment. That payment is 61% of the median Honolulu County household income of $106,195; at that income and 20% down, the 28% guideline points to a home of about $411,000.

The median rent here is $2,083 a month, so owning the median home costs about $3,330 a month more than renting, before you count the equity you build and any tax benefits.

20% down, 30-year conventional loan
Down payment$179,500
Loan amount$718,000
Principal and interest$4,830
Property taxes (0.28% a year)$209
Homeowners insurance (our estimate, 0.5% a year)$374
PMI$0
Total per month$5,413

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3.5% down, 30-year FHA loan
Down payment$31,412
Loan amount$881,244
Principal and interest$5,928
Property taxes (0.28% a year)$209
Homeowners insurance (our estimate, 0.5% a year)$374
FHA mortgage insurance$541
Total per month$7,053

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Questions about home buying in Honolulu County

What is the median home value in Honolulu County?

About $897,500 for owner-occupied homes, according to the Census Bureau's 2020–2024 American Community Survey.

How much are property taxes in Honolulu County?

Homeowners pay a median $2,553 a year, which is about 0.28% of the median home value. Your bill depends on your home's assessed value and local rates.

What income do you need to buy a home in Honolulu County?

For the median home with 20% down at 7.11%, the payment is about $5,413 a month. Keeping that under 28% of gross income takes about $232,003 a year.

More about Honolulu County

Sources: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 2020–2024 5-year estimates; Freddie Mac Primary Mortgage Market Survey, week of November 12, 2026. Estimates for small places have wide margins of error. About our data