The typical owner-occupied home in Kauai County is worth about $873,200, 4% above the Hawaii median of $839,100 and 2.6 times the national median of $332,700. Owners pay a median $1,866 a year in property taxes, about 0.21% of their home's value, lower than the Hawaii rate of 0.27%. The median household earns $97,668 a year, so the median home costs 8.9 times the median income (8.4 times for Hawaii). 69% of occupied homes here are lived in by their owners, and 63% of those owners still have a mortgage.
Kauai County at a glance
| Kauai County | Hawaii | U.S. | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $873,200 | $839,100 | $332,700 |
| Median property tax paid per year | $1,866 | $2,239 | $3,119 |
| Property tax as a share of value | 0.21% | 0.27% | 0.94% |
| Median household income | $97,668 | $100,389 | $80,734 |
| Homes lived in by their owners | 69% | 63% | 65% |
| Owner homes with a mortgage | 63% | 63% | 61% |
| Median monthly costs, owners with a mortgage | $2,772 | $2,904 | $1,963 |
| Those costs as a share of the owners' income | 26.1% | 25.7% | 21.0% |
| Median rent | $1,870 | $1,971 | $1,413 |
| Rent as a share of renters' income | 31.0% | 33.2% | 30.6% |
| Median year homes were built | 1983 | 1980 | 1980 |
| Vacant homes | 22.4% | 13.3% | 10.1% |
| Population | 73,731 | 1,445,235 | 334,922,499 |
What a typical home costs per month in Kauai County
At this week's average 30-year rate of 7.11%, buying the median Kauai County home of $873,200 with 20% down costs about $5,216 a month, including property taxes and insurance. With an FHA loan and 3.5% down, it's about $6,811, 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 $223,539 for the 20%-down payment. That payment is 64% of the median Kauai County household income of $97,668; at that income and 20% down, the 28% guideline points to a home of about $382,000.
The median rent here is $1,870 a month, so owning the median home costs about $3,346 a month more than renting, before you count the equity you build and any tax benefits.
| Down payment | $174,640 |
|---|---|
| Loan amount | $698,560 |
| Principal and interest | $4,699 |
| Property taxes (0.21% a year) | $153 |
| Homeowners insurance (our estimate, 0.5% a year) | $364 |
| PMI | $0 |
| Total per month | $5,216 |
Change the numbers in the calculator
| Down payment | $30,562 |
|---|---|
| Loan amount | $857,384 |
| Principal and interest | $5,768 |
| Property taxes (0.21% a year) | $153 |
| Homeowners insurance (our estimate, 0.5% a year) | $364 |
| FHA mortgage insurance | $527 |
| Total per month | $6,811 |
Change the numbers in the calculator
Questions about home buying in Kauai County
What is the median home value in Kauai County?
About $873,200 for owner-occupied homes, according to the Census Bureau's 2020–2024 American Community Survey.
How much are property taxes in Kauai County?
Homeowners pay a median $1,866 a year, which is about 0.21% 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 Kauai County?
For the median home with 20% down at 7.11%, the payment is about $5,216 a month. Keeping that under 28% of gross income takes about $223,539 a year.
More about Kauai County
- Mortgage Refinance in Kauai County
- Debt Relief in Kauai County
- Home Equity Loans in Kauai County
- Guides and quotes for mortgage refinance on our sister site, MortgageRefinance.com
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