State rankings

Best Counties to Live in Hawaii

Compare counties in Hawaii by affordability, schools, safety, taxes, economy, home values, and quality-of-life tradeoffs.

Use the county-size filter to compare large metro counties, mid-size counties, small counties, and rural areas separately. These modules are a starting point, then you can open the full rankings table or compare individual counties.

County size

County size helps compare places with similar scale. Large metro counties and small rural counties can rank well for very different reasons.

Showing all 5 Hawaii counties

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All sizesLarge counties: 500k+ residentsMid-size counties: 100k-500k residentsSmall counties: 25k-100k residentsRural / very small: under 25k residents

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Compare counties in Hawaii

Put Hawaii counties side by side.

Estimate moving costs

Compare housing, utilities, groceries, transportation, healthcare, insurance, and tax-pressure estimates.

Open Hawaii rankings

Open the full Hawaii ranking table with filters.

Explore on the map

Scan county scores geographically across the country.

Hawaii county rankings at a glance

Compact winners for common county-search priorities.

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Top counties by category

Use these short lists to jump into the state rankings that match your priorities.

National rankings

Popular Hawaii county comparisons

Put two counties side by side before you narrow the search.

Compare Honolulu County vs Kalawao CountyCompare Honolulu County vs Hawaii CountyCompare Kalawao County vs Hawaii County

How to choose a county in Hawaii

The best county in Hawaii depends on what you need most. Families may care more about schools and safety, budget-focused movers may care more about affordability and taxes, and quiet-living households may care more about density and peace & quiet. Large counties and rural counties can rank well for very different reasons, so use the county-size filter to compare places with similar scale.

Best family rankingsAffordable county rankingsLow-tax county rankingsCompare countiesEstimate moving costs

Best for different needs

What to watch before moving to Hawaii

Compare county scale carefully in Hawaii; large metro counties and rural counties can rank well for very different reasons.

Check town-level housing costs, commute patterns, school districts, and local services before making a final move decision.

Frequently asked questions about the best counties in Hawaii

What is the best county to live in Hawaii?

The best county depends on your priorities. In this ranking model, Honolulu County currently scores highest overall, but families, budget-focused movers, and quiet-living households may prefer different counties.

What is the best county in Hawaii for families?

Based on the family ranking blend of schools, safety, affordability, taxes, economy, and peace & quiet, Kalawao County stands out in this model.

What is the most affordable county in Hawaii?

Hawaii County scores highly on affordability in this model, but buyers should still compare home prices, taxes, insurance, commute costs, and local job access.

How should I compare large and small counties?

Use the county-size filter. Large metro counties and small rural counties can rank well for very different reasons, so comparing similar county sizes usually gives a more realistic shortlist.

Are these rankings based on reviews?

No. These rankings use public-data signals such as affordability, schools, safety, taxes, economy, home values, and peace & quiet. Local reviews and personal visits should still be part of a final decision.

Which Hawaii counties score well for schools or taxes?

Honolulu County currently leads the school-score view, while Kalawao County stands out on the tax-score view. Use the rankings presets to compare those priorities separately.

All Hawaii counties

Showing all 5 Hawaii counties ranked by the default generated overall score.

RankCountyOverallEconomyAfford.SchoolsSafetyTaxesPeace & QuietTypical homeIncome
1Honolulu County
FIPS 15003
47.380.612.347.439.877.417.8$854,775$106,195
2Maui County
FIPS 15009
43.871.211.921.843.982.576$998,873$97,161
3Hawaii County
FIPS 15001
42.3691513.843.180.681$567,770$78,639
4Kauai County
FIPS 15007
41.98111.217.947.9-78.1$1,004,967$97,668
5Kalawao County
FIPS 15005
38.342.10-49.98584.2Data incomplete$73,750