Hawaii Residential Rent and Rental Statistics
The median monthly gross residential rent in Hawaii was $1,651 in 2019 according to the Census ACS survey.1 Average gross rent was $1,657 in 2019. The median rent more accurately depicts rental rates in the middle of the distribution of rents and is thus preferred in the analysis below. 2020 Hawaii median and average rent data will be released in September of 2021.
Data is also available below for Hawaii rental vacancy rates, Hawaii rent as a percent of median income and the fraction of renters in Hawaii.
Real Gross Rent in Hawaii (2019 dollars)2
| 2019 | 1 Year Change | 3 Year Change | |
|---|---|---|---|
| US Median Gross Rent | $1,097 | +1.86% | +6.82% |
| Hawaii Median Gross Rent | $1,651 | +0.55% | +6.31% |
Hawaii Real Gross Rent Trends
At $1,651, real median gross rent in Hawaii was at its highest level in 2019 since the series began in 2005. At $1,657, real average gross rent in Hawaii was at its highest level in 2019 since the series began in 2005.
Real Gross Rent in Hawaii: Median, Average, US Median
Real Gross Rent History for Hawaii
| Date | US Median | Hawaii Median | Hawaii Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2019 | $1,097 | $1,651 | $1,657 |
| 2018 | $1,077 | $1,642 | $1,631 |
| 2017 | $1,043 | $1,622 | $1,640 |
| 2016 | $1,027 | $1,553 | $1,633 |
| 2015 | $1,017 | $1,591 | $1,654 |
| 2014 | $986 | $1,529 | $1,569 |
| 2013 | $953 | $1,489 | $1,508 |
| 2012 | $940 | $1,467 | $1,471 |
| 2011 | $941 | $1,413 | $1,426 |
| 2010 | $955 | $1,443 | $1,454 |
| 2009 | $960 | $1,474 | $1,502 |
| 2007 | $927 | $1,403 | $1,423 |
| 2005 | $910 | $1,244 | $1,244 |
Hawaii Rental Vacancy Rate
The rental vacancy rate is the fraction of homes for rent that are not occupied.3 In 2019 the rental vacancy rate for Hawaii was 8.83% according to Census ACS data.
Rental Vacancy Rate in Hawaii
| 2019 | 1 Year Change | 3 Year Change | |
|---|---|---|---|
| US | 5.97% | -0.18% | +0.08% |
| Hawaii | 8.83% | -1.04% | -1.20% |
Trends in Hawaii Rental Vacancy Rate
The rental vacancy rate in Hawaii peaked in 2009 at 10.60%. Since then it has fallen by 1.77% to 8.83%. Data records for this series originated in 2005.
Rental Vacancy Rate: Hawaii, US
Historical Rental Vacancy Rate data for Hawaii
| Date | US | Hawaii |
|---|---|---|
| 2019 | 5.97% | 8.83% |
| 2018 | 6.15% | 9.87% |
| 2017 | 6.18% | 9.17% |
| 2016 | 5.89% | 10.03% |
| 2015 | 5.85% | 10.44% |
| 2014 | 6.32% | 9.53% |
| 2013 | 6.49% | 8.59% |
| 2012 | 6.77% | 9.06% |
| 2011 | 7.40% | 8.44% |
| 2010 | 8.17% | 8.83% |
| 2009 | 8.43% | 10.60% |
| 2007 | 7.87% | 9.89% |
| 2005 | 7.74% | 4.69% |
Hawaii Rent as a Fraction of Income
Using median household income data for Hawaii, we can calculate the fraction of income the median household would use to pay rent at the median monthly gross rent rate. For Hawaii, median monthly gross rent as a fraction of median household income was 23.84% in 2019 according to the ACS.
Hawaii Median Annual Rent as a Fraction of Median Household Income
| 2019 | 1 Year Change | 3 Year Change | |
|---|---|---|---|
| US | 20.03% | -0.47% | -0.40% |
| Hawaii | 23.84% | -0.29% | -0.04% |
Trends in Hawaii Rent as a Fraction of Income
The fraction of median Hawaii household income required to pay median monthly gross rent peaked in 2011 (relative to the 2005 series origin) at 25.39%. Since then it has fallen by 1.55% to 23.84%.
Fraction of Income towards Rent: Hawaii, US
Historical Data for Annual Rent as a Fraction of Income in Hawaii
| Date | US | Hawaii |
|---|---|---|
| 2019 | 20.03% | 23.84% |
| 2018 | 20.50% | 24.13% |
| 2017 | 20.13% | 24.27% |
| 2016 | 20.43% | 23.88% |
| 2015 | 20.63% | 24.49% |
| 2014 | 20.89% | 24.97% |
| 2013 | 20.78% | 24.95% |
| 2012 | 20.65% | 24.97% |
| 2011 | 20.70% | 25.39% |
| 2010 | 20.50% | 24.58% |
| 2009 | 20.12% | 24.21% |
| 2007 | 18.66% | 22.48% |
| 2005 | 18.89% | 20.55% |
Renter Fraction in Hawaii
You can calculate the renter fraction in Hawaii in at least two ways: by housing units or by population. I've gone with the housing units measure here. This measure looks at the number of renting households in Hawaii as a fraction of total Hawaii households. In 2019 39.83% of households were renters according to Census ACS data.
Hawaii Fraction of Renters by Household Units
| 2019 | 1 Year Change | 3 Year Change | |
|---|---|---|---|
| US | 35.89% | -0.16% | -0.99% |
| Hawaii | 39.83% | -1.89% | -3.00% |
Trends in the Hawaii Renter Fraction
The Hawaii household renter fraction peaked in in 2013 at 43.79% and is now 3.96% below that level. The origin year for the series is 2005.
Fraction of Renting Households: Hawaii, US
History of Hawaii Renter Fraction
| Date | US | Hawaii |
|---|---|---|
| 2019 | 35.89% | 39.83% |
| 2018 | 36.05% | 41.72% |
| 2017 | 36.13% | 41.48% |
| 2016 | 36.88% | 42.83% |
| 2015 | 36.97% | 43.39% |
| 2014 | 36.90% | 43.35% |
| 2013 | 36.50% | 43.79% |
| 2012 | 36.09% | 43.10% |
| 2011 | 35.42% | 43.22% |
| 2010 | 34.65% | 42.01% |
| 2009 | 34.13% | 43.32% |
| 2007 | 32.80% | 40.43% |
| 2005 | 33.10% | 40.33% |
1. Gross rent is defined as contract rent plus the estimated average monthly cost of utilities (electricity, gas, water, and sewer) and fuel (oil, coal, kerosene, wood, etc.). Because some rentals include utilities and others don't, gross rent is a way of normalizing the variability. ↩
2. Real dollars are calculated using the CPI-U less shelter series. ↩
3. The rental vacancy rate is computed by dividing the number of vacant units for rent by the sum of the renter-occupied units, vacant units that are for rent, and vacant units that have been rented but not yet occupied. ↩
