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Hilo, HI

Census-designated place in Hawaii County, Hawaii. ZIP codes: 96720.

Population

50,404

Land area

53.6sq mi

People per sq mi

940

ZIP codes

1

Hilo and its ZIP codes

Full map

Hilo at a glance

  • Hilo is about 4.2 times as dense as Hawaii as a whole.
  • By population, it ranks 3rd among 163 cities and towns in Hawaii.
  • The median household income is $81,779, 19% below the Hawaii median of $100,389.
  • A typical owner-occupied home is valued at $483,000 (42% below Hawaii) and median rent is $1,427 a month.

Local data for Hilo, HI

Counts from official public data

Housing and community stats

Hilo, HI, American Community Survey 2020-2024

Full profile

Median household income

$81,779

Poverty rate

14.5%

Median home value

$483,000

Median rent

$1,427/mo

Homeownership

66.1%

Bachelor's or higher

34.6%

Median age

42.7

Average commute

20.3 min

Largest reported origins and ancestries: Japanese Americans (10,104), Filipino Americans (3,666), Portuguese Americans (3,374).

Home values and rentsIncome, education and commute

Economy and federal money

Jobs, pay, income and spending are for Hawaii County. PPP loans are for Hilo.

Details

Unemployment rate

3.4%

Aug 2026, +0.9 pts in a year

Average annual pay

$61,757

74,168 jobs, 2025

Income per person

$57,694

BEA, 2024

Federal spending

$1.53B

FY 2026, $7,647 per person

Hawaii County economyFederal spending

How people get to work

Hilo, HI, workers 16 and older. American Community Survey 5-year estimates

  • Drove alone71.8%
  • Carpooled13.5%
  • Public transit0.9%
  • Walked2.3%
  • Bicycle0.7%
  • Taxi, ride-hailing, motorcycle or other1.9%
  • Worked from home8.9%

Average one-way commute: 20.3 minutes for people who do not work from home.

Environment and hazard risk

Hilo, HI, from FEMA, NOAA and EPA

Full report

Natural hazard risk

Relatively High

Top: volcanic activity

Storm events since 1996

1,994

Countywide, mostly heavy rain

Flood insurance policies

1,215

1.8% of homes, county

July high / Jan low

79° / 61°F

151.2 inches of rain a year

Hazards, floods and storm historyCheck a flood zone12 historic places

Health statistics

Share of adults in Hilo, HI, CDC PLACES estimates

All 40 measures

Obesity

25.2%

U.S. 33.3% -8.1 pts

Diabetes

12.8%

U.S. 12.1% +0.7 pts

Smoking

13.3%

U.S. 12.8% +0.5 pts

Uninsured (18-64)

6.4%

U.S. 11.1% -4.7 pts

ZIP codes in Hilo

1 in or overlapping Hilo. Population shown

·

Cities near Hilo

NameDistanceLand area (sq mi)
WainakuCensus-designated place4.4 mi1.3
KeaauCensus-designated place5.2 mi6.3
PaukaaCensus-designated place5.6 mi0.3
KurtistownCensus-designated place7.1 mi7.2
PapaikouCensus-designated place7.7 mi1.5
Orchidlands EstatesCensus-designated place10 mi9.7
PepeekeoCensus-designated place10 mi1.1
Hawaiian AcresCensus-designated place10 mi19.4
Hawaiian Paradise ParkCensus-designated place11 mi15.3
Mountain ViewCensus-designated place11 mi54.9
Fern AcresCensus-designated place12 mi6.8
Tiki GardensCensus-designated place12 mi1.7
AinaloaCensus-designated place13 mi2
HonomuCensus-designated place13 mi0.5
Eden RocCensus-designated place13 mi6.4
Hawaiian BeachesCensus-designated place15 mi15.2

Frequently asked questions

What county is Hilo, HI in?
Hilo is in Hawaii County, Hawaii.
What ZIP codes are in Hilo, HI?
ZIP codes in or overlapping Hilo include 96720.
What is the population of Hilo, HI?
About 50,404 people live in Hilo, based on American Community Survey 5-year estimates.
What cities are near Hilo?
Nearby places include Wainaku (4.4 mi), Keaau (5.2 mi), Paukaa (5.6 mi), Kurtistown (7.1 mi), Papaikou (7.7 mi).

Source: U.S. Census Bureau (TIGER/Line boundaries, American Community Survey) · Data as of 12/31/2023