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Wailua, HI

Census-designated place in Kauai County, Hawaii.

Population

2,697

Land area

1.5sq mi

People per sq mi

1,756

ZIP codes

0

Wailua and its ZIP codes

Full map

Wailua at a glance

  • Wailua is about 7.8 times as dense as Hawaii as a whole.
  • The median household income is $69,167, 31% below the Hawaii median of $100,389.
  • A typical owner-occupied home is valued at $790,800 (6% below Hawaii) and median rent is $2,310 a month.

Local data for Wailua, HI

Counts from official public data

Housing and community stats

Wailua, HI, American Community Survey 2020-2024

Full profile

Median household income

$69,167

Poverty rate

12.8%

Median home value

$790,800

Median rent

$2,310/mo

Homeownership

55.2%

Bachelor's or higher

27.7%

Median age

44.8

Average commute

23.4 min

Largest reported origins and ancestries: German Americans (325), Mexican Americans (300), Japanese Americans (294).

Home values and rentsIncome, education and commute

Economy and federal money

Jobs, pay, income and spending are for Kauai County. PPP loans are for Wailua.

Details

Unemployment rate

5.1%

Sep 2026, +3.0 pts in a year

Average annual pay

$62,998

33,298 jobs, 2025

Income per person

$67,170

BEA, 2024

Federal spending

$546M

FY 2026, $7,443 per person

Kauai County economyFederal spending

How people get to work

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

  • Drove alone70.2%
  • Carpooled19.0%
  • Public transit0.7%
  • Walked1.6%
  • Bicycle0.0%
  • Taxi, ride-hailing, motorcycle or other0.0%
  • Worked from home8.5%

Average one-way commute: 23.4 minutes for people who do not work from home.

Environment and hazard risk

Wailua, HI, from FEMA, NOAA and EPA

Full report

Natural hazard risk

Relatively Moderate

Top: landslide

Storm events since 1996

2,714

Countywide, mostly high surf

Flood insurance policies

1,647

7.0% of homes, county

July high / Jan low

85° / 66°F

36.2 inches of rain a year

Hazards, floods and storm historyCheck a flood zone

Health statistics

Share of adults in Wailua, HI, CDC PLACES estimates

All 40 measures

Obesity

24.6%

U.S. 33.3% -8.7 pts

Diabetes

12.6%

U.S. 12.1% +0.5 pts

Smoking

12.5%

U.S. 12.8% about the same

Uninsured (18-64)

6.5%

U.S. 11.1% -4.6 pts

Cities near Wailua

NameDistanceLand area (sq mi)
KapaaCensus-designated place2.2 mi10
Wailua HomesteadsCensus-designated place2.5 mi7.3
HanamauluCensus-designated place4.1 mi1.3
LihueCensus-designated place5.8 mi7.5
AnaholaCensus-designated place6.5 mi3.7
PuhiCensus-designated place7.1 mi0.9
KilaueaCensus-designated place11 mi5
KalihiwaiCensus-designated place13 mi2.6
KoloaCensus-designated place13 mi1.3
OmaoCensus-designated place13 mi1.3
LawaiCensus-designated place14 mi4.1
PoipuCensus-designated place14 mi2.6
PrincevilleCensus-designated place14 mi2.6
HanaleiCensus-designated place15 mi0.7
KalaheoCensus-designated place15 mi3.5
WainihaCensus-designated place17 mi2.5

Frequently asked questions

What county is Wailua, HI in?
Wailua is in Kauai County, Hawaii.
What is the population of Wailua, HI?
About 2,697 people live in Wailua, based on American Community Survey 5-year estimates.
What cities are near Wailua?
Nearby places include Kapaa (2.2 mi), Wailua Homesteads (2.5 mi), Hanamaulu (4.1 mi), Lihue (5.8 mi), Anahola (6.5 mi).

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

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