Hawaiiincome tax up to 11%, lowest property tax, median home $840K
D+26 · Moderate tax burden · COL index 196
11%
Income Tax
281
Violent Crime / 100K
80.7
Life Expectancy
$840K
Median Home
$1,850
Childcare / Mo
Hawaii in plain English
Worth knowing before you move to Hawaii
Hawaii has the lowest property-tax rates in the nation but the highest home prices, so the dollar bills are not low. Nearly everything is shipped in, which pushes groceries and utilities to the top of the national range. The state has a graduated income tax reaching 11% and an estate tax, and it does not tax Social Security or most public pensions.
What Hawaii taxes, and what it doesn't
Hawaii levies a graduated income tax that tops out at 11%. A household earning $75,000 pays an effective 6.1%, about $4,591 a year; at $150,000 the effective rate is 6.9%. Among the 41 states that tax income, Hawaii has the 3rd highest effective rate at $100,000 of income.
Property tax runs 0.27% of home value a year, roughly $2,268 on the state's median home of $840K. The national effective rate is about 1.10%, and Hawaii has the lowest rate of the 50 states.
Combined state and local sales tax averages 4.44%, the 6th lowest in the country (the state portion is 4%).
For retirees: Social Security benefits are not taxed, pension income is fully exempt, and an estate tax applies above $5.49 million.
Capital gains are taxed at a special rate of 7.25%.
Housing and the cost of living in Hawaii
Hawaii's cost of living index is 196, where 100 is the national average; that is the most expensive of the 50 states.
The median home costs $840K, 177% above the national figure and the highest among the states. A two-bedroom rents for about $2,500 a month.
Carrying costs matter as much as the price: home insurance averages $500 a year, flood coverage adds about $650 where it is needed, car insurance runs $1,120.
Budget $250 a month for electricity and gas, $900 a month in groceries for two, $1,850 a month for full-time infant care.
Safety, health and schools
Violent crime is 281 incidents per 100,000 residents in the FBI's 2023 Crime Data Explorer figures, below the median state (387); Hawaii is the 13th safest of the 50 by that measure. Property crime is 2,480 per 100,000.
Life expectancy is 80.7 years (County Health Rankings 2024). 4.8% of residents have no health insurance, and the state has expanded Medicaid. The Commonwealth Fund's 2023 scorecard ranks Hawaii's health system 11th of 50.
Education Week's 2023 Quality Counts report ranks K-12 schools 25th in the country.
Politics, guns and social policy
Politically, Hawaii is a solidly Democratic state that went to Harris by 26 points in 2024.
On guns, concealed-carry permits are may-issue, at the discretion of local authorities, a permit is required to buy a handgun, and Giffords grades the state's gun laws A.
Abortion is protected by state law. Marijuana is legal for adults. Hawaii is not a right-to-work state, and the minimum wage is $14.00 an hour.
Climate, risk and getting around
Natural disaster risk is moderate. The main hazards are hurricane, tsunami, volcano. Annual average air quality index is 18 (under 50 is good).
Hawaii has no top-25 hub airport, with about 75 nonstop destinations from its busiest airport.
Written from the figures on this page. Rankings compare the 50 states. Sources and years are listed with each figure below.
Largest counties in Hawaii
State Profile
Taxes
Sources: state revenue departments · Tax Foundation 2026 · income-tax brackets 2026
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Taxes
Sources: state revenue departments · Tax Foundation 2026 · income-tax brackets 2026
Income Tax
Property Tax
~$2,268/yr on median home
Sales Tax
Social Security
Pension / IRA
Estate Tax
Inheritance Tax
Capital Gains
Housing & Cost of Living
Sources: Zillow · Census ACS · iii.org and state insurers 2026 · WRLURI 2018 · Census 2024 (HOA)
▾
Housing & Cost of Living
Sources: Zillow · Census ACS · iii.org and state insurers 2026 · WRLURI 2018 · Census 2024 (HOA)
Price Level vs US (BEA)
Above US average (100)
Mortgages 90+ Days Late
FHFA, latest quarter
Cost of Living Index
National avg = 100
Median Home Price
Median Rent (2BR)
Home Insurance
Below national avg (~$1,900/yr)
Flood Insurance
Homestead Exemption
Home equity protected from creditors
Asset Protection
Homes in HOAs
HOAs dominate the housing stock (Census ACS 2024)
Short-Term Rentals (Airbnb)
State enables county bans; most islands limit STRs to resort zones; most restrictive state.
Crime & Safety
Sources: FBI Crime Data Explorer 2023 · SafeHome registry counts 2025 · HUD PIT 2024
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Crime & Safety
Sources: FBI Crime Data Explorer 2023 · SafeHome registry counts 2025 · HUD PIT 2024
Violent Crime Rate
Near national avg
Property Crime Rate
Near national avg
Traffic Fatality Rate
Registered Sex Offenders
Below the state median (SafeHome 2025)
Homeless Population
Among the highest homelessness rates; 35% unsheltered (HUD 2024 PIT)
More on Hawaii
Healthcare#11 of 50▾
Sources: Commonwealth Fund 2023 · KFF · CDC
State Healthcare Rank
Life Expectancy
Above national avg (76.4)
Medicaid Expansion
Uninsured Rate
Well below national avg
EducationK-12 #25 of 50▾
Sources: Education Week 2023 · NCES · state statutes (school choice)
College Completion Rate
College Scorecard, in-state institutions (mean)
Avg College Cost of Attendance
College Scorecard 2024
K-12 Quality Rank
School Choice / Vouchers
HS Graduation Rate
Near national avg (~87%)
Pupil-Teacher Ratio
Near national avg (~16)
Childcare$1,850/mo infant care▾
Sources: Child Care Aware · Census ACS 2022
Avg Infant Care (Full-Time)
Very expensive (national avg ~$1,200)
Utilities & Daily Costs$250/mo energy▾
Sources: EIA (electricity, weekly gas) · USDA · eGRID 2022
Grid Carbon Intensity
Dirtier than US average (~820)
Avg Monthly Energy Bill
Well above national avg ($150)
Electricity Rate
Well above national avg (13¢)
Energy Mix
Avg Monthly Groceries
2-person household, moderate spending
Road Quality Rank
Among the worst roads in the US
Airports & Travel75+ nonstop routes▾
Sources: FAA · BTS
Nonstop Destinations
From state's primary airport
Major Hub Airport
Regional airport. Connections via hub
Culture & Lifestyle92% urban▾
Sources: Census CBP · Brewers Association 2024 · Pollstar · AANR/TNS · AGA 2024
Urban Population
Highly urban, big city feel
Restaurant Density
Outstanding food scene
Religious Congregations
Pro Sports Teams
NFL + NBA + MLB + NHL + MLS
Major Venues
Stadiums, arenas, amphitheaters (10K+ capacity)
Craft Breweries
2.1/100K residents: Growing
Craft Distilleries
Live Music
Kona Brewing birthplace; Maui Arts & Cultural Center; Hawaii Songwriting Festival
Transportation$1,120/yr car insurance▾
Sources: NHTSA FARS · FCC · insurance rate surveys 2024 · IIHS helmet laws 2026
Car Insurance (Avg Annual)
Traffic Fatality Rate
Broadband Access
Work From Home
State residents who primarily work from home (ACS)
Social & Legal$14/hr minimum wage▾
Sources: Guttmacher · KFF · NCSL · state statutes 2026
Formal Volunteering Rate
AmeriCorps / Census CPS 2023 (US ~28%)
Votes in Local Elections
AmeriCorps / Census CPS 2023
Abortion Access
Legal to viability; strong state protections
LGBTQ+ Protections
Marijuana
Minimum Wage
Right to Work
Sports Betting
Casino Gambling
Online Gambling
State Lottery
One of 2 states where all forms of gambling are illegal (with Utah). No lottery, no casinos, no sports betting.
Age of Consent
Sex Education
Sex ed required by state
Medically Accurate Required
Nude Beaches & Naturist Clubs
Little Beach (Maui) · Red Hill (Oahu) · Spencer Beach (Big Island)
Environment & ClimateAQI 18▾
Sources: EPA AQI · NOAA · FEMA National Risk Index
Air Quality (Annual AQI)
Excellent (national avg ~38)
Natural Disaster Risk
Primary Hazards
Politics & Gun LawsD+26 · gun law grade A▾
Sources: OpenElections 2024 · Giffords 2025 · state statutes
2024 Presidential Vote
Gun Laws
Carry Permit
Purchase Permit Required
Carry in Bars
Carry in Restaurants
Carry in Places of Worship
Alcohol-establishment ban upheld (Wolford, 9th Cir.); worship ban enjoined; SCOTUS review pending.
Gambling
Jobs & Economy2.9% unemployment▾
Sources: BLS QCEW 2024 · BLS JOLTS 2024 · BLS union membership 2025 · Census ACS
Job Openings Rate (JOLTS)
Near US average (~4.5%)
Quits Rate (JOLTS)
Workers quit when they can find better; BLS 2024 average
Job Market
+1.5% job growth · 2.9% unemployment
Top Industries
Tech Jobs
Healthcare Jobs
Remote Work
Median Household Income
Union Membership
Among the most unionized states (BLS 2025)
Business Climate#43 of 50▾
Sources: Tax Foundation · state filings
Corporate Income Tax
0.5% gross receipts tax applies
LLC Formation Fee
LLC Annual Fee
Business Climate Rank
General Excise Tax (GET) at 4% on retail (0.5% on wholesale) applies in addition to income tax
Daily Life$4.55/gal gas▾
Sources: American Pyrotechnics Association · state statutes 2026 · IIHS
Gas Price (Regular)
Well above avg (+1.25 vs national avg)
Consumer Fireworks
Sparklers and novelties only; all aerial fireworks banned statewide
Motorcycle Helmet Law
Required under 18 (IIHS 2026)
Weather & Natural Risks87°F avg July▾
Sources: NOAA · NWS Storm Prediction Center · FEMA NRI
Winter Severity
Avg January high: 78°F
Summer Heat
Moderate summers
Annual Rainfall
Tornado Risk
Hurricane Risk
Wildfire Risk
Flood Risk
Natural Hazards28/100 danger▾
Sources: USGS · CDC · USDA APHIS · NOAA · FEMA NRI 2023
Venomous Snakes
Spider Hazard
Scorpions
Hurricane Risk
Tornado Risk
Wildfire Risk
Earthquake Risk
Danger score is a composite index. Methodology ↗
Veteran Benefits83/100 veteran-friendly▾
Sources: VA.gov · Military.com state guide · Tax Foundation
Veteran-Friendly Score
9.4% of state population are veterans
Property Tax Exemption
Disabled vet property tax exemption
Military Retirement Pay
Active Duty Pay
VA Facilities Access
Notable Benefits
Explore Hawaii counties
Income, housing, poverty, healthcare, ranked by county
See your full cost of living in Hawaii
Housing, taxes, childcare, insurance: all estimated.
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Data is informational only. Verify with a tax professional, real estate agent, and local sources before making relocation decisions. Crime data: FBI Crime Data Explorer 2023. Healthcare: Commonwealth Fund 2023; life expectancy from County Health Rankings 2024. Education: Education Week 2023. Housing: Zillow monthly index and Census ACS 2022. Insurance: rate surveys 2024. Sponsored links marked “Sponsored” may earn a commission. This does not affect our data or rankings.