City Report · HI

Keaau

Pop. 1,436·21st most expensive in Hawaii·Rental market data updated monthly for Keaau, HI
Median rent (all units)
$2,067/mo
Year-over-Year
Stable
Month-over-Month
-0.1%
vs US Median
+$135
Reported rents
Stable (Monthly)
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Most AffordableMost Expensive
Keaau · $2,067
More expensive than 64% of US cities · National median $1,932/mo
Affordability
29% of income
AFFORDABLE
0%30% benchmark60%+

At $2,067/mo, rent takes about 29% of the local median household income, comfortably within the 30% benchmark.

Income to afford
$83,000/yr
Local median income
$85,000/yr
Based on the 30%-of-income rule using Keaau's median rent and household income. See the full affordability breakdown →
Medians by bedroom

Rent by unit size

Studio
$1,320
1 BR
$1,400
2 BR
$1,810
3 BR
$2,330
4 BR+
$2,570
Fair Market Rent (HUD)
$1,810/mo

These are HUD Fair Market Rents, the payment standard for a Housing Choice Voucher (Section 8). They often differ from the $2,067 market median above, and that is expected: FMR is the 40th percentile of standard-quality units and counts gross rent, so it includes essential utilities such as electricity, water, gas, sewer, and trash. The market median is asking rent, which usually excludes utilities. HUD sets FMR once a year; market rent here updates monthly.

Source: HUD Small Area Fair Market Rents. Read the methodology →

Rent trends

12-month history

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Last updated: October 17, 2026

From the history

What the numbers show

What a typical income covers

30% of the median household income ($85,000) is $2,125 a month. That covers HUD's Fair Market Rent for up to a 2-bedroom ($1,810); a 3-bedroom is $2,330.

From Zillow's monthly rent index (ZORI) for Keaau. Income is the Census median household income (5-year estimates). Fair Market Rents are HUD’s, which include utilities.

Annual cost
$24,804/yr
At $2,067/mo median
Rent Market Meter
Balanced Market
Renter's MarketBalancedLandlord's Market
Rents are roughly steady, with neither renters nor landlords holding a strong edge right now.
Based on rent-price momentum (+0.0% YoY, -0.1% MoM), not inventory.
Rent check

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Demographics

Who lives here

Keaau, HI is majority owner-occupied, has a large retiree population, 17.3% of residents hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

Population
1,436
Median income
$85,000
Median age
43.3
Renters
39.1%
Age distribution
21.4%
19.4%
21.4%
13.2%
24.5%
Under 1821.4%
18–3419.4%
35–5421.4%
55–6413.2%
65+24.5%
Gender
57.2%
42.8%
Male57.2%
Female42.8%
Race & ethnicity
42.9%
42.2%
White7.3%
Hispanic7.6%
Asian42.9%
Other42.2%
Education (25+)
48.8%
24.3%
17.3%
No HS diploma9.6%
HS diploma48.8%
Some college24.3%
Bachelor's+17.3%
Housing tenure
60.9%
39.1%
Owner60.9%
Renter39.1%

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · ACS 2024 5-Year Estimates

2021 vs 2026

How Keaau, HI has changed in 5 years

Income
$75,756 → $85,000
up 12.2%
Population
1,188 → 1,436
up 20.9%
Renter share
28.6% → 39.1%
+10.5 pts
Bachelor's+
21.5% → 17.3%
-4.2 pts
Median age
49.5 → 43.3
-6.2 yrs

Local incomes tracked alongside that move, going from a median of $75,756 in 2021 to $85,000 more recently. The population has grown by 20.9% since 2021, moving from about 1,188 residents to roughly 1,436. Renters now make up 39.1% of households, compared with 28.6% five years ago. College-educated residents now make up 17.3% of adults here, versus 21.5% in 2021.

Community

Discussions about Keaau

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View Keaau rent history (2015–2026) →
Salary vs rent

Can you afford rent in Keaau on your salary?

At $2,067/mo, how Keaau rent compares to typical pay (30% rule).

By apartment size

Keaau rent by bedroom count

Median rent for each apartment size in Keaau. Click any size for full breakdown.

Local insights

Tips for renters in Keaau

About renting in Keaau, HI

Last updated: October 17, 2026

The median rent in Keaau is $2,067/mo as of October 2026. A studio apartment averages $1,320/mo while a 2-bedroom runs $1,810/mo. One-bedroom apartments average $1,400/mo and 3-bedroom units go for $2,330/mo.

At 29% of local median household income ($85,000/yr), Keaau ranks as affordable compared to the national benchmark of 30%. Rent prices have stayed steady over the past year.

FAQ

Frequently asked questions

How much income do you need to rent in Keaau?

To keep rent at or below 30% of gross income, you would need to earn at least $83,000/year (about $40/hour full-time) to afford the median rent of $2,067/mo in Keaau. The local median household income is $85,000/yr, so the typical household meets that bar.

Is rent going up or down in Keaau?

Rent in Keaau has been roughly flat over the past year, a 0.0% change.

How does Keaau rent compare to other cities in Hawaii?

Keaau is one of the more affordable among Hawaii cities for rent, ranking #21 of 21 tracked cities at $2,067/mo.
Income Affordability
29%
AFFORDABLE

At $2,067/mo, rent takes ~29% of Keaau's median household income ($85,000/yr). The standard benchmark is 30%.

Keaau 29%Benchmark 30%
State income tax1.4–11%
Run the Keaau affordability calculator →
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Neighborhoods

Estimated from ZIP-level data

Schools nearby

Public schools near Keaau, HI

Recent submissions

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