How much does it cost to rent in Keaau, HI?

As of July 2026, the median monthly rent in Keaau, HI is $2,217. This figure is based on aggregated data from public sources and community-submitted rents.

Is Keaau cheaper than other Hawaii cities?

Keaau is among the more affordable cities in Hawaii, ranking #20 out of 21 cities at $2,217/mo.

When was Keaau rent data last updated?

Keaau rent data reflects July 2026 and was last refreshed on July 20, 2026. RentDataNow refreshes all data monthly using public and private datasets.

City Report · HI

Keaau

Name: Average Rent Prices in Keaau, HI
Creator: RentDataNow
License: https://rentdatanow.com/terms-of-service

Pop. 1,436·20th most expensive in Hawaii·Rental market data updated monthly for Keaau, HI

Median rent (all units)

$2,217/mo

Year-over-Year

Stable

Month-over-Month

+1.6%

vs US Median

+$252

Rising (Monthly)

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Most AffordableMost Expensive

Keaau · $2,217

More expensive than 70% of US cities · National median $1,965/mo

Affordability

31% of income

MODERATE

0%30% benchmark60%+

At $2,217/mo, rent takes about 31% of the local median household income, slightly above the 30% benchmark.

Income to afford

$89,000/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

Research median

$1,810/mo

Bedroom estimates are gross rents that include essential utilities (electricity, water, gas, sewer, trash).

Rent trends

12-month history

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Last updated: July 20, 2026

Annual cost

$26,604/yr

At $2,217/mo median

Rent Market Meter

Landlord's Market

Renter's MarketBalancedLandlord's Market

Rents are climbing (0.0% YoY), so leverage tilts toward landlords. Act sooner rather than later.

Based on rent-price momentum (+0.0% YoY, +1.6% MoM), not inventory.

Rent check

Is your rent fair?

Compare your rent to the local median.

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 $2,217/mo, how Keaau rent compares to typical pay (30% rule).

Registered Nurse

Avg $102,038/yr · Rent = 26.1% income

affordable

Elementary School Teacher

Avg $72,446/yr · Rent = 36.7% income

stretched

Police Officer

Avg $83,452/yr · Rent = 31.9% income

stretched

Software Developer

Avg $149,159/yr · Rent = 17.8% income

very comfortable

Lawyer

Avg $190,588/yr · Rent = 14% income

very comfortable

Firefighter

Avg $67,835/yr · Rent = 39.2% income

stretched

Truck Driver

Avg $61,247/yr · Rent = 43.4% income

rent-burdened

Electrician

Avg $75,492/yr · Rent = 35.2% income

stretched

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: July 20, 2026

The median rent in Keaau is $2,217/mo as of July 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 31% of local median household income ($85,000/yr), Keaau ranks as moderate compared to the national benchmark of 30%. Rent prices have stayed steady over the past year.

FAQ

Frequently asked questions

Is Keaau an affordable city for renters?

Keaau is considered moderate for renters. At $2,217/mo, rent takes approximately 31% of the local median household income ($85,000/yr). The standard benchmark is 30%. Keaau slightly exceeds that threshold, so budgeting carefully matters here.

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 $89,000/year (~$43/hour full-time) to afford the median rent of $2,217/mo in Keaau. The local median household income is $85,000/yr, meaning the typical Keaau household falls short of that threshold.

Is rent going up or down in Keaau?

Rent in Keaau has been relatively stable over the past year, with a 0.0% change year over year as of July 2026.

How does Keaau rent compare to other cities in Hawaii?

Keaau is one of the more affordable cities in Hawaii for rent, ranking #20 out of 21 tracked cities at $2,217/mo.

Which nearby cities are cheaper to rent in than Keaau?

Hilo is nearby and more affordable at $2,095/mo, which is $122 less than Keaau.

What percentage of Keaau residents rent vs. own?

According to Census data, approximately 39.1% of Keaau households are renters, while 60.9% are owner-occupied. Keaau leans toward homeownership, which can mean a smaller rental inventory.