City Report · HI

Waipahu

Pop. 40,482·14th most expensive in Hawaii·Waipahu rents are up 6.0% over the past year

Median rent (all units)

$2,892/mo

Year-over-Year

+6.0%

Month-over-Month

+0.6%

vs US Median

+$960

Reported rents

Rising (Monthly)

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Most AffordableMost Expensive

Waipahu · $2,892

More expensive than 89% of US cities · National median $1,932/mo

Rent Reality Score

43/100

Fairly priced

OverheatedFairGreat value

Rents are 4% above what Waipahu's 10-year trend predicts — running hotter than its own history.

Actual rent

$2,892/mo

Expected by trend

$2,791/mo

The Rent Reality Score compares today's median rent to where Waipahu's own long-run trajectory projects it should be. See the full rankings →

Medians by bedroom

Rent by unit size

Studio

$1,690

1 BR

$1,840

2 BR

$2,410

3 BR

$3,380

4 BR+

$4,050

Fair Market Rent (HUD)

$2,410/mo

These are HUD Fair Market Rents, the payment standard for a Housing Choice Voucher (Section 8). They often differ from the $2,892 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

Cheapest month to sign

December. Asking rents in Waipahu usually run 1.1% below trend in December and 0.8% above it in July, about $55 a month apart at today's median. Based on 9 years of data.

Compared with the peak

Rent in Waipahu is at its highest level since Zillow's records here began in January 2017.

Past year vs. the rest of Hawaii

Rent in Waipahu changed +6.1% over the year to September 2026. Across the 15 Hawaii cities Zillow tracks, the typical change was +5.1%.

Rent vs. income since 2019

From 2019 to 2024, rent in Waipahu rose 31.2% while median household income rose 32.9% ($78,204 to $103,895). Income kept ahead of rent.

Since before the pandemic

Rent in Waipahu is 47% higher than in March 2020. Across the US, rent is up 37.3% over the same stretch.

Recent direction

Rent has risen 11 months in a row, and rose in 11 of the last 12 months.

What a typical income covers

30% of the median household income ($103,895) is $2,597 a month. That covers HUD's Fair Market Rent for up to a 2-bedroom ($2,410); a 3-bedroom is $3,380.

Cheaper nearby

Pearl City, 3 miles away, rents for 16% less ($2,422/mo), about $5,600 a year in savings.

From Zillow's monthly rent index (ZORI) for Waipahu. The seasonal pattern compares Zillow’s seasonally adjusted and unadjusted series. Income is the Census median household income (5-year estimates). Fair Market Rents are HUD’s, which include utilities.

Annual cost

$34,704/yr

At $2,892/mo median

Rent Market Meter

Strong Landlord's Market

Renter's MarketBalancedLandlord's Market

Rents are up 6.0% year-over-year. Expect competition, and move quickly to lock in terms.

Based on rent-price momentum (+6.0% YoY, +0.6% MoM), not inventory.

Rent check

Is your rent fair?

Compare your rent to the local median.

Demographics

Who lives here

Waipahu, HI is majority owner-occupied, has a large retiree population, has a median income above the national average, 20.1% of residents hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

Population

40,482

Median income

$103,895

Median age

40.2

Renters

40.3%

Age distribution

20.6%

23.6%

22.4%

12%

21.3%

Under 1820.6%

18–3423.6%

35–5422.4%

55–6412%

65+21.3%

Gender

47.9%

52.1%

Male47.9%

Female52.1%

Race & ethnicity

70.1%

20.5%

White2.8%

Black0.8%

Hispanic5.8%

Asian70.1%

Other20.5%

Education (25+)

13.9%

34%

32%

20.1%

No HS diploma13.9%

HS diploma34%

Some college32%

Bachelor's+20.1%

Housing tenure

59.7%

40.3%

Owner59.7%

Renter40.3%

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

2021 vs 2026

How Waipahu, HI has changed in 5 years

Rent

$1,980 → $2,892

up 46.1%

Income

$83,671 → $103,895

up 24.2%

Population

39,927 → 40,482

up 1.4%

Renter share

44.6% → 40.3%

-4.3 pts

Bachelor's+

17.9% → 20.1%

+2.2 pts

Median age

38.3 → 40.2

+1.9 yrs

Five years ago, renters in Waipahu, HI paid around $1,980 a month. That figure now sits near $2,892, up 46.1% from the 2021 baseline. Census figures show median household income at $103,895 today, compared with $83,671 five years earlier. Because rent grew faster than wages over the same span, the affordability picture has tightened relative to 2021. Census counts show Waipahu, HI adding about 555 residents over the five-year window, up 1.4% on net. The renter share has eased from 44.6% to 40.3%, with owner-occupied housing accounting for the remainder. Bachelor's-degree-or-higher attainment moved from 17.9% to 20.1% across the same window. The combined trend lines point to a market that has changed measurably from where it stood in early 2021.

Community

Discussions about Waipahu

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View Waipahu rent history (2015–2026) →

Salary vs rent

Can you afford rent in Waipahu on your salary?

At $2,892/mo, how Waipahu rent compares to typical pay (30% rule).

Registered Nurse

Avg $102,038/yr · Rent = 34% income

stretched

Elementary School Teacher

Avg $72,446/yr · Rent = 47.9% income

rent-burdened

Police Officer

Avg $83,452/yr · Rent = 41.6% income

rent-burdened

Software Developer

Avg $149,159/yr · Rent = 23.3% income

affordable

Lawyer

Avg $190,588/yr · Rent = 18.2% income

very comfortable

Firefighter

Avg $67,835/yr · Rent = 51.2% income

severely rent-burdened

Truck Driver

Avg $61,247/yr · Rent = 56.7% income

severely rent-burdened

Electrician

Avg $75,492/yr · Rent = 46% income

rent-burdened

By apartment size

Waipahu rent by bedroom count

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

Local insights

Tips for renters in Waipahu

About renting in Waipahu, HI

Last updated: October 17, 2026

The median rent in Waipahu is $2,892/mo as of October 2026. A studio apartment averages $1,690/mo while a 2-bedroom runs $2,410/mo. One-bedroom apartments average $1,840/mo and 3-bedroom units go for $3,380/mo.

At 33% of local median household income ($103,895/yr), Waipahu ranks as moderate compared to the national benchmark of 30%. Rents have increased 6.0% over the past year.

FAQ

Frequently asked questions

How much income do you need to rent in Waipahu?

To keep rent at or below 30% of gross income, you would need to earn at least $116,000/year (about $56/hour full-time) to afford the median rent of $2,892/mo in Waipahu. The local median household income is $103,895/yr, so the typical household falls short of that bar.

Is rent going up or down in Waipahu?

Rent in Waipahu has risen 6.0% over the past year as of September 2026. That is the highest level since Zillow's records here began in January 2017.

When is the cheapest time to rent in Waipahu?

Asking rents in Waipahu are usually lowest in December, about 1.1% below their yearly trend, and highest in July, about 0.8% above it. At today's median that is a gap of roughly $55 a month. This pattern comes from 9 years of Zillow rent data.

Has rent outpaced income in Waipahu?

No. From 2019 to 2024, rent in Waipahu rose 31.2% while median household income rose 32.9%, from $78,204 to $103,895. Rent is Zillow's yearly average; income is the Census 5-year estimate for the same years.

How does Waipahu rent compare to other cities in Hawaii?

Waipahu is one of the more affordable among Hawaii cities for rent, ranking #14 of 21 tracked cities at $2,892/mo. Over the year to September 2026, rent in Waipahu changed +6.1%, against a typical +5.1% across the 15 Hawaii cities Zillow tracks.