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Hilo

#7 in Best Places to Raise a Family in Hawaii
  • B
    Overall Grade
  • Town in Hawaii
  • 217 reviews
B
Overall Niche Grade
How are grades calculated?
  1. Public Schools
    B-
  2. Crime & Safety
    NG
  3. Housing
    C
  4. Nightlife
    B+
  5. Good for Families
    B
  6. Diversity
    A+
  7. Jobs
    B-
  8. Weather
    C-
  9. Cost of Living
    C
  10. Health & Fitness
    A
  11. Outdoor Activities
    B+
  12. Commute
    B+
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Hilo is a town in Hawaii with a population of 45,703. Hilo is in Hawaii County. Living in Hilo offers residents a suburban feel and most residents own their homes. In Hilo there are a lot of coffee shops and parks. Many young professionals and retirees live in Hilo and residents tend to be liberal. The public schools in Hilo are above average.
Population
45,703

Real Estate

Median Home Value
$305,900
National
$184,700
Median Rent
$988
National
$949
Area Feel
Suburban
Rent vs. Own
  • Rent
    39%
  • Own
    61%
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Hilo Rankings

Niche ranks thousands of places to live based on key statistics from the U.S. Census and and expert insights.

Crime & Safety

Crime & Safety
NG
Based on violent and property crime rates.
Violent Crimes
  • Calculated annually per 100,000 residents
National
  • Assault
    —
    282.7
  • Murder
    —
    6.1
  • Rape
    —
    40.7
  • Robbery
    —
    135.5
Property Crimes
  • Calculated annually per 100,000 residents
National
  • Burglary
    —
    500.1
  • Theft
    —
    2,042.8
  • Motor Vehicle Theft
    —
    284
Home Security Options for Hilo
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  • 24/7 Whole home protection with no contract
  • CNET Editor’s choice winner 2018

Residents

Diversity
A+
Based on ethnic and economic diversity.
Age
  • <10 years
    11%
  • 10-17 years
    10%
  • 18-24 years
    11%
  • 25-34 years
    13%
  • 35-44 years
    10%
  • 45-54 years
    12%
  • 55-64 years
    14%
  • 65+ years
    19%
Education Levels
National
  • Master's degree or higher
    10%
    12%
  • Bachelor's degree
    23%
    19%
  • Some college or associate's degree
    30%
    29%
  • High school diploma or equivalent
    30%
    28%
  • Less than high school diploma
    7%
    13%

Working in Hilo

Jobs
B-
Based on employment rates, job and business growth, and cost of living.
Median Household Income
$57,151
National
$55,322
Search for Jobs in Hilo
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Hilo Reviews

217 reviews
All Categories
As a person who was born and raised in Hilo, Hawaii, I can speak on its behalf and say that our small town is great! Every place in Hilo can be easily commuted to and fro within little time. In fact, the furthest place in Hilo would only take about 20-25 minutes to get to (with traffic). There are many unique places to see and a prolific amount of fun activities to partake in. Some of my personal favorites are the countless [secret] waterfalls that you can find, the Volcano National Park, and our beautiful beach spots. Within the town, diversity thrives amongst the people who reside here. One of the main things that I absolutely love most about the town (and Hawaii in general) is the spirit of kindness and "Aloha" that people share with each other. Since Hilo is a very tiny community, the people here treat each other like family and with respect, even if they are strangers. I feel that this is something you wouldn't find anywhere else, which is what makes (Hilo) Hawaii so unique.
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Hilo is one of the largest cities on the big island of Hawai'i. From active volcanoes to horse rides and so many other ways to enjoy the beautiful outdoors and tropical island landscape that make the state of Hawai'i and the town of Hilo so unique, there is never a dull moment when visiting here. One of the most popular attractions is the view from atop Mauna Kea, especially at sunrise. Hilo's nightlife consists of a diverse variety of local bars and restaurants that serve local, Asian, Thai, Japanese, and Mongolian cuisines, just to name a few. The locals are friendly, despite rumors of prejudice that exists against those who are not natives and obviously unfamiliar with local customs and traditions. There really is no end to the amount of paradise that Hilo has to offer, so feel free to come check it out!
Sometimes it is sunny and the flowers bloom, other times it is rainy and the sky shows gloom. If you like to be relaxed and take the day slowly, then look no further than the historic town of Hilo, Hawaii! The beaches are beautiful and fun to explore, the mountains and rivers are adventures galore! While there are few indoor activities in this small town, you'll come to find that, when you're outdoors, there is little reason to frown!