Unemployment in Hawaii County, Hawaii, is lower than in 85% of U.S. counties
In Hawaii County, 3.0% of the labor force was out of work, on average. That is lower than in 85% of U.S. counties.
Less distressed than 56% of U.S. counties.
What drives Hawaii County's score
In Hawaii County, housing costs are the highest-scoring part, at 89.3. Collections and bankruptcy is the lowest part, at 22.2. Bankruptcy filings ran at 64.5 per 100,000 people (2025), lower than in 83% of U.S. counties.
The County Distress Index looks at five parts of household money trouble in Hawaii County: jobs, late payments on loans, income and the safety net, collections and bankruptcy, and housing costs. Each part is scored from 0 to 100, and a higher score means worse off than other counties.
Even so, Hawaii County is worse off than most counties on rent on a two-bedroom as a share of the median income (33.5%, fiscal year 2027) and renters paying half their income or more in rent (23.4%, 2020 to 2024).
A longer bar means more trouble. See how the county score works.
- 89.3 of 100
Housing costs
Biggest factorRenters, 2020–24 Census survey; HUD's fair market rents, fiscal year 2027
- Renters paying half their income or more in rent23.4% · 2020 to 202479th percentile
- Rent on a two-bedroom as a share of the median income33.5% · fiscal year 202799th percentile
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- 44.8 of 100
Income and safety net
Poverty and income, 2024; disability and insurance, 2020–24 Census survey
- People below the poverty line15.7% · 202468th percentile
- Children below the poverty line19.3% · 202461st percentile
- People with a disability16.0% · 2020 to 202450th percentile
- People without health insurance4.5% · 2020 to 202413th percentile
- Median household income (lower income, longer bar)$74,602 · 202429th percentile
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- 44.7 of 100
Jobs
Unemployment through Sep 2026; adults not working, 2020–24 Census survey
- Unemployment rate, average over the latest year3.0% · Oct 2025 to Sep 202612th percentile
- Adults 25 to 54 not working25.7% · 2020 to 202477th percentile
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- 31.2 of 100
Late payments
Credit records, August 2025; credit scores, second quarter of 2026
- People with a credit card behind4.2% · August 202528th percentile
- People with a car or retail loan behind4.3% · August 202535th percentile
- People with a subprime credit score34.9% · second quarter of 202629th percentile
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- 22.2 of 100
Collections and bankruptcy
Credit records, August 2025; bankruptcy filings, 2025
- People with unpaid debt sent to a collector17.3% · August 202527th percentile
- Bankruptcy filings per 100,000 people64.5 · 202516th percentile
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Sources: Urban Institute, Debt in America; Equifax via the St. Louis Fed; Administrative Office of the U.S. Courts, Table F-5A; U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey; U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development Fair Market Rents and Census income; U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Local Area Unemployment Statistics; Census Bureau, Small Area Income and Poverty Estimates. County Distress Index by American Default Research, from data through Sep 2026.
Where the money in Hawaii County comes from
Benefit checks are Social Security, Medicare and Medicaid paid on people's behalf, veterans' benefits, and food and income support, so a high share usually means an older population, low pay, or both. In Hawaii County, 23.8% of residents are 65 or older (Census Bureau, 2024), against 17.2% nationally that year.
Cents of every dollar of income, 2024
Hawaii County
Hawaii
United States
- Pay from work
- Investments and rent
- Benefit checks
Benefit checks' share of income in Hawaii County had its largest rise, from 18.2% in 2004 to 23.6% in 2009.
In Hawaii County, benefit checks' share of income has tripled since 1969, reaching 25.4% in 2024, but pay from work still brings in twice as much as benefit checks
In Hawaii County, Hawaii, benefit checks' share of income tripled from 1969 to 2024, reaching 25.4%; pay from work is plotted alongside. Every fifth year and 2024 are shown.
- Benefit checks
- Pay from work
The share of households in Hawaii County getting SNAP food aid had its largest rise, from 12.9% in 2011 to 15.1% in 2012.
The share of households in Hawaii County getting SNAP food aid was at its highest on the chart in 2019 and has since fallen to 17.8%
Low on the chart: 10.4% in 2009. Households getting SNAP, every year; each bar is a five-year survey estimate ending that year, so neighboring bars share most of their data, Hawaii County, Hawaii.
How Hawaii County has changed
Hawaii County's population had its largest rise, from 116,585 in 1989 to 137,713 in 1994.
Hawaii County's population more than tripled from 1969 to 2024, reaching 209,790, with no dip in any year shown
Smallest rise: 2014 to 2019, reaching 199,750. Residents, yearly estimate, every fifth year and 2024, Hawaii County, Hawaii.
The jobs count covers work located in the county; the population count covers residents.
The number of jobs located in Hawaii County rose by about half to 74,168, the highest on the chart
Biggest rise: 2020 to 2025, reaching 74,168. Yearly average of jobs covered by unemployment insurance, every fifth year and 2025, Hawaii County, Hawaii.
| Measure | Then | Now |
|---|---|---|
| Unemployment rateBLS LAUS | 1990 3.8% | 2025 2.7% |
| People below the poverty lineCensus SAIPE | 1989 14.2% | 2024 15.7% |
| Median household incomeCensus SAIPE | 1989 $25,091 | 2024 $74,602 |
The table uses 2.7% for 2025; the score uses 3.0% for the latest year (Oct 2025 to Sep 2026), both from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.
Figures are as each agency published them, not adjusted for prices.
Dated events in Hawaii County's history
1905
Founded in 1905. Wikipedia
1946
Tsunami from 8.6-magnitude earthquake on April 1, 1946 killed 96 people in Hilo. Wikipedia
1960
Tsunami from 9.5-magnitude earthquake on May 22, 1960 killed 61 people. Wikipedia
1990
Sugar plantations closed during the 1990s and hurt the local economy. Wikipedia
2000
A flash flood in November 2000 did $70 million in property damage. NOAA Storm Events Database
2011
A flash flood in July 2011 killed one person. NOAA Storm Events Database
2012
A flash flood in December 2012 killed one person. NOAA Storm Events Database
2015
A flash flood in September 2015 killed one person. NOAA Storm Events Database
2020
The county's largest recorded population was the 2020 Census count of 200,629, which is also its most recent census. Census Bureau
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Since 1973
21 federal disaster and emergency declarations have covered Hawaii County, 4 of them for flooding. FEMA
Hawaii County beside its neighbors
Hawaii County scores higher than all four counties that border it. Of the group, Hawaii County gets the largest share of its income from benefit checks (25.4%).
| County | Score | Poverty | Benefit checks |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hawaii County, HI | 43 | 15.7% | 25.4% |
| Maui County, HI | 26 | 9.9% | — |
| Honolulu County, HI | 20 | 8.8% | 16.1% |
| Kauai County, HI | 16 | 9.5% | 20.3% |
| Kalawao County, HI | 12 | 0.0% | — |
Distress score: American Default Research, County Distress Index, data through Sep 2026; each county scored against all 3,144. Poverty rate: Census Bureau, Small Area Income and Poverty Estimates, 2024. Benefit checks: Bureau of Economic Analysis, 2024. Neighbors share a border, from Census county maps.
Is Hawaii County the poorest county in Hawaii?
Yes, Hawaii County's poverty rate was 15.7% in 2024, the highest of 4 counties in Hawaii (U.S. Census Bureau, Small Area Income and Poverty Estimates). On our distress index, which counts more than poverty, Hawaii County ranks 1st of 5 in the state.
If you're behind on your mortgage in Hawaii County
Housing counselors approved by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development work at nonprofit agencies. The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau describes free foreclosure-avoidance counseling, including help with mortgage-company conversations and available options Source CFPB.
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Hawaiian Community Assets, Inc. - Hilo Branch
HUD-approved housing counselor
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LEGAL AID SOCIETY OF HAWAII - Hilo Branch
HUD-approved housing counselor
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Legal Aid Society of Hawaii
Legal aid
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Volunteer Legal Services Hawaii
Legal aid
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HUD-approved housing counselors
Our help directory lists 1,010 agencies approved for foreclosure counseling, by state.
The score, its 14 measures and their sources, in one file. Free to use with credit to American Default Research.
Download the CSV for Hawaii County · Every U.S. county (CSV)
Sources and method
- American Default Research · County Distress Index Data through Sep 2026, built from Urban Institute, Debt in America; Equifax via the St. Louis Fed; U.S. Courts, Table F-5A; Census Bureau, American Community Survey; HUD Fair Market Rents and Census income; Bureau of Labor Statistics, Local Area Unemployment Statistics; Census Bureau, Small Area Income and Poverty Estimates. The County Distress Index is American Default Research's own calculation; the Urban Institute does not produce or endorse it. Our methodology
- Urban Institute · Debt in America Breno Braga, Signe-Mary McKernan, Samantha Atherton, and Kassandra Martinchek, "Debt in America," last updated November 20, 2025, https://datacatalog.urban.org/dataset/debt-america-2025. Licensed under ODC-By 1.0.
- Rent on a two-bedroom and household income The rent share compares HUD fair market rent for fiscal year 2027 with Census Bureau median household income for 2024. The page calls this the typical household's income.
- U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Economic Accounts (CAINC4) · income shares Where the money in Hawaii County comes from, 2024.
- History The agencies named in each row and the linked records above.