City profile
Lihue, HI
Quiet Kauai town on the Garden Isle with dramatic cliffs and beaches.
Climate
Climate type
Warm & sunny
Winter avg
72°F
Summer avg
80°F
Sunny days / yr
240
Home prices & cost of living
Median home price
$900,000
Typical monthly housing
$5,020
Cost of living (100 = U.S.)
175
Taxes
- Property tax
- 0.27%
- State income tax (top)
- 11%
- Social Security
- Not taxed
- Pensions
- Not taxed
- Sales tax (state + avg. local)
- 4.50%
FEMA natural hazard risk
Relatively Moderate · county score 84/100
Top hazards: Landslide, Wildfire, Riverine flooding
Nearest major airport
2 mi to Lihue Airport (LIH)
Political lean (2024 county vote)
Leans Democratic · 59% Democratic / 38% Republican
Demographics (Census ACS)
Population (2024)
7,901
Growth since 2019
+8.7%
Median age
42.3
Residents 65+
29.1%
Median household income
$92,850
Income growth since 2019
+19.3%
Black household income
—
Home ownership
63.8%
Poverty rate
6.3%
Poverty rate, 65+
6.7%
Race & ethnicity: Black 2.5% · White 18.8% · Hispanic 10.3% · Asian 40.7% · Other 27.8%
Crime (per 100,000 residents, 2025)
Violent crime
232 · 30% below the national average
Property crime
1,967 · 27% above the national average
Source: FBI Crime Data Explorer, Kauai Police Department. State average: violent 214, property 1,682.
2025–2026 trends
2026 market trends
- ▸More retirees are leaving HI than arriving, mostly over cost
- ▸Home insurance premiums are rising quickly here
- ▸Climate/cost risks to check: wildfire, hurricanes
Highlights
- Garden Isle beauty
- Quiet and safe
- Own airport
Trade-offs
- Very expensive
- Limited healthcare
Figures are estimates from public sources (see How we match). Verify before making decisions.