Someone worked out how much income you need in every state to buy a home. Hawaii didn't do well (2024)

HONOLULU (HawaiiNewsNow) - It will come as a surprise to no one that Hawaii's housing market is red hot.

But a new analysis helps put things in perspective. The simple question: How much income do you need to afford the average home in every state?

"How much," the website that creates visualizations about money and cost guides, crunched the numbers.

And Hawaii didn't fare well at all.

In fact, the site estimates that you need an income of $153,520 to afford the average home in Hawaii this year. (For two earners to bring in this income, they'd need to earn $76,760 each per year.)

That's the highest of any state, and compares to $120,120 in California (which took the no. 2 spot) and $101,320 in Massachusetts (which came in at no. 3).

The analysis was based on paying a 30-year mortgage with a 10 percent down payment.

And it determined the average cost of a home in Hawaii, based on Zillow listings, is $610,000.

Of course, homes are pricier on Oahu then they are on, say, the Big Island. The median cost of a single-family home on Oahu is about $770,000.

Still, the analysis offers a worthwhile snapshot, identifying states where buying a home is possible for middle-class Americans— or out of reach.

West Virginia was the state where you'd need the lowest income to afford a home, just $38,320 to buy the average home (at $149,500).

In Ohio, you'd need $38,400 to afford the average home ($160,000).

And in Michigan, you'd have to earn $40,800 to afford $161,000 for the average home.

"The best takeaway from our map is that housing remains affordable in large swaths of the country, even though there will always be places like California and New York where there is simply too much demand for the available inventory," the authorof the analysis said. "Thankfully, that doesn't mean that buying a home is suddenly out of reach for average Americans in Ohio or Mississippi, for example."

Copyright 2018Hawaii News Now. All rights reserved.

Someone worked out how much income you need in every state to buy a home. Hawaii didn't do well (2024)

FAQs

What salary do you need to live comfortably in Hawaii? ›

Studies have the cost of living in Honolulu requires residents to have an income of $200,000+ are required to live comfortably in the state's capital. This is subjective of course, but according the U.S. Census, Honolulu's median household income was around $80,000 in 2019.

What is considered a good salary in Hawaii? ›

Average Income

In order to "be happy" in Hawaii in 2022, one study reports that you'll need a whopping salary of over $200,000.

How much money do I need to buy a house in Hawaii? ›

The median down payment on a home in Hawaii in March 2022 was $82,135. Some loans require you to put just 3 percent of the purchase price down, but others may require 10 percent or more, so the down payment amount you'll need depends on a lot of factors specific to your situation.

What is middle class salary Hawaii? ›

Mississippi also had the lowest median family income, at $58,503, while Massachusetts had the highest median family income, at $108,348.
...
America's Fastest-Growing States.
StateHousehold Income Range for Middle Class
Hawaii$41,532 - $181,202
Idaho$25,989 - $103,435
Illinois$27,109 - $134,640
Indiana$22,915 - $98,771
46 more rows
Dec 24, 2020

Where is the cheapest place to live in Hawaii? ›

Most Affordable Places to Live in Hawaii
  • Hana, Maui.
  • Hilo, Island of Hawaii.
  • Kahuku, Oahu.
  • Kapa'a, Kauai.
  • Wailuku, Maui.
  • Waimalu, Oahu.
Feb 1, 2023

What job pays the most in Hawaii? ›

Hawaii is also one of only two states in which the highest-paying job among “business and financial operations” occupations is labor relations specialists.
...
Highest-paying jobs in Hawaii.
Major occupational groupOccupation titleAnnual mean wage
ManagementChief Executives$289,860
LegalJudges, magistrate judges and magistrates$213,120
20 more rows
Sep 23, 2022

How much is 100k after taxes in Hawaii? ›

If you make $100,000 a year living in the region of Hawaii, USA, you will be taxed $30,052. That means that your net pay will be $69,948 per year, or $5,829 per month. Your average tax rate is 30.1% and your marginal tax rate is 39.2%.

What is the cheapest island to live in Hawaii? ›

What's the most affordable Hawaiian island to live on? The Big Island. With Hawaii's lowest average cost of living (according to MIT's Living Wage project), lowest fair market rents, and lowest typical yearly expenses, the Big Island can be the most economical island in Hawaii.

How much is a down payment in Hawaii? ›

In Hawaii, the most common down payment amount is either 5% or 10% of the purchase price for a conventional loan; some loans, like a VA Loan, do not need any down payment, and others, need more down.

How can anyone afford to buy a house in Hawaii? ›

The HHOC (Hawaii HomeOwnership Center) offers a Down Payment Assistance Loan Program to low-moderate income homebuyers afford a home. Eligible borrowers are able to buy a home with only a 3% down payment and without mortgage insurance. A low monthly payment is required.

What is the minimum down payment in Hawaii? ›

Hawaii home buyer stats

“Minimum” down payment assumes 3% down on a conventional mortgage with a minimum credit score of 620. If you're eligible for a VA loan (backed by the Department of Veterans Affairs) or a USDA loan (backed by the U.S. Department of Agriculture), you may not need any down payment at all.

How much do you need to make to qualify for a $400000 house? ›

The annual salary needed to afford a $400,000 home is about $165,000. Over the past two years, home prices have skyrocketed amid the combined impacts of a global pandemic and housing inventory shortages. Between 2020 and 2022, home prices soared 30%, according to Freddie Mac.

How much do you have to make to buy a 200 000 house? ›

What income is required for a 200k mortgage? To be approved for a $200,000 mortgage with a minimum down payment of 3.5 percent, you will need an approximate income of $62,000 annually.

How much do I need to make a year to buy a $500000 house? ›

Generally speaking, mortgage lenders say that you can afford to buy a house that's 2.5 to 3 times greater than your annual salary. So in order to buy a $500,000 house, you would need to make at least $167,000 to meet the 2.5x income requirement.

What is the average monthly income in Hawaii? ›

As of Dec 22, the average annual salary in Hawaii is $52,221. Just in case you need a simple salary calculator, that works out to be approximately $25.11 an hour. This is equivalent of $1,004 a week or $4,351 a month. Most salaries in Hawaii range between $36,254 (25th percentile) to $67,159 (75th percentile) annually.

What is the average cost of a home in Hawaii? ›

$902,175. The average Hawaii home value is $902,175, up 11.1% over the past year and goes to pending in around 21 days.

How much money is considered rich? ›

Based on that figure, an annual income of $500,000 or more would make you rich. The Economic Policy Institute uses a different baseline to determine who constitutes the top 1% and the top 5%. For 2021, you're in the top 1% if you earn $819,324 or more each year. The top 5% of income earners make $335,891 per year.

What island in Hawaii is cheapest to buy a house? ›

Generally, the lowest housing costs are on the Big Island, which is considered the cheapest Hawaiian island to live on.

What is the safest part of Hawaii to live in? ›

Kauai is the safest island in Hawaii, with the lowest violent and property crime rate compared to other islands.

What is the safest city to live in Hawaii? ›

Kalaupapa, Molokai

In Kalaupapa, HI, there is a small community with single-family households present. This is also rated the safest city in the entire state of Hawaii according to Neighborhood Scout.

What are the top 3 jobs in Hawaii? ›

Retail Sales Workers topped the list with 42,445 jobs in 2016, or 5.9 percent of total civilian jobs, followed by Food and Beverage Serving Workers (40,775 or 5.7 percent) and Construction Trades Workers (34,137 or 4.8 percent). Compared with the nation, four out of the top five occupations are the same.

What jobs are most in demand in Hawaii? ›

Description2008 Jobs2018 Jobs
Radiologic Technologists and Technicians725884
Registered Nurses10,15512,106
Dental Hygienists9701,137
Preschool Teachers, Except Special Education1,6131,877
16 more rows

What does Walmart pay in Hawaii? ›

How much does Walmart in Hawaii pay? Average Walmart hourly pay ranges from approximately $10.00 per hour for Front End Associate to $32.76 per hour for Optician. The average Walmart salary ranges from approximately $18,974 per year for Customer Service Associate / Cashier to $32,000 per year for Department Manager.

How much is 120k after taxes in Hawaii? ›

That means that your net pay will be $82,079 per year, or $6,840 per month. Your average tax rate is 31.6% and your marginal tax rate is 39.6%.

How much is 80000 after taxes in Hawaii? ›

If you make $80,000 a year living in the region of Hawaii, USA, you will be taxed $22,542. That means that your net pay will be $57,458 per year, or $4,788 per month. Your average tax rate is 28.2% and your marginal tax rate is 37.6%.

Are house taxes high in Hawaii? ›

There's no state in the U.S. that has a lower property tax rate than Hawaii. The average effective property tax rate here is just 0.27%. Although the state's median home value of almost $772,500 is higher than that of any other state, the typical Hawaii homeowner pays just $1,971 in property taxes each year.

Which part of Hawaii is cheapest? ›

Oahu is the cheapest Hawaiian island to visit, with a total cost of $2,625. A Ko Olina Resort lagoon on Oahu. Maui is the most expensive island to visit, coming in nearly $1,000 more expensive, with a total cost of $3,600. The Grand Wailea in Maui, a luxury resort.

Is it hard to get a job in Hawaii? ›

Remember that it's pretty hard to find a job on the islands even though the unemployment rate is generally low. However, this depends on your skills and the industry you are looking in. Some of the most thriving industries include tourism, health care, hospitality, IT, marketing, and property management.

Can you live in Hawaii on 50K? ›

Life is what you make it, and life in Hawaii can be done at less than $50K per year in personal income, but I wouldn't really recommend it unless you are ready to live very frugally. There are people that can do it on even $30K income per year. I've seen them. They don't eat well, and they don't do anything at night.

Is it possible to live comfortably in Hawaii? ›

Cost of Living

Some studies suggest a typical household needs an annual income of at least $120,000 to live comfortably in Hawaii. To help you break this down, here are some of the ways that income will be spent: Income taxes: Hawaii has some of the highest state income tax in the nation.

What is the living wage in Hawaii 2022? ›

Incrementally Rises to $18.00 by 2028

HONOLULU — The Hawaii State Department of Labor & Industrial Relations (DLIR) today announced that per Act 114, Session Laws of Hawaii (2022), the Hawaii minimum wage will increase to $12.00 per hour beginning on October 1, 2022.

Which Hawaiian island has the lowest cost of living? ›

What's the most affordable Hawaiian island to live on? The Big Island. With Hawaii's lowest average cost of living (according to MIT's Living Wage project), lowest fair market rents, and lowest typical yearly expenses, the Big Island can be the most economical island in Hawaii.

How much money is rich in Hawaii? ›

The benchmark varies by state to be considered among the top 1% of earners. In Hawaii, you need an income of at least $453,000.

What is the highest paying job in Hawaii? ›

Detailed List Of Highest Paying Jobs In Hawaii
RankJob TitleAverage Salary
1Loan Servicing Specialist$329,032
2Vice President Of Application Development$251,752
3Director Of Consumer Marketing$239,829
4Chief Executive Officer And Operator$237,177
88 more rows
Apr 11, 2022

Is there a cheap way to live in Hawaii? ›

Generally, the lowest housing costs are on the Big Island, which is considered the cheapest Hawaiian island to live on. However, the median household income is $52,000.

What's the best island to live on in Hawaii? ›

Oahu is probably the most popular island to move to because of the job opportunities and salaries tend to be higher here. Oahu is Hawaiian through and through, but it also certainly has the most in common with the mainland – it's busy, fast-paced, and modern.

How much is $100000 after taxes in Hawaii? ›

If you make $100,000 a year living in the region of Hawaii, USA, you will be taxed $30,052. That means that your net pay will be $69,948 per year, or $5,829 per month. Your average tax rate is 30.1% and your marginal tax rate is 39.2%.

Will home prices go down in Hawaii in 2022? ›

In December 2022, home prices in Hawaii were down 3.2% compared to last year, selling for a median price. On average, the number of homes sold was down 45.7% year over year and there were 907 homes sold in December this year, down 1,670 homes sold in December last year.

Who owns 98% of a Hawaiian island? ›

This is Lanai, Hawaii's sixth-largest island. Larry Ellison owns 98% of it—everything except what's shown here in black. This is Lanai, Hawaii's sixth-largest island.

What is the safest place in Hawaii? ›

Kauai is the safest island in Hawaii, with the lowest violent and property crime rate compared to other islands.

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