Total monthly cost of ownership
Cost to Own a Home in Kapaau, Hawaii
A $578,000 home here costs
$4,099per month, all in, with 20% down at today's 7.24% 30-year fixed rate. By the 28% rule that takes a household income of about $175,500 a year.
A standard mortgage calculator would have told you $3,151. The real number is $947 higher every month, 30% more than the payment most buyers budget for.
Compare Hawaii County with anywhere in America · full county breakdown
Small-place caveat: the Census publishes these figures for Kapaau from a five-year rolling sample, and with about 2,029 residents that sample is small. The median home value here carries a much wider margin of error than a big-city figure does, so treat it as indicative rather than exact. The Hawaii County figures are drawn from a far larger sample if you want a steadier number.
Where every dollar goes
Only the first line is a mortgage payment. Change any assumption above and every figure below recalculates.
Kapaau against Hawaii County and Hawaii
| Measure | Kapaau | Hawaii County |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $577,600 | $486,400 |
| Median property tax | $1,045 | $1,392 |
| Effective tax rate | 0.181% | 0.286% |
| Median gross rent | $1,497 | $1,411 |
| Population | 2,029 | 203,684 |
The weather behind that power bill
Kapaau sits in Hawaii County, which averages a high of 57.6°F in its hottest month and a low of 34.3°F in its coldest, with 14.3" of precipitation a year and 32% of it in a single three-month stretch. That climate drives 0 cooling and 6,919 heating degree days, which is what sets the $234 electricity line above.
See the full climate breakdown for Hawaii County , month by month temperatures, rainy season timing, snowfall and heating and cooling costs.
Other cities in Hawaii County
Talk to someone who works this market
These are Kapaau averages. What one specific house costs to own, or what it would sell for today, depends on the street and the condition of the place. We will connect you with one licensed local agent who works Kapaau every week. Free, no obligation, and we never sell your details to a list.
I'm looking to buy in Kapaau I already own here and may sell
Common questions
How much does it cost to own a home in Kapaau?
A $578,000 home in Kapaau, Hawaii costs approximately $4,099 per month with 20% down at 7.24%. That is $3,151 principal and interest, $87 property tax, $77 homeowners insurance, $302 utilities and $482 set aside for maintenance.
What is the property tax rate in Kapaau?
Kapaau has an effective property tax rate of 0.181%, based on a median home value of $577,600 and median real estate taxes of $1,045. That is lower than the Hawaii County average of 0.286%.
What is the average home price in Kapaau?
The median owner-occupied home value in Kapaau, Hawaii is $577,600, against $486,400 across Hawaii County.
Is it cheaper to rent or buy in Kapaau?
Median gross rent in Kapaau is $1,497 a month, against $4,099 to own the median home all in. Renting costs less month to month here, though renting builds no equity.
What salary do you need to buy a home in Kapaau?
Using the standard 28% rule, housing costs at no more than 28% of gross income, buying the median home in Kapaau, Hawaii at today's rate takes a household income of roughly $175,500 a year. That covers the full $4,099 monthly cost, not just the mortgage payment.
Sources & methodology
- Median home value, real estate taxes, gross rent and population for Kapaau, US Census Bureau, American Community Survey ACS 2023 5-Year, place-level tables.
- Homeowners insurance, NAIC average premium for Hawaii.
- Electricity price, EIA Electric Power Monthly Table 5.6.A.
- Mortgage rate, Freddie Mac PMMS, refreshed weekly.
- Maintenance (1%/yr) and water and sewer ($68/mo) are national estimates. Every assumption above is editable.