County

Hawaii County, Hawaii Retirement Score

Hawaii County is a stronger fit for retirees who prioritize climate, scenery, and a quieter island pace, but it is less appealing for those who need deeper healthcare access or lower hazard exposure. Use this page to understand why it scores the way it does before moving into side-by-side comparisons.

Overall Retirement Score
58
Around average

Quick takeaway

Best for: warm weather, quieter island pace, cleaner air

Think twice if: healthcare access is essential, lower hazard exposure matters most

Score breakdown

Affordability
21
Expensive for retirees
Healthcare Access
67
Above average
Climate Comfort
60
Around average
Disaster Risk
41
Below average
Air Quality
84
Strong
Retiree Fit
73
Above average

At a glance

Median rent
$1,510
Median home value
$519,300
Age 65+
21%
Climate
Warm with elevation variation
Healthcare
More limited local depth
Risk
Volcanic and wildfire tradeoffs
Air quality
Often strong

Good fit for

Retirees who value warm weather, space, and a quieter pace.

Less ideal for

Retirees who need deep healthcare access or a less remote setting.

Biggest strengths

  • Climate comfort is a major strength.
  • Air quality is usually favorable.
  • Retiree fit is respectable for a slower-paced market.

Biggest tradeoffs

  • Healthcare access is thinner.
  • Risk includes volcanic and wildfire concerns.
  • Affordability is still a challenge.

Affordability

39
Below average

Climate comfort is a major strength.

Median rent
$1,510
Median home value
$519,300

Healthcare access

46
Below average

Air quality is usually favorable.

Healthcare
More limited local depth

Climate Comfort

85
Strong

Hawaii County is a stronger fit for retirees who prioritize climate, scenery, and a quieter island pace, but it is less appealing for those who need deeper healthcare access or lower hazard exposure.

Climate
Warm with elevation variation

Disaster Risk

41
Below average

Healthcare access is thinner.

Risk
Volcanic and wildfire tradeoffs

Air Quality

82
Strong

Retiree fit is respectable for a slower-paced market.

Air quality
Often strong

Retiree Fit

68
Above average

Hawaii County, Hawaii has a practical retiree profile relative to similarly sized places.

Age 65+
21%

Similar places to consider

Maui County, Hawaii

Similar island climate, but stronger retiree-market feel.

Honolulu County, Hawaii

Similar climate, but with better healthcare depth.

Explore more in Hawaii

Best Places to Retire in Hawaii

Compare this place

See how Hawaii County, Hawaii compares with another county or metro for affordability, healthcare, climate, air quality, and risk.

How to interpret this retirement score

Use the overall score as a quick summary, then look at the category scores to see whether affordability, healthcare, climate, air quality, disaster risk, or retiree fit is driving the result. A place can still be a good fit for you even if one category is a clear tradeoff.

Best next step after this page

Use compare pages when you have two realistic finalists. If you are still building the shortlist, use the related rankings and the broader state page to find nearby or similarly ranked alternatives.

Frequently asked questions

Is Hawaii County, Hawaii affordable for retirees?

Affordability here is mixed and should be weighed alongside housing costs, healthcare access, and climate tradeoffs.

What is the biggest retirement tradeoff here?

The main tradeoff is usually a balance between affordability, climate comfort, and risk exposure.

What to do next

Use this page as a narrowing step, then compare it directly against nearby or similarly ranked counties and metros. The overall score is the summary; the category scores explain the tradeoffs.