Best Neighborhoods in Kailua, HI

25 neighborhoods ranked by safety, walkability, affordability, and quality of life — powered by real data from the US Census, FBI, EPA, and Walk Score.

Population: 40,5142026 Data

Best Neighborhoods in Kailua, HI — Key Takeaways

The best neighborhood in Kailua is Royal Hawaiian Estates CDP with a Kurby Score of 91/100. Kailua has 25 neighborhoods ranked by quality of life data. The safest neighborhood is Fern Forest CDP with a violent crime rate of 2.2 per 1,000 residents, 39% below the national average of 3.6. The most affordable is Fern Forest CDP with a median home value of $166,800.

Kailua has a population of 40,514, a median household income of $98,750, an unemployment rate of 2.1%. The median home value citywide is $1,050,000, which is 272% above the national average of $281,900.

Data sourced from the US Census Bureau, FBI Crime Data Explorer, EPA AirNow, Walk Score, and FEMA. Last updated: March 2026.

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Top 3 Neighborhoods

Fern Forest CDP

74/100

Kurby Score

$166,800

Crime: 2.2

Nanawale Estates CDP

73/100

Kurby Score

$179,900

Crime: 2.2

Eden Roc CDP

70/100

Kurby Score

$187,500

Crime: 2.2

Complete Rankings — 25 Neighborhoods

Best neighborhoods in Kailua ranked by Kurby Score, with median home value, walk score, crime rate, poverty rate, and unemployment rate.
#	Neighborhood	Kurby Score	Median Home	Walk Score	Crime Rate	Poverty	Unemployment
	Fern Forest CDP	74	$166,800	—	2.2 per 1K	32.5%	2.1%
	Nanawale Estates CDP	73	$179,900	—	2.2 per 1K	34.8%	6.5%
	Eden Roc CDP	70	$187,500	—	2.2 per 1K	25.4%	25.6%
4	Naalehu CDP	83	$190,100	—	2.2 per 1K	15.0%	4.4%
5	Royal Hawaiian Estates CDP	91	$203,200	—	2.2 per 1K	9.2%	2.1%
6	Pahala CDP	84	$204,000	—	2.2 per 1K	11.8%	19.6%
7	Hawaiian Beaches CDP	72	$208,600	—	2.2 per 1K	29.6%	10.9%
8	Hawaiian Ocean View CDP	73	$210,600	—	2.2 per 1K	29.4%	11.9%
9	Ainaloa CDP	75	$215,500	—	2.2 per 1K	28.3%	9.7%
10	Leilani Estates CDP	74	$226,300	—	2.2 per 1K	36.8%	19.2%
11	Kualapuu CDP	80	$234,000	—	2.2 per 1K	15.2%	5.7%
12	Fern Acres CDP	76	$251,500	—	2.2 per 1K	12.9%	17.1%
13	Orchidlands Estates CDP	75	$267,400	—	2.2 per 1K	33.3%	11.5%
14	Mountain View CDP	71	$285,500	—	2.2 per 1K	25.1%	8.2%
15	Mauna Loa Estates CDP	76	$293,900	—	2.2 per 1K	11.6%	11.8%
16	Keaau CDP	87	$298,500	—	2.2 per 1K	9.0%	0.5%
17	Hawaiian Acres CDP	82	$314,300	—	2.2 per 1K	16.4%	5.4%
18	Pahoa CDP	72	$330,300	—	2.2 per 1K	21.9%	8.6%
19	Kaunakakai CDP	72	$334,900	—	2.2 per 1K	19.2%	6.1%
20	Paauilo CDP	77	$346,500	—	2.2 per 1K	8.9%	14.0%
21	Papaikou CDP	80	$369,700	—	2.2 per 1K	13.4%	5.6%
22	Pepeekeo CDP	64	$384,200	—	2.2 per 1K	24.0%	8.5%
23	Makaha CDP	61	$402,500	—	2.2 per 1K	24.0%	9.7%
24	Discovery Harbour CDP	71	$414,300	—	2.2 per 1K	15.3%	13.9%
25	Kurtistown CDP	74	$416,100	—	2.2 per 1K	11.9%	8.0%

Rankings by Category

Top 5 neighborhoods in Kailua for each quality-of-life metric.

Safest

Lowest violent crime rate

1
Fern Forest CDP
2.2 per 1K
2
Nanawale Estates CDP
2.2 per 1K
3
Eden Roc CDP
2.2 per 1K
4
Naalehu CDP
2.2 per 1K
5
Royal Hawaiian Estates CDP
2.2 per 1K

Most Affordable

Lowest median home value

1
Fern Forest CDP
$166,800
2
Nanawale Estates CDP
$179,900
3
Eden Roc CDP
$187,500
4
Naalehu CDP
$190,100
5
Royal Hawaiian Estates CDP
$203,200

Lowest Poverty

Lowest poverty rate

Lowest Unemployment

Lowest unemployment rate

Highest Income

Highest median household income

1
Papaikou CDP
$87,639
2
Kurtistown CDP
$80,625
3
Keaau CDP
$79,821
4
Hawaiian Acres CDP
$74,851
5
Kaunakakai CDP
$67,083

Best Air Quality

Lowest Air Quality Index

1
Makaha CDP
AQI 25

How We Rank Neighborhoods in Kailua

Neighborhoods are ranked using the Kurby Score, a composite quality-of-life index that evaluates six weighted categories based on publicly available data:

Affordability: 25% weight
Walkability & Transit: 15% weight
Safety: 17% weight
Environment: 17% weight
Education: 13% weight
Economy: 13% weight

Each category incorporates multiple data points. For example, Safety uses both violent and property crime rates; Environment considers air quality (AQI), noise levels, climate risk, and flood zone status; Affordability factors in home price-to-income ratio, rent, and electricity costs.

Data Sources: US Census Bureau American Community Survey (ACS) 5-Year Estimates, FBI Uniform Crime Reporting (UCR), EPA AirNow, Walk Score, DOT National Transportation Noise Map, FEMA National Flood Hazard Layer, Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), and EIA Electricity Data. All data is updated on a rolling basis as new government releases become available.

Lifestyle & Amenity Scores

Based on nearby amenities, noise levels, and quality of life factors

Parks70/100

Grocery81/100

Dining79/100

Nightlife38/100

Shopping36/100

Healthcare43/100

Daycare0/100

Pet-Friendly13/100

Frequently Asked Questions

What are the cheapest neighborhoods in Kailua?

The most affordable neighborhoods in Kailua by median home value are: Fern Forest CDP, Nanawale Estates CDP, Eden Roc CDP, Naalehu CDP, Royal Hawaiian Estates CDP. Rankings are based on Census ACS housing data.

What is the cheapest neighborhood to buy a home in Kailua?

Fern Forest CDP has the lowest median home value at $166,800. The national median is $281,900.

Where is the cheapest rent in Kailua?

Keaau CDP has the lowest median rent at $531/month. The national median rent is $1,163/month.

Which neighborhood in Kailua has the highest income?

Papaikou CDP has the highest median household income at $87,639. The national median is $74,580.

What is the median home value in Kailua?

The median home value in Kailua, HI is $1,050,000. The national median is $281,900.

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