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 Hawaiian Paradise Park CDP with a Kurby Score of 85/100. Kailua has 25 neighborhoods ranked by quality of life data. The safest neighborhood is Lahaina 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 Hilo CDP with a median home value of $417,600.

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

Lahaina CDP

66/100

Kurby Score

$803,300

Crime: 2.2

Kailua CDP (Hawaii County)

75/100

Kurby Score

$619,700

Crime: 2.2

Kapaa CDP

75/100

Kurby Score

$691,400

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
	Lahaina CDP	66	$803,300	—	2.2 per 1K	11.7%	5.7%
	Kailua CDP (Hawaii County)	75	$619,700	—	2.2 per 1K	10.4%	3.7%
	Kapaa CDP	75	$691,400	—	2.2 per 1K	6.0%	1.9%
4	Lihue CDP	71	$797,000	—	2.2 per 1K	5.0%	1.1%
5	Waikele CDP	78	$677,300	—	2.2 per 1K	3.7%	0.5%
6	Kapolei CDP	78	$699,500	—	2.2 per 1K	7.8%	5.6%
7	Haiku-Pauwela CDP	64	$912,300	—	2.2 per 1K	5.3%	6.6%
8	Royal Kunia CDP	77	$803,100	—	2.2 per 1K	4.2%	6.4%
9	Waimea CDP (Hawaii County)	75	$617,500	—	2.2 per 1K	12.9%	5.7%
10	Waimalu CDP	74	$552,900	—	2.2 per 1K	6.7%	7.4%
11	Mililani Mauka CDP	79	$852,800	—	2.2 per 1K	2.7%	2.0%
12	Waianae CDP	73	$476,600	—	2.2 per 1K	18.4%	9.7%
13	Waikoloa Village CDP	76	$617,700	—	2.2 per 1K	11.2%	9.8%
14	Honaunau-Napoopoo CDP	56	$672,100	0/100	2.2 per 1K	11.8%	10.5%
15	Kaiminani CDP	77	$677,600	—	2.2 per 1K	10.6%	2.5%
16	Hawaiian Paradise Park CDP	85	$427,700	—	2.2 per 1K	4.8%	1.7%
17	Waipahu CDP	67	$805,400	—	2.2 per 1K	11.6%	4.8%
18	Nanakuli CDP	72	$453,100	—	2.2 per 1K	16.5%	11.1%
19	Maili CDP	70	$610,500	—	2.2 per 1K	15.8%	12.7%
20	Kaneohe Base CDP	62	$1,279,400	—	2.2 per 1K	10.4%	8.4%
21	East Honolulu CDP	71	$1,117,200	—	2.2 per 1K	4.2%	3.8%
22	Pearl City CDP	74	$839,100	—	2.2 per 1K	4.2%	2.7%
23	Kailua CDP (Honolulu County)	69	$1,208,600	—	2.2 per 1K	4.2%	3.3%
24	Hilo CDP	77	$417,600	—	2.2 per 1K	14.8%	6.8%
25	Makakilo CDP	78	$755,500	—	2.2 per 1K	7.8%	5.6%

Rankings by Category

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

Safest

Lowest violent crime rate

1
Lahaina CDP
2.2 per 1K
2
Kailua CDP (Hawaii County)
2.2 per 1K
3
Kapaa CDP
2.2 per 1K
4
Lihue CDP
2.2 per 1K
5
Waikele CDP
2.2 per 1K

Most Affordable

Lowest median home value

1
Hilo CDP
$417,600
2
Hawaiian Paradise Park CDP
$427,700
3
Nanakuli CDP
$453,100
4
Waianae CDP
$476,600
5
Waimalu CDP
$552,900

Lowest Poverty

Lowest poverty rate

Lowest Unemployment

Lowest unemployment rate

Highest Income

Highest median household income

Best Air Quality

Lowest Air Quality Index

1
Lahaina CDP
AQI 25
2
Kailua CDP (Hawaii County)
AQI 25
3
Kapaa CDP
AQI 25
4
Lihue CDP
AQI 25
5
Waikele 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 greenest neighborhoods in Kailua?

The greenest neighborhoods in Kailua by air quality are: Lahaina CDP, Kailua CDP (Hawaii County), Kapaa CDP, Lihue CDP, Waikele CDP. Rankings are based on EPA Air Quality Index data.

Which neighborhood in Kailua has the best air quality?

Lahaina CDP has the best air quality with an AQI of 25. The national average AQI is 42. Lower AQI values indicate cleaner air.

What is the air quality like in Kailua?

Kailua has an average AQI of 38. The national average is 42. An AQI under 50 is considered "Good" by the EPA.

How are green neighborhoods ranked?

Neighborhoods are ranked primarily by EPA Air Quality Index (lower is better). We also consider walkability, safety, and affordability. A dedicated greenery/tree canopy score will be added when data becomes available.

Which green neighborhood in Kailua has the lowest poverty rate?

Mililani Mauka CDP has the lowest poverty rate at 2.7% (national average: 12.4%).

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