Up-and-Coming Neighborhoods in Kailua, HI

25 neighborhoods with growth potential — still affordable, increasingly walkable, and showing improving conditions. Ranked by affordability, walkability, employment, safety, and air quality.

Population: 40,5142026 Data

Up-and-Coming Neighborhoods in Kailua, HI — Key Takeaways

Kailua has 25 neighborhoods showing growth potential. The most affordable up-and-coming area is Naalehu CDP with a median home value of $190,100. The strongest job market is in Keaau CDP with an unemployment rate of 0.5%.

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 Up-and-Coming Neighborhoods

Kaumakani CDP

83/100

Up-and-Coming Score

Unemp: 1.9%

Royal Hawaiian Estates CDP

82/100

Up-and-Coming Score

$203,200

Unemp: 2.1%

Keaau CDP

81/100

Up-and-Coming Score

$298,500

Unemp: 0.5%

Complete Rankings — 25 Neighborhoods

Up-and-coming neighborhoods in Kailua ranked by growth potential score, with median home value, walk score, unemployment rate, crime rate, and rent.
#	Neighborhood	Score	Median Home	Walk Score	Unemployment	Crime Rate	Rent
	Kaumakani CDP	83	N/A	—	1.9%	2.2 per 1K	$1,016
	Royal Hawaiian Estates CDP	82	$203,200	—	2.1%	2.2 per 1K	N/A
	Keaau CDP	81	$298,500	—	0.5%	2.2 per 1K	$531
4	Naalehu CDP	78	$190,100	—	4.4%	2.2 per 1K	$1,181
5	Hawaiian Paradise Park CDP	74	$427,700	—	1.7%	2.2 per 1K	$1,087
6	Kualapuu CDP	73	$234,000	—	5.7%	2.2 per 1K	$1,404
7	Volcano Golf Course CDP	72	$521,500	—	0.0%	2.2 per 1K	N/A
8	Hawaiian Acres CDP	70	$314,300	—	5.4%	2.2 per 1K	$1,337
9	Paukaa CDP	69	$490,700	—	1.9%	2.2 per 1K	$1,250
10	Papaikou CDP	67	$369,700	—	5.6%	2.2 per 1K	$1,357
11	Waipio Acres CDP	65	$557,400	—	2.5%	2.2 per 1K	$1,776
12	Puhi CDP	64	$563,700	—	2.8%	2.2 per 1K	$2,242
13	Waihee-Waiehu CDP	62	$679,300	—	3.1%	2.2 per 1K	$1,922
14	Ewa Beach CDP	61	$647,500	—	4.2%	2.2 per 1K	$2,310
15	Ewa Gentry CDP	60	$715,000	—	3.5%	2.2 per 1K	$2,383
16	Anahola CDP	60	$499,200	—	6.2%	2.2 per 1K	$1,529
17	Ahuimanu CDP	58	$843,800	—	1.9%	2.2 per 1K	$1,968
18	Waimanalo CDP	57	$676,000	—	4.2%	2.2 per 1K	$1,657
19	Mililani Mauka CDP	57	$852,800	—	2.0%	2.2 per 1K	$2,447
20	Pahala CDP	55	$204,000	—	19.6%	2.2 per 1K	$605
21	Mililani Town CDP	55	$846,100	—	3.6%	2.2 per 1K	$2,227
22	Wailua Homesteads CDP	55	$835,200	—	3.9%	2.2 per 1K	$1,745
23	Waimanalo Beach CDP	51	$769,500	—	4.8%	2.2 per 1K	$900
24	Waikoloa Beach Resort CDP	38	$1,043,300	—	5.2%	2.2 per 1K	$3,501
25	Launiupoko CDP	29	$2,000,001	—	9.7%	2.2 per 1K	$3,225

Rankings by Category

Top 5 up-and-coming neighborhoods in Kailua for each growth-potential metric.

Most Affordable

Lowest median home value

1
Naalehu CDP
$190,100
2
Royal Hawaiian Estates CDP
$203,200
3
Pahala CDP
$204,000
4
Kualapuu CDP
$234,000
5
Keaau CDP
$298,500

Lowest Unemployment

Lowest unemployment rate

Safest

Lowest violent crime rate

1
Kaumakani CDP
2.2 per 1K
2
Royal Hawaiian Estates CDP
2.2 per 1K
3
Keaau CDP
2.2 per 1K
4
Naalehu CDP
2.2 per 1K
5
Hawaiian Paradise Park CDP
2.2 per 1K

Best Air Quality

Lowest Air Quality Index

Lowest Rent

Lowest median rent

Highest Income

Highest median household income

1
Launiupoko CDP
$171,875
2
Volcano Golf Course CDP
$133,799
3
Mililani Mauka CDP
$132,043
4
Waimanalo CDP
$127,143
5
Ewa Gentry CDP
$125,300

Lowest Poverty

Lowest poverty rate

How We Identify Up-and-Coming Neighborhoods in Kailua

Up-and-coming neighborhoods are identified using a Growth Potential Score that evaluates five weighted categories. These areas are still affordable relative to the city average but show strong fundamentals that suggest improving conditions and future appreciation.

Affordability vs City Average: 30% weight
Walkability & Transit: 25% weight
Job Market (Unemployment): 20% weight
Safety: 15% weight
Environment (Air Quality): 10% weight

Neighborhoods that are priced below the city median home value score higher on affordability. Walkability reflects the Walk Score, indicating access to amenities on foot. A low unemployment rate signals a strong local economy. Safety is measured by violent crime rates per 1,000 residents. Air quality uses the EPA Air Quality Index (AQI), where lower values indicate cleaner air.

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

Frequently Asked Questions

What are the most up-and-coming neighborhoods in Kailua?

The top up-and-coming neighborhoods in Kailua are: Kaumakani CDP, Royal Hawaiian Estates CDP, Keaau CDP, Naalehu CDP, Hawaiian Paradise Park CDP. These areas combine affordability, walkability, low unemployment, and improving conditions.

Which neighborhoods in Kailua are still affordable but improving?

The most affordable up-and-coming neighborhood in Kailua is Naalehu CDP with a median home value of $190,100. The national median is $281,900.

Is Kailua a good place to buy property for appreciation?

Kailua has a median home value of $1,050,000. There are 25 neighborhoods showing growth potential based on affordability, walkability, and economic indicators.

Which up-and-coming neighborhoods in Kailua have the lowest unemployment?

Keaau CDP has the lowest unemployment rate among up-and-coming neighborhoods in Kailua at 0.5%. The national average is 3.7%.

What is the median household income in Kailua?

The median household income in Kailua, HI is $98,750. The national median is $74,580.

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