Real Estate Investing in Hilo, Hawaii

Everything the listing leaves out — vacancy, rent trend, cap rate, landlord climate. All free.

1 ZIP codes • Population: 50,971 • Hawaii County

☆ Watch this market Free account

Should you buy in Hilo, HI? Our answer, based on the numbers below.

🏠 For Homebuyers
CAUTION
Grade D (51/100)

Proceed carefully. Weak appreciation or affordability makes this a harder case for most buyers.

📈 For Investors
MIXED
3.0 / 5 (47/100)

A middle-of-the-road market. Workable, but the best opportunities may be nearby ZIPs rather than this one.

⚠️ Risks to Know
1 flag
  • Elevated vacancy: 10.4% vacancy may signal weakening demand.

What’s happening in Hilo, HI?

Click any question — our AI will research it live from the web and show you sources.

✨ Live AI + Web Search
Want to ask your own questions? Upgrade to Pro for unlimited custom queries.
3.0/ 5

Investability

Citywide average

3.0/ 5

Appreciation

5.8% 5yr CAGR

4.0/ 5

Landlord Climate

Regulatory friendliness

🏦 30-yr Fixed Rate: 6.76% as of Sep 10 Source: Freddie Mac PMMS
Avg Investability
Avg Home Value $560,656
Avg Monthly Rent $2,042
ZIP Codes 1

Investing in Hilo Real Estate

Hilo (Hawaii) spans 1 ZIPs and roughly a sizable population. clearly the fundamentals here skew distressed, with soft rents, soft appreciation, and structural headwinds worth respecting.

The investment case for Hilo is difficult to make on screen data alone. better suited elsewhere for a 3.0 rating and a cap rate of 0.0% that looks fine only until you underwrite the vacancy.

The $2,042/mo / $561K relationship in Hilo looks muted once vacancy and capex are incorporated into underwriting. trends toward the realized yield tends to disappoint.

Population dynamics in Hilo haven't been supportive. a stretch for combined with lackluster income growth, the demographic backdrop complicates any purely financial underwriting.

A great house in the wrong ZIP is still a bad deal — screen every market by cash flow & cap rate.
Open the Market Finder →
Free to search · investor plans from $19/mo

Best ZIP codes in Hilo, HI

Hilo is part of this metro. Every ZIP in it, ranked. Free.

Cash Flow → Appreciation → Affordable →

Landlord Ground Truth

Real numbers from people who own or manage rentals in Hilo, HI. Anonymous, moderated, never written by AI.

Do you own or manage rentals in Hilo, HI?

~25 seconds · no account needed · your report is anonymous

Avg Home Value
$560,656
Avg Monthly Rent
$2,042
1% Rule
✗ Below
Landlord Friendly (HI)

📉 Market Crash Risk Index

Based on Hilo, HI metro

4/10
Moderate Risk
Price YoY
0/3
N/A
Rent YoY
0/2
N/A
Below List
2/3
68%
Days Pending
2/2
87 days

View all metro crash risk rankings →

❄️ Cool Market — Hilo, HI metro
87
Days to pending
6.1%
Listings with price cuts
0.0%
Sale-to-list ratio
📅 Data as of August 29, 2026 — updated weekly

🎓 Colleges & Universities in Hilo

2 Colleges 5,041 Students 1,312 Off-Campus Renters
C+
University of Hawaii at Hilo
4-Year Public · 2,781 students
📍 ~492 students rent off-campus
C+
Hawaii Community College
2-Year Public · 2,260 students
📍 ~820 students rent off-campus

Investor Insight: With 1,312 students living off-campus, Hilo has substantial rental demand from the college population — typically stable, lease-renewing tenants.

ZIP Codes in Hilo, HI

Screen every ZIP in Hilo

Filter Hilo’s ZIPs by cap rate, vacancy, appreciation and 30+ more criteria, and export your shortlist to CSV — with the Investor plan ($19/mo).

View Plans

Frequently Asked Questions About Hilo, HI

How much rent can I charge in Hilo, HI?

Average rent in Hilo, HI is approximately $2,042/mo per month. Against $561K home values that yields a reasonable rent-to-price ratio.

Is the tenant base reliable in Hilo, HI?

Hilo, HI offers a stable renter base at the $2,042/mo rent level. Tenant turnover is reasonable for well-managed properties.

What is the best play in Hilo, HI?

Investors who focus on careful cash-flow rentals with hands-on management typically do well in Hilo, HI. The numbers - $561K homes against $2,042/mo rents - support that play.

What are vacancy rates like in Hilo, HI?

Vacancy risk in Hilo, HI is elevated. That supports reliable cash flow for typical rental holds.

Does a duplex house hack pencil in Hilo, HI?

House hacking in Hilo, HI is reasonable to execute. Prices around $561K and rents of $2,042/mo solid owner-occupant economics.

Community Ratings

What people who’ve spent time here actually say. Not paid reviews.

Be the first to rate Hilo, HI.

It takes 30 seconds. No signup. Your rating helps everyone who comes here after you.