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County tax profile · 2026 · Census ACS + IRS data

Property Tax & Income in Hawaii County, Hawaii

Hawaii County has an effective property tax rate of 0.28%. On the median home value of $519,300, that's roughly $1,459 per year. Median household income is $78,639.

Effective Property Tax Rate1
0.28%
median tax $1,459 ÷ median home $519,300
Median Home Value1
$519,300
owner-occupied
Median Household Income1
$78,639
per-capita $39,739
Est. Annual Tax on Median Home1
$1,459
at 0.28% effective rate

What you'll pay, at a glance

Property taxes are the largest local tax most homeowners pay. The effective rate measures the real tax bill as a share of home value — a more useful number than the nominal “mill rate,” because assessment practices vary county to county.

MetricHawaii CountyHawaii (state context)
Effective property tax rate10.28%0.25%
Median home value1$519,300—
State income tax3top rate 11.00%top rate 11.00%
State sales tax34.50% combined4.50% combined

How this is calculated

The effective property tax rate is the median real-estate tax bill divided by the median home value — both for owner-occupied homes, from the U.S. Census Bureau's American Community Survey (ACS 5-year estimates)1. Median income is also from the ACS1. Federal and state income-tax figures use IRS2 and Tax Foundation3 data.

About Hawaii County, HI

Hawaii County offers a distinctive affordability picture shaped by its island setting. The median home value sits at $519,300, and with an effective property tax rate of 0.281%, the median annual tax bill comes to $1,459 — well below what many mainland buyers might expect. That rate does run higher than Hawaii's statewide median of 0.247%, placing the county second among the state's four counties. Still, it lands far under the national median of 0.794%. Households earning a median of $78,639 face a tax burden that stays contained relative to income, while per-capita income is $39,739. Buyers exploring communities like Captain Cook, Hakalau, or Hawi should weigh steep home prices against these comparatively gentle annual tax obligations, which can ease the long-term cost of owning property here.

Frequently asked questions

What is the property tax rate in Hawaii County, HI?
The effective rate is 0.28% — meaning the median tax bill equals about 0.28% of the median home value.
How much are property taxes on a median home?
On the median home ($519,300), the estimated annual bill is about $1,459.
Is Hawaii County's rate high or low?
Compare it to the state median of 0.25% and the national average near 1.1%.
How does the effective rate differ from my mill rate?
A mill rate is the nominal levy per $1,000 of assessed value. The effective rate reflects what you actually pay after exemptions and assessments — it's the median tax bill as a share of median home value, so it better predicts your real cost.
Will a reassessment raise my tax bill?
Not necessarily. If your home's assessed value rises, your bill can go up, but only if the mill rate and exemptions stay flat. Contact the Hawaii County assessor's office to review your current assessment.
Can I appeal my property tax assessment?
Yes. Most counties allow an appeal when you believe the assessed value exceeds the market value. File with the Hawaii County assessor within the local deadline, typically with comparable sales as evidence.
Sources
[1] U.S. Census Bureau — ACS 5-Year (2023) — Median home value (B25077), median real-estate taxes (B25103), median household income (B19013), per-capita income (B19301).
[2] IRS — Statistics of Income — County income, AGI, and real-estate taxes paid.
[3] Tax Foundation — State income, sales, corporate, and estate/inheritance tax rates.