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Area data

Hilo, HI — ZIP 96720

Population: 52,979 (Census ACS)

The median home value in ZIP 96720 (Hilo, HI) is $560,656 — up 4.9% over the past year. Homes sell for a median $445,000 after a median 62 days on market. Typical rent runs $2,042/month. 16 schools serve the area (NCES). FEMA's National Risk Index rates the county's overall natural-hazard risk Relatively High, with lightning, volcanicactivity, earthquake the top-rated hazards. Cost of living is 12.0% above the US average (BEA, metro/state-level).

Backed by 25+ public sourcesFEMA · U.S. Census · NOAA · Dept. of Education · EPA · and more

$560,656

Median home value

+4.9%

1-year change

62

Median days on market

Relatively High

Hazard risk (county)

Home values & appreciation

Median home value
$560,656
1-year appreciation
+4.9%
3-year appreciation
+8.4%
5-year appreciation
+29.6%
10-year appreciation
+72.4%
All-time peak (2026-07)
$560,656
House Price Index (state)
384.1 (-0.6% YoY)

Sources: home value index (ZIP-level) · FHFA House Price Index (state-level)

Market activity

Median sale price
$445,000
Median list price
$415,000
Median price per sqft
$386
Median days on market
62 days
Homes sold (recent period)
2
For-sale inventory
141
Sale-to-list ratio
98.9%
1-year forecast
+1.5%
Days to pending
84 days
New listings (monthly)
34

Source: recent area sales and market data (ZIP-level)

Rents

Typical rent
$2,042/mo
Studio fair-market rent
$1,577/mo
1BR fair-market rent
$1,972/mo
2BR fair-market rent
$2,586/mo
3BR fair-market rent
$3,362/mo
4BR fair-market rent
$3,879/mo

Sources: market rent index (ZIP-level) · HUD Fair Market Rents (metro/county-level, 40th-percentile regulatory reference)

Affordability

Cost of living index (High)
112.0 (100 = US avg)
Electricity rate (state-level)
40.6¢/kWh
Natural gas rate (state-level)
$52.40/MCF
30-year mortgage rate (national)
6.66%
15-year mortgage rate (national)
6.00%

Sources: BEA Regional Price Parities (metro/state-level) · EIA energy rates (state-level) · Freddie Mac PMMS (national)

Schools

Total schools
16
Elementary schools
9
Middle schools
2
High schools
3
Charter schools
4
Schools include
Ernest Bowen DeSilva Elementary School, Haaheo Elementary School, Hilo High School, Hilo Intermediate School, Hilo Union Elementary School

Source: NCES school directory, 2022-23 (school-address-based)

Natural hazards & flood risk

Overall hazard risk (county)
Relatively High
Top hazards (county)
lightning, volcanicActivity, earthquake, inlandFlooding, wildfire
Notable hazard ratings (county)
coastalFlooding: Relatively Low · earthquake: Relatively High · hurricane: Relatively Low · inlandFlooding: Relatively High · landslide: Relatively Low · lightning: Very High
FEMA flood zone
X
Flood risk level
Minimal
Wildfire risk to homes (county)
Higher than 84% of US counties
Buildings in wildfire direct-exposure zone
61.0%
Radon potential (county)
Low radon potential — EPA Zone 3 of 3
EPA Superfund (NPL) sites within 5 mi
None
EPA recommends radon testing for every home regardless of zone.

Sources: FEMA National Risk Index (county-level) · FEMA flood data (ZIP-level) · USDA Forest Service Wildfire Risk to Communities (county-level) · EPA radon zones + Superfund NPL

Climate (30-year normals)

Average annual temperature
74.0°F
Average high
81.0°F
Average low
67.0°F
Annual precipitation
115.7 in
USDA plant hardiness zone
11a (extreme annual low 40 to 45°F)

Sources: NOAA Climate Normals (30-year, nearest-station) · USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map (2023)

Air quality

Air quality rating
Good
Median AQI (annual)
23
Days with Good air quality
336
Days with Moderate air quality
29
Highest AQI recorded (year)
71

Source: EPA air quality data (nearest monitoring station, annual)

Walkability & transit

Walkability index
10.7 / 20
Transit service frequency
-99,999
Jobs reachable by car (30 min)
9,367
Jobs reachable by transit (45 min)
7,560

Source: EPA Smart Location Database (metropolitan block groups)

Amenities

National parks within ~60 mi
5
Nearest national park
Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park (27 mi)
National parks include
Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park, Puʻukoholā Heiau National Historic Site, Puʻuhonua o Hōnaunau National Historical Park
Airports within 30 mi
5
Nearest airport
Mountain View Airstrip (11 mi)
Nearest major airport
Hilo International Airport (ITO) (13 mi)
Hospitals nearby (~15 mi)
1
Hospitals include
HILO BENIOFF MEDICAL CENTER
Avg hospital rating (CMS)
2.0 / 5
Best hospital rating nearby (CMS)
2.0 / 5
EV charging stations (within 10 mi)
6
Solar radiation rating
Fair (3.8 kWh/m²/day)

Sources: National Park Service · FAA airport data · CMS hospital data · DOE/NREL (proximity-based)

Migration

Net migration (county)
+673 tax filers

Source: IRS county-to-county migration data (county-level, ~12-month lag)

Housing stock

Median year housing built
1,978
Housing built before 1970
31.0%
Housing built 2000 or later
15.6%
Median annual property tax
$1,327
Mean commute to work
19 min
Households with broadband internet
74.6%

Source: Census ACS 5-year estimates (ZIP-level)

Employment & development

Total county employment
58,267
Average weekly wage
$1,002
Top industries (by employment)
Accommodation & Food, Health Care, Administrative Services
Annual residential building permits (county)
974

Sources: BLS QCEW (county-level) · Census Building Permits (county-level)

How it compares

ZIP 96720State medianUS median
Median home value$560,656$842,372$289,727
Median sale price$445,000$918,750$325,000
Median days on market62 days107 days51 days
Typical rent$2,042/mo$3,045/mo$1,808/mo
Median annual property tax$1,327$1,913$2,006

State and US medians are computed across all US ZIP codes with sufficient public-data coverage, from the same sources as the figures above.

Area data compiled from public government, academic, and industry research feeds. Data sources →

Common questions

What is the median home value in ZIP 96720?
$560,656.
What is the median sale price in ZIP 96720?
$445,000.
How long do homes take to sell in ZIP 96720?
Median days on market: 62 days.
What is typical rent in ZIP 96720?
Typical rent: $2,042/month.
What is the natural-hazard risk in ZIP 96720?
Overall risk: Relatively High (FEMA NRI, county-level). Top hazards: lightning, volcanicActivity, earthquake, inlandFlooding, wildfire.
Is ZIP 96720 in a flood zone?
Minimal (FEMA NFIP). FEMA flood zone X.
What is the wildfire risk in ZIP 96720?
Risk to homes is higher than 84% of US counties (USDA Forest Service Wildfire Risk to Communities, county-level).
What is the radon potential in ZIP 96720?
Low radon potential — EPA Zone 3 of 3, county-level. EPA recommends testing every home regardless of zone.
Are there Superfund sites near ZIP 96720?
No current or proposed National Priorities List sites within 5 miles (EPA).
How many schools serve ZIP 96720?
16 schools (9 elementary, 2 middle, 3 high) (NCES, 2022-23).
Is ZIP 96720 walkable?
Walkability index: 10.7/20 (EPA Smart Location Database).
What is the air quality in ZIP 96720?
Good. Median AQI: 23. (EPA AQI).
What is the cost of living in ZIP 96720?
Regional Price Parity: 112.0 (100 = US average) (High) (BEA RPP, metro/state-level).

Nearby ZIP codes

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Data last updated

Most recent source refresh: Sep 2026. See all data sources →

Data compiled by REAIGENT7 — AI listing platform for real estate agents