Best Counties in Hawaii — 2026 Rankings
5 of 5 counties scored across 12 dimensions
5
5 scored
47/100
composite score
50.2/100
44.8—50.2
lowest to highest
State Overview
Understanding County Scores in Hawaii
Hawaii trails national median slightly
Hawaii posts a composite livability score of 47.3, falling just below the national median of 50.0. While all five counties are represented in the data, the state struggles to balance its high earnings against an extreme cost of living.
Low taxes and high incomes lead the way
The islands excel with a near-perfect tax score of 99.3 and a robust income score of 90.7. Residents also benefit from superior public health outcomes, as evidenced by a strong health score of 83.8.
Extreme costs and environmental risks create friction
A punishing cost score of 6.4 makes the state one of the most expensive places to reside in the country. Additionally, a low risk score of 25.0 indicates significant vulnerability to natural disasters and environmental hazards.
Kauai leads the archipelago in livability
Kauai County takes the top spot with a composite score of 50.2, driven by a high income score of 93.3. Honolulu County follows at 47.5, though it faces the state's most severe affordability crisis with a cost score of just 1.3.
Best for high-earning seekers of health
Hawaii is a premier choice for high-income professionals who value wellness and low tax burdens over general affordability. It remains a difficult environment for those on fixed budgets due to the extreme premiums on goods and housing.
All County Rankings in Hawaii
Search, sort, and filter all 5 ranked counties
Showing 1–5 of 5 counties
| Rank | ||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Kauai County | 50.2 | 99.6 | 3.3 | 93.3 | 19.5 | 91.7 | N/A | 15.6 | 86 | N/A | |||
| 2 | Hawaii County | 47.5 | 98.8 | 13.5 | 80.3 | 12.6 | 84.9 | N/A | 1.5 | 70.6 | N/A | |||
| 3 | Honolulu County | 47.5 | 98.9 | 1.3 | 96.3 | 8.8 | 90.7 | 57.4 | 1.2 | 71.9 | N/A | |||
| 4 | Maui County | 46.4 | 99.9 | 2.3 | 93.9 | 6.3 | 92.1 | N/A | 6.9 | 86 | N/A | |||
| 5 | Kalawao County | 44.8 | N/A | 11.4 | 89.5 | N/A | 59.7 | N/A | 99.9 | N/A | N/A |
Frequently Asked Questions about Counties in Hawaii
Common questions about county rankings and scores in Hawaii.
What is the best county in Hawaii?
Kauai County is the top-ranked county in Hawaii with a CountyScore of 50.2/100. It leads the state across the available scoring dimensions, which include Property Tax, Cost of Living, Income & Jobs, Safety, Health, Schools, Disaster Risk, Water Quality, Weather & Climate, Soil Quality, Lawn Care, Farmers Markets.
How many counties are ranked in Hawaii?
Hawaii has 5 counties in total. Of those, 5 have been ranked with a composite score based on available data dimensions. The remaining 0 counties do not yet have enough data for a full score.
What factors determine a county's score?
Each county is scored 0–100 across up to eight data dimensions: Property Tax, Cost of Living, Income & Jobs, Safety, Health, Schools, Disaster Risk, and Water Quality. The composite score is a weighted average of whichever dimensions have data. Currently available dimensions are: Property Tax, Cost of Living, Income & Jobs, Safety, Health, Schools, Disaster Risk, Water Quality, Weather & Climate, Soil Quality, Lawn Care, Farmers Markets. Higher scores are always better — a score of 100 represents the best possible performance for that dimension.
What is the average county score in Hawaii?
The average composite CountyScore across all ranked counties in Hawaii is 47/100. The national average is 50/100, so Hawaii counties score 3 points below the national average.
How does Hawaii compare to other states?
Hawaii's average county score of 47/100 is 3 points below the national average of 50/100. You can compare Hawaii counties to counties in any other state using the county detail pages or the CountyScore compare tool.
Explore County Data by Category
Dive deeper into specific dimensions for counties in Hawaii.
Best counties in other states
Data: U.S. Census Bureau ACS, FBI UCR, CDC, FEMA NRI, NCES, EPA SDWIS, 2019–2023 ACS — Informational only. Not financial or legal advice.