The Town FilesLihue, Hawaii
Community in Kauai County · population 8,004 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $878,500
- Household income
- $92,850
- Jan low / Jul high
- 66° / 85°
- Snow a year
- 0 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 0
- Median age
- 42.3
Lihue is a community of 8,004 people in Kauai County, Hawaii. The median home is worth $878,500, above the typical Hawaii town ($802,600). It ranks more seaside character than 94% of Hawaii towns, better for cycling than 89% of Hawaii towns, more vibrant than 84% of Hawaii towns.
How Lihue ranks
Percentile among Hawaii towns with at least 500 people on The Town Files lifestyle rankings. 50 is typical for the state; 90 means better than 90% of Hawaii towns.
Homes and cost of living
The median home in Lihue is worth $878,500, above the typical Hawaii town ($802,600). Homes cost about 9.5 times the median household income of $92,850, which is more affordable than 24% of Hawaii towns. Median rent is $1,956 a month. 63.8% of households own their home.
| Housing | Lihue | Typical Hawaii town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $878,500 | $802,600 |
| Median rent | $1,956 | $1,931 |
| Median household income | $92,850 | $95,243 |
| Home value ÷ income | 9.5× | 7.7× |
| Homeownership | 63.8% | 71.0% |
| Median year built | 1983 | 1983 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 6.4% | — |
Who lives in Lihue
| People | Lihue | Typical Hawaii town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 42.3 | 42.2 |
| Age 65 and over | 30.0% | 21.1% |
| Under 18 | 23.3% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 41.0% | 30.4% |
| Below the poverty line | 6.3% | 10.1% |
| Veterans | 8.9% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 15.0% | — |
| Work from home | 5.0% | 8.1% |
| Average commute | 16.8 min | 29.1 min |
| Homes with broadband | 90.2% | 93.2% |
Weather in Lihue
July highs average 84.6°F and January lows 66.0°F. About 36.2 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 0.0 inches of snow (typical Hawaii town: 0.0 in). Expect about 1 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 0 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
NOAA's Storm Events Database has no tornado within 10 miles of Lihue since 1950.
Severe weather in Kauai County since 1996
Kauai County has been included in 19 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for flood, typhoon, hurricane.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| October 7, 2026 | Hurricane | DR-4952: Hurricane Lowell |
| September 25, 2026 | Tropical Storm | EM-3654: Tropical Storm Nolo |
| June 17, 2024 | Flood | DR-4793: Severe Storms, Flooding, And Landslides |
| July 25, 2020 | Hurricane | EM-3529: Hurricane Douglas |
| July 9, 2020 | Severe Storm | DR-4549: Severe Storms And Flooding |
Jobs and pay in Kauai County
Kauai County had 32,830 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $59,731 a year. Unemployment was 2.6% in 2023; in Lihue itself the ACS puts it at 0.7%.
Public schools in Lihue
5 public schools with 3,298 students, about 13.9 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kauai High School | 9-12 | 1,036 | 14.8 |
| Chiefess Kamakahelei Middle School | 6-8 | 846 | 14.6 |
| Elsie H Wilcox Elementary School | PK-5 | 724 | 14.8 |
| King Kaumualii Elementary School | PK-5 | 524 | 12.5 |
| Kawaikini - NCPCS (charter) | K-12 | 168 | 8.8 |
Towns near Lihue
- Hanamaulu, HI1.8 mi · 4,994 people · home $687,500
- Puhi, HI2.4 mi · 3,380 people · home $701,400
- Wailua Homesteads, HI6.9 mi · 5,863 people · home $943,400
- Kapaa, HI8.0 mi · 11,652 people · home $861,300
- Lawai, HI10.0 mi · 2,578 people · home $849,800
- Kalaheo, HI11.1 mi · 4,996 people · home $956,900
- Eleele, HI15.3 mi · 2,515 people · home $777,200
- Hanapepe, HI15.4 mi · 2,678 people · home $715,700
Lihue questions
Is Lihue, Hawaii a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Lihue scores better for retirees than 50% of Hawaii towns and quieter than 30%. 30.0% of residents are 65 or older (median age 42.3).
How much does a house cost in Lihue?
The median owner-occupied home in Lihue is valued at $878,500 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $92,850, so homes cost about 9.5 times income. Median rent is $1,956 a month.
What is the weather like in Lihue?
July highs average 84.6°F and January lows 66.0°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 36.2 inches of precipitation a year and 0.0 inches of snow.
Does Lihue get tornadoes?
No tornado has been recorded within 10 miles of Lihue in NOAA's Storm Events Database since 1950.
- U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates (2020–2024)
- U.S. Census Bureau, 2020 Census and 2025 Gazetteer (2020 / 2025)
- NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals (1991–2020)
- NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database (1950–2026)
- FEMA OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations (this product uses the FEMA OpenFEMA API but is not endorsed by FEMA) (1953–2026)
- NCES Common Core of Data (2023–24)
- BLS Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages; USDA ERS county unemployment (BLS LAUS) (2000–2024)
- The Town Files lifestyle rankings, built from federal demographic, school, crime and housing data (2025)