Wondering about best places to retire in Hawaii? Of course you are; when retirement comes to mind almost everyone imagine golden beaches, sand beneath their toes and crystal blue waters, so why wouldn’t you actually move to such a place?
When the age of retirement comes, the last thing you want is to keep doing the same thing you’ve been doing until now. There’s a sense of freedom, a sense of adventure that comes with being liberated from the chore of going to work every day. Moving can be scary, especially when we’re talking about a new state, a new city, a new house, but it can also be exciting. Moving to Hawaii is an even more exciting prospect since… well, who doesn’t like Hawaii?
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Hawaii, located in Oceania, is the last state to join the United States and it’s formed out of a group of islands in Polynesia, in the Pacific Ocean. It’s not tied to the Americas by any stretch of land so you’ll have to get a flight out there. There are eight main islands, including Maui and the Island of Hawaii, which is also the largest of the group.
There are so many natural wonders to enjoy in Hawaii, including the wonderful beaches, the lovely surrounding waters, and the volcanoes, although you’d best to stay a bit away from the active ones. There are some 1.4 million people living here, but there are places with only a few residents.
If you’re thinking of something closer to where you currently live, then you might enjoy the 10 best places to retire in Georgia.
To create today’s list we checked out the cities with over 5,000 residents and took into consideration the median home price, the cost of living index and the local crime index. Medical coverage is a bit of an issue here, especially if you don’t live in one of the major cities, so you’ll have to take this into consideration upon moving. The home prices are quite steep as well, but frankly that’s to be expected given the fact that we’re talking about Hawaii here. Across the entire state, the median home price is just a bit under $500,000, just so you can get an idea. It’s also not that cheap to live here, as the cost of living index is 185.2, while 100 is the national average. The index is driven up by the housing costs, but groceries and utilities aren’t that cheap either.
We handed out points for each of these categories and came up with the final scores, thanks to data from Sperling’s Best Places, which centralizes information from various government sources. Without further ado, here are the 10 best places to retire in Hawaii.
10. West Loch Estate
Score: 9
Median home price: $473,800
Cost of living index: 180
Crime index: 22
The West Loch Estate is a census-designated place on Oahu Island, a place with some 6,000 residents. It only spreads over 0.6 square miles, so it’s rather small, but it is beautiful. It may not have a direct coastline to the Ocean, but it has a shore at the West Loch of Pearl Harbor.
The median home price in the area is close to $474,000, while the cost of living index was calculated at 180. The crime index in the region is 22, which is obviously quite great.
9. East Honolulu
Score: 10
Median home price: $875.100
Cost of living index: 255.6
Crime index: 21
On the same island, more to the east, you’ll find East Honolulu, a city that’s home to nearly 50,000 people. The census-designated place has a total area of 3.4 square miles, so there’s a little more space to cover. The area is mostly fof upscale neighborhoods, which explains why the median home price here is $875,100. Yes, it’s that expensive to live here, but I think we’ve already established to expect high prices when it comes to Hawaii. The cost of living index is also quite high – 255.6, meaning you’ll be paying quite a bit over the average across the United States.
The crime rate in the neighborhood is quite ok, namely 21, so you shouldn’t worry too much about it.
8. Waimalu
Score: 10
Median home price: $339,500
Cost of living index: 154.8
Crime index: 40
Waimalu census-designated place on Oahu Island, and it has over 13,700 residents calling it home, spread over the 1.9 square miles. Waimalu doesn’t have an ocean coastline, but it does have a shore on the East Loch of Pearl Harbor.
The median home price in Waimalu is $339,500, so it’s below the state’s average. The cost of living index is a lot lower than in other Hawaiian areas, sitting at 154.8. While this is still a lot over the national average, it’s under the state’s median score.
7. Mililani Town
Score: 10
Median home price: $386,000
Cost of living index: 163.5
Crime index: 24
We’re finally switching islands over to O’ahu, to Mililani Town, a city with over 27,600 residents according to the 2010 census. The city is situated on a former plantation field that was owned by Castle & Cooke. Nowadays, it is full of shopping centers, schools, parks, and plenty of entertainment options.
The median home price is $386,000, while the cost of living index is 163.5. The crime index here is also 24, so it’s nothing to worry about.
6. Makaha
Score: 12
Median home price: $317,000
Cost of living index: 150.5
Crime index: 77
In the northwestern area of Hawai Island sits Makaha, a census-designated place, located along the Pacific Ocean, with many beaches and breathtaking views of the ocean. It is also at the foot of Mount Ka’ala, so you have plenty of views to switch between.
It is said that surfing started in Makaha in the 50s, but it’s more likely that this has been happening for hundreds of years here. Therefore, if you still surf yourself or want to enjoy checking out the surfers taking on four feet waves, sitting on a beach here might be the way to go.
The median home price in the area is $317,000, while the cost of living index is 150.5. You should watch out for your property, however, since the crime rate is 77, which is rather high for Hawaii.
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5. Kailua
Score: 13
Median home price: $350,500
Cost of living index: 156.7
Crime index: 55
Over on the O’ahu Island, you’ll find Kailua, a census-designated place that lies on the eastern coast. The place is famous for the crescent-shaped beach that’s 2.5 miles long and between 50 and 150 feet wide. The waters are perfect for surfing and bodysurfing, but also for swimming if you so desire.
The median home price in the area is $350,500, while the cost of living index is 156.7, so it’s not as terrible as in other areas in Hawaii. The crime index is also a median 55, so while this shouldn’t alarm you, you also shouldn’t disregard it. There are over 38,600 people living here.
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4. Waianae
Score: 14
Median home price: $290,500
Cost of living index: 145.5
Crime index: 49
On the same O’ahu Island sits Waianae, a census-designated place that is home to over 13,000 people. Out of the total area of 7 square miles, nearly a quarter is made out of the water, which is mainly the rivers going down into the Ocean.
The median home price in this city is north of $290,000, but you may also be able to find some that are beneath this score. The cost of living index is 145.5 which is a bit lower than in other areas on the islands. The crime index is 49, which isn’t too great, but it’s not too terrible either.
3. Nanakuli
Score: 16
Median home price: $271,100
Cost of living index: 141.9
Crime index: 45
On the same island, you can also find Nanakuli, a census-designated place that is home to over 12,600 people. The entire city spreads over 6.6 square miles and it is quite close to the Nanakuli Forest Reserve if you want to go enjoy some time out away from the beach and into the wilderness.
The median home price here is just a bit above $271,000 and you should be lucky to find something in the area since it’s so beautiful. Not to mention the fact that you’d have the ocean in your backyard and who doesn’t want that, right? The cost of living index is 141.9, quite a bit below the state’s average. The crime index is in the middle here too, so things aren’t too bad.
2. Hilo
Score: 18
Median home price: $226,100
Cost of living index: 133.2
Crime index: 47
The largest settlement in Hawaii County is Hilo and, unlike the others so far, it is on the island of Hawaii. There are over 43,000 people living here and it seems like the numbers keep growing. The city offers great views of Hilo Bay where you’ll find two volcanoes – Mauna Loa, which is active, and Mauna Kea, which is dormant. This is also where you’ll find some of the best astronomical observatories, including the Mauna Loa Observatory and the Gemini Observatory. There’s also an airport in Hilo so you can fly directly to and from here if you want to, with Hawaii Airlines and United Airlines operating here. Obviously, if you’re looking for entertainment you can find plenty here since it’s such a large city.
The median home price, unlike in other places, is quite low – $226,000, but depending on how deep your pockets go you can find something to suit your needs. The cost of living index is also surprisingly low – 133.2.
1. Hawaiian Paradise Park
Score: 20
Median home price: 217,500
Cost of living index: 131.6
Crime index: 60
Also on the Hawaii Island in the archipelago, you’ll find Hawaiian Paradise Park, a census-designated place that is home to over 11,400 people, rapidly growing from 2000 when there were only 7,000 people living here. The city is on the eastern side of the island and it has a wide coastline for you to enjoy.
Homes go for $217,500 in average, while the cost of living index is 131.6, which is better than in most of the state. All in all, it makes the top of the list of the 10 best places to retire in Hawaii.
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