Smart Movers Club

    Moving to Makakilo, HI

    Is Makakilo a good place to live?

    Watch Makakilo

    Makakilo ranks #8 of 11 Hawaii cities with 25,000+ people on the Smart Movers livability score (38/100), which weighs home affordability, unemployment, education and population growth. Population fell 3.2% in the latest Census year.

    Median home value
    $827,900
    +9.6% vs prior year
    Median rent
    $2,202
    per month
    Household income
    $120,489
    median
    Unemployment
    5.3%
    lower is better

    Cost of living in Makakilo

    The median home value in Makakilo is $827,900 and median rent is $2,202 a month, against a median household income of $120,489. Homes cost about 6.9× a year of income (under 3× is considered affordable).

    Makakilo crime rate

    City-level FBI figures vary by agency; across Hawaii the 2025 rate was 214 violent and 1,682 property crimes per 100,000 people — #21 highest of 50 states. The full report breaks down local trends.

    Moving to Makakilo, HI

    Makakilo has about 20,372 residents, 5.3% unemployment and 23% of adults with a bachelor's degree or higher.

    Compare Makakilo with

    Makakilo vs Urban HonoluluMakakilo vs East HonoluluMakakilo vs HiloMakakilo vs Pearl CityMakakilo vs WaipahuMakakilo vs Kailua CDP (Honolulu County)Makakilo vs KaneoheMakakilo vs Mililani Town

    More: Where to move in Hawaii · Best counties in Hawaii

    Sources: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year estimates (2023, compared with 2022); FBI Crime Data Explorer.

    Home listings, local news, migration, schools, resources and the Smart Movers Grade & Verdict.

    See the full Smart Movers Club report