What to know before you move: cost, market timing, who it fits.
If you're considering a move to Makawao, HI, the most important variables are the local housing market, the cost structure (taxes, insurance, utilities), and how well the city fits your day-to-day life. This page summarizes the housing market read; pair it with the cost of living page for the full picture.
Makawao is a city in Maui County, Hawaii, with an estimated population of 7,297. It anchors the Kahului-Wailuku-Lahaina metro area. The median home value in Makawao is $1,116,540 as of 2026-04, down 2.7% over the last 12 months. Over the last five years, home values have averaged +6.0% annual growth (-3.1% from the 5-year peak). The composite momentum score is 60 of 100 (Stable). Conditions are neither hot nor cold, so the local fit matters more than market timing.
Sideways market (-2.7% YoY). No urgency to time the macro trend — focus on the home and neighborhood.
Reasons people move here
- Healthy 5-year run: +6.0% annualized over 5 years, outpacing US inflation.
- The data is the data: Makawao has at least 5 years of Zillow tracking, full Census identification, and is included in the 2-criteria momentum score on this page.
Things to know first
- Expensive AND not growing: median home $1,116,540 with only -2.7% YoY. You're paying premium pricing for a flat trend.
- Cooling: -2.7% over the trailing year — momentum has stalled.
- Thin housing market: small population means fewer transactions and slower resale. Liquidity risk on exit.
More about Makawao
Sources: Zillow ZHVI (home values), Zillow ZORI (rents), US Census ACS + place population. Updated when source agencies publish revisions.