What to know before you move: cost, market timing, who it fits.
If you're considering a move to Waianae, 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.
Waianae is a city in Honolulu County, Hawaii, with an estimated population of 13,614. It anchors the Urban Honolulu metro area. The median home value in Waianae is $577,506 as of 2026-04, down 0.3% over the last 12 months. Over the last five years, home values have averaged +2.8% annual growth (-6.2% from the 5-year peak). Rents in Waianae average $2,147 per month, roughly flat year-over-year (+0.9%). The composite momentum score is 53 of 100 (Stable). Conditions are neither hot nor cold, so the local fit matters more than market timing.
Sideways market (-0.3% YoY). No urgency to time the macro trend — focus on the home and neighborhood.
Reasons people move here
- The data is the data: Waianae has at least 5 years of Zillow tracking, full Census identification, and is included in the 1-criteria momentum score on this page.
- Data is sourced from public datasets (Zillow, US Census) with full citations on the methodology page.
Things to know first
- Thin housing market: small population means fewer transactions and slower resale. Liquidity risk on exit.
- Local nuance: city-level data smooths over neighborhood differences. School zones, HOA rules, and street-level character matter — visit before deciding.
More about Waianae
Sources: Zillow ZHVI (home values), Zillow ZORI (rents), US Census ACS + place population. Updated when source agencies publish revisions.