How long is the commute from Hilo, HI?

Name: Commute and cars in Hilo, HI, 2020–2024
Creator: US Census Bureau
License: https://www.census.gov/data/developers/about/terms-of-service.html

Workers who live in Hilo, HI take an average of 20.3 minutes to get to work (2020–2024 American Community Survey).

71.8% of workers drive alone to work.

0.9% take public transportation.

2.3% of workers walk to work.

8.9% work from home.

8.9% of households have no vehicle.

Figures last updated on November 12, 2026.

Average commute: 20.3 minutes (±1.4)
Public transportation: 0.9%
Work from home: 8.9%
Households without a car: 8.9%

How people in Hilo get to work

Workers 16 and over by means of transportation to work, 2020–2024
Means of transportation	Hilo	Hawaii County	Hawaii	United States
Drove alone	71.8% (±3.0 points)	68.2%	65.2%	68.8%
Carpooled	13.5% (±2.2 points)	14.8%	13.9%	8.5%
Public transportation	0.9% (±0.5 points)	0.7%	3.8%	3.2%
Walked	2.3% (±0.7 points)	1.9%	4.3%	2.4%
Other means (bicycle, taxi, motorcycle)	2.5% (±0.8 points)	2.3%	3.2%	2.0%
Worked from home	8.9% (±2.0 points)	12.1%	9.6%	15.1%

In Hilo, the average commute is lower than in Hawaii County (27.4 minutes).

It is also lower than in Hawaii (26.2 minutes).

It is lower than the national figure (26.4 minutes).

In Hilo, the share commuting by public transportation is not measurably different from Hawaii County (0.7%).

It is also lower than in Hawaii (3.8%).

It is lower than the national figure (3.2%).

In Hawaii County, Hilo ranks 34 of 35 places with a published estimate, from highest to lowest average commute.

Statewide, it ranks 103 of 125.

Rankings use the estimates alone; where margins of error overlap, neighboring ranks may not truly differ.

Cars per household in Hilo

Occupied housing units by vehicles available, 2020–2024
Vehicles available	Hilo	Hawaii County	Hawaii	United States
No vehicle	8.9% (±1.8 points)	4.8%	8.2%	8.4%
1 vehicle	31.7% (±2.7 points)	31.8%	33.3%	33.1%
2 vehicles	32.3% (±2.8 points)	37.1%	34.5%	36.6%
3 or more vehicles	27.1% (±2.1 points)	26.3%	24.1%	21.9%

In Hilo, the share of households without a vehicle is higher than in Hawaii County (4.8%).

It is not measurably different from Hawaii (8.2%).

It is not measurably different from the national figure (8.4%).

Working from home and internet access in Hilo

Estimate (90% margin of error)
	Hilo	Hawaii County	Hawaii	United States
Workers working from home	8.9% (±2.0 points)	12.1% (±1.1 points)	9.6% (±0.3 points)	15.1%
Households with a computer	94.9% (±1.6 points)	95.5% (±0.6 points)	96.2% (±0.2 points)	95.5%
Households with broadband internet	91.4% (±1.6 points)	91.1% (±0.9 points)	92.0% (±0.3 points)	91.0%

In Hilo, the share of households with a broadband subscription is not measurably different from Hawaii County (91.1%).

It is not measurably different from Hawaii (92.0%).

It is not measurably different from the national figure (91.0%).

Average commute in places near Hilo

Nearest places with a published estimate, compared with Hilo
Place	Distance	Average commute	Compared with this place
Hilo	—	20.3 minutes (±1.4)	—
Keaau	5.0 mi	29.9 minutes (±7.4)	Higher
Kurtistown	7.1 mi	36.8 minutes (±5.1)	Higher
Papaikou	7.2 mi	25.8 minutes (±5.3)	Higher
Hawaiian Paradise Park	10 mi	33.1 minutes (±6.1)	Higher
Pepeekeo	10 mi	35.5 minutes (±8.9)	Higher
Orchidlands Estates	10 mi	29.0 minutes (±4.8)	Higher
Hawaiian Acres	11 mi	36.2 minutes (±6.5)	Higher
Fern Acres	12 mi	31.5 minutes (±4.5)	Higher

Nearby places with a measurably higher figure: Keaau, HI (29.9 minutes), Kurtistown, HI (36.8 minutes), Papaikou, HI (25.8 minutes).

Distance is measured in a straight line between the Census Bureau’s internal points for each place.

Average commute across Hawaii County, place by place

Rank	Place	Average commute
28	Waikoloa Village	26.4 minutes (±1.7)
29	Papaikou	25.8 minutes (±5.3)
30	Honalo	25.5 minutes (±9.2)
31	Kahaluu-Keauhou	24.5 minutes (±3.9)
32	Holualoa	24.1 minutes (±3.9)
33	Kaiminani	20.4 minutes (±1.9)
34 (tie)	Hilo	20.3 minutes (±1.4)
34 (tie)	Kailua (Hawaii County)	20.3 minutes (±1.8)

Showing 8 of 35 places in Hawaii County, ranked from highest to lowest.

Hilo is a census-designated place: an unincorporated community the Census Bureau draws for statistics, with no municipal government of its own.

Survey years: 2020–2024 (American Community Survey 5-year estimates).

Margins of error are at the 90% confidence level.

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Questions about Hilo

How long is the average commute in Hilo?

Workers who live in Hilo, HI take an average of 20.3 minutes each way (2020–2024 American Community Survey).

Can you live in Hilo without a car?

8.9% of households in Hilo have no vehicle, and 0.9% of workers commute by public transportation.

How many people work from home in Hilo?

8.9% (±2.0 points) of workers who live in Hilo worked from home, and 91.4% of households have a broadband subscription.

Sources

To check these figures in the Census Bureau’s own API, request the variables below from the 2024 ACS 5-year data profile (acs/acs5/profile) for Hilo CDP, Hawaii (place:14650, in state:15).

Each estimate (E or PE) has a margin of error beside it (M or PM).

The API needs a free key.

Request a Census API key.

DP03_0018E, DP03_0018M, DP03_0025E, DP03_0025M, DP03_0019PE, DP03_0019PM, DP03_0020PE, DP03_0020PM, DP03_0021PE, DP03_0021PM, DP03_0022PE, DP03_0022PM, DP03_0023PE, DP03_0023PM, DP03_0024PE, DP03_0024PM, DP04_0058PE, DP04_0058PM, DP04_0059PE, DP04_0059PM, DP04_0060PE, DP04_0060PM, DP04_0061PE, DP04_0061PM, DP02_0153PE, DP02_0153PM, DP02_0154PE, DP02_0154PM

This product uses the Census Bureau Data API but is not endorsed or certified by the Census Bureau.

Figures are published by the US Census Bureau, HUD, the Bureau of Labor Statistics and the FBI; Seayora reproduces them and does not adjust them, except where a sentence says it compares dollar figures after inflation. They describe the whole place, not any one building or street, and are not an appraisal, a rent determination, a tax bill, a safety rating or legal advice.