How old are the homes in Hilo, HI?

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

54.0% (±4.1 points) of the homes in Hilo, HI were built before 1980 (2020–2024 American Community Survey).

5.2% were built before 1940.

6.9% were built in 2010 or later.

Figures last updated on November 12, 2026.

Built before 1980: 54.0% (±4.1 points)
Built before 1940: 5.2%
Built 2010 or later: 6.9%

When the homes in Hilo were built

Housing units by year structure built, 2020–2024
Year built	Hilo	Hawaii County	Hawaii	United States
2020 or later	0.7% (±0.4 points)	1.2%	1.1%	2.0%
2010 to 2019	6.2% (±1.6 points)	8.7%	8.1%	9.4%
2000 to 2009	8.7% (±1.2 points)	21.1%	12.4%	13.6%
1990 to 1999	13.1% (±2.0 points)	17.0%	13.0%	12.4%
1980 to 1989	17.5% (±2.5 points)	18.0%	14.9%	12.9%
1970 to 1979	23.8% (±2.3 points)	18.6%	22.7%	14.2%
1960 to 1969	12.3% (±2.2 points)	5.9%	13.5%	9.9%
1950 to 1959	6.9% (±1.5 points)	3.8%	8.0%	9.5%
1940 to 1949	5.8% (±1.6 points)	2.1%	3.1%	4.4%
1939 or earlier	5.2% (±1.3 points)	3.7%	3.2%	11.7%

In Hilo, the share of homes built before 1980 is higher than in Hawaii County (34.1%).

It is not measurably different from Hawaii (50.5%).

It is higher than the national figure (49.7%).

In Hawaii County, Hilo ranks 7 of 35 places with a published estimate, from highest to lowest share of homes built before 1980.

Statewide, it ranks 45 of 125.

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

Why the age of a home matters: lead-based paint

Federal law treats housing built before 1978 as likely to contain lead-based paint.

Before a lease or sale of most pre-1978 housing, the landlord or seller must disclose any known lead-based paint and hazards and give the tenant or buyer the EPA pamphlet (42 U.S.C. § 4852d; 40 CFR part 745, subpart F; 24 CFR part 35, subpart A).

A contractor paid to renovate, repair or paint a pre-1978 home must be a certified firm, use a certified renovator and follow lead-safe work practices under the Renovation, Repair and Painting Rule (40 CFR part 745, subpart E) whenever the job disturbs more than 6 square feet of painted surface in a room or more than 20 square feet outside; window replacement and demolition always count (40 CFR 745.83).

Certification comes from EPA, or from the state where EPA has authorized the state to run the program.

The Census Bureau groups construction by decade, so the share built before 1978 lies between the share built before 1970 (30.2%) and the share built before 1980 (54.0%).

Homes built before 1980 in places near Hilo

Nearest places with a published estimate, compared with Hilo
Place	Distance	Homes built before 1980	Compared with this place
Hilo	—	54.0% (±4.1 points)	—
Keaau	5.0 mi	53.2% (±14.6 points)	Not measurably different
Kurtistown	7.1 mi	23.4% (±10.6 points)	Lower
Papaikou	7.2 mi	73.6% (±16.5 points)	Higher
Hawaiian Paradise Park	10 mi	18.0% (±6.9 points)	Lower
Pepeekeo	10 mi	54.0% (±12.8 points)	Not measurably different
Orchidlands Estates	10 mi	13.6% (±9.1 points)	Lower
Hawaiian Acres	11 mi	8.7% (±8.1 points)	Lower
Fern Acres	12 mi	13.8% (±9.1 points)	Lower

Nearby places with a measurably lower figure: Kurtistown, HI (23.4%), Hawaiian Paradise Park, HI (18.0%), Orchidlands Estates, HI (13.6%).

Nearby places with a measurably higher figure: Papaikou, HI (73.6%).

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

Homes built before 1980 across Hawaii County, place by place

Rank	Place	Homes built before 1980
1	Honokaa	78.3% (±18.6 points)
2	Halaula	78.0% (±35.4 points)
3	Papaikou	73.6% (±16.5 points)
4	Pahala	73.1% (±18.1 points)
5	Pahoa	67.2% (±25.4 points)
6	Honalo	60.9% (±19.6 points)
7 (tie)	Hilo	54.0% (±4.1 points)
7 (tie)	Pepeekeo	54.0% (±12.8 points)
9	Keaau	53.2% (±14.6 points)
10	Kealakekua	50.9% (±15.4 points)
11	Hawaiian Beaches	49.2% (±12.2 points)
12	Kahaluu-Keauhou	48.3% (±7.5 points)
13	Hawi	44.6% (±14.9 points)

Showing 13 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 old are most homes in Hilo?

54.0% of homes in Hilo, HI were built before 1980 (2020–2024 American Community Survey).

Do homes in Hilo need a lead paint disclosure?

A home built before 1978 does, before it is rented or sold, unless an exemption applies (42 U.S.C. § 4852d); between 30.2% and 54.0% of homes in Hilo were built before then.

Does a contractor need lead certification to work on older homes in Hilo?

Yes, when the job disturbs more than 6 square feet of paint in a room or 20 square feet outside, or replaces a window: the firm must be certified and a certified renovator must direct the work under the Renovation, Repair and Painting Rule (40 CFR part 745, subpart E).

Sources

Selected Housing Characteristics (DP04), 2020–2024 ACS 5-year estimates — Hilo CDP, Hawaii

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.

DP04_0017PE, DP04_0017PM, DP04_0018PE, DP04_0018PM, DP04_0019PE, DP04_0019PM, DP04_0020PE, DP04_0020PM, DP04_0021PE, DP04_0021PM, DP04_0022PE, DP04_0022PM, DP04_0023PE, DP04_0023PM, DP04_0024PE, DP04_0024PM, DP04_0025PE, DP04_0025PM, DP04_0026PE, DP04_0026PM

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.