Hilo, HI · standard
ZIP Code 96720
Hawaii County, Hawaii - Census ACS demographics, housing tenure, and business patterns, benchmarked against every US ZIP.
- 46,165
- 60/sq mi Moderate-density area
- $80,938
- Median income Near-median income area
- $485,400
- Median home value Above-median home value
- 34.3%
- Bachelor's or higher Above-average bachelor's attainment
National ZIP placement
Hilo pairs an above-median household income with upper-quartile home values, in a rural, homeowner-dominated area.
- Top 37%
- household income, US ZIPs
- Top 14%
- home value, US ZIPs
- 60
- people per sq mi
- 67%
- owner-occupied homes
Source: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year Estimates (2019–2023). Percentiles rank ZIP 96720 against every reporting US ZIP.
FHFA HPI release change
What changed in the latest House Price Index year
- FHFA House Price Index values in ZIP 96720 (Hilo, HI) rose +8.4% from 2023 to 2024. The all-transactions index moved from 343.2 in 2023 to 371.9 in 2024 (2000 = 100).
ZIP code 96720 is a densely settled ZIP (a standard USPS delivery area) in Hilo, Hawaii County, Hawaii, with 46,165 residents across 775.9 square miles, a density of 60 people per square mile, in the Pacific/Honolulu time zone.
ZIP 96720 lands in the middle-income range, with a median household income of $80,938 (13% below the average Hawaii ZIP), while per-capita income is $41,213. The poverty rate is 14.3%, with unemployment at 6.7%; those measures add context to the income figure. Home values sit below the statewide ZIP benchmark: the median is $485,400 (37% below the average Hawaii ZIP), and median rent is $1,428; owner occupancy is 66.5%.
A solid share of residents have a four-year degree: 34.3% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher, the median age is 42.8, and the average commute is 20 minutes. The page also surfaces 2 ZIP codes within roughly 10 miles and 6 more in Hawaii County, so 96720 can be compared with both its immediate and county-level context.
Every figure on this page is sourced from the U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates (including median rent) and the FHFA House Price Index, no estimates, no proprietary scoring. Verify with Census →
Top industries in ZIP 96720
Top 5 sectors by establishment count in Hilo, HI
Which industries have the most business establishments in ZIP 96720.
- Health care and social assistance
Health care and social assistance
233 establishments
- Retail trade
Retail trade
222 establishments
- Accommodation and food services
Accommodation and food services
179 establishments
- Other services (except public administration)
Other services (except public administration)
117 establishments
- Professional, scientific, and technical services
Professional, scientific, and technical services
100 establishments
What this shows Establishment counts come from the Census ZIP Code Business Patterns program, which counts physical business locations rather than employees or revenue.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates + ZIP Code Business Patterns + FHFA HPI ACS demographics and median rent, ZBP business establishments, FHFA HPI for ZIP 96720, Hilo, HI · 2023 Census ACS 5-Year Estimates use a rolling 60-month sample for stable small-geography estimates; ZBP updated annually; FHFA HPI updated quarterly/annually.
Quick Facts
46,165
Population
775.9
Area (sq mi)
60
People / sq mi
Pacific/Honolulu
Time Zone
standard
ZIP Type
Who lives in ZIP 96720?
42.8
Median Age
48.1%
Male
51.9%
Female
11.0%
Foreign-Born
Hispanic or Latino is an ethnicity category from the Census Bureau and may overlap with other categories above.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-Year Estimates (2023)
How much do residents earn?
$80,938
Median Household Income
-13% vs state ZIP avg
$41,213
Per Capita Income
14.3%
Poverty Rate
6.7%
Unemployment Rate
20.4 min
Mean Commute Time
How ZIP 96720 ranks nationally
Hilo, HI household income vs. every US ZIP code
Median household income, the full national distribution, with this ZIP marked
$80,938 Top 37% higher than 63% of 30,318 US ZIPs
Each bar is a $20K-wide band; taller bars hold more US ZIPs. The dashed line + filled bar mark this entry. Hover or tap any bar for its full count, share, and where it sits relative to this entry.
Source U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-Year Estimates · 2019–2023
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-Year Estimates (2023)
What is the education profile here?
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-Year Estimates (2023)
What does housing look like?
Housing stock: occupied vs vacant
20,182housing units
20,182
Total Housing Units
18,520
Occupied Units
1,662
Vacant Units
2.76
Avg Household Size
Occupancy Type
$485,400
Median Home Value
-37% vs state ZIP avg
$1,428
Median Rent
1978
Median Year Built
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-Year Estimates (2023)
How have home values changed over time?
FHFA House Price Index, annual appreciation data based on repeat sales and appraisals
+8.4%
YoY Change (2024)
372
HPI Index (2000 = 100)
+272%
Total Change Since 2000
Home values in ZIP 96720 have increased 8.4% over the past year (2024). Since 2000, this ZIP has seen +272% cumulative appreciation.
| Year | Annual Change | HPI Index |
|---|---|---|
| 2020 | +3.5% | 243 |
| 2021 | +8.0% | 262 |
| 2022 | +23.6% | 324 |
| 2023 | +5.9% | 343 |
| 2024 | +8.4% | 372 |
Source: Federal Housing Finance Agency (FHFA) House Price Index, All-Transactions, Five-Digit ZIP Codes (Developmental Index). Index base = 100 in year 2000. Data through 2024. ZIP codes with few transactions may show missing values.
What businesses operate in this ZIP?
Census Bureau data shows 1,348 business establishments in ZIP 96720, employing approximately 18,911 people with a combined annual payroll of $918,080,000.
1,348
Businesses
18,911
Employees
$918.1M
Annual Payroll
17
Industry Sectors
| Industry | Establishments | % of Total |
|---|---|---|
| Health care and social assistance | 233 | 17.3% |
| Retail trade | 222 | 16.5% |
| Accommodation and food services | 179 | 13.3% |
| Other services (except public administration) | 117 | 8.7% |
| Professional, scientific, and technical services | 100 | 7.4% |
| Construction | 95 | 7.0% |
| Real estate and rental and leasing | 80 | 5.9% |
| Finance and insurance | 67 | 5.0% |
| Wholesale trade | 57 | 4.2% |
| Transportation and warehousing | 49 | 3.6% |
| Administrative and support and waste management and remediation services | 48 | 3.6% |
| Manufacturing | 40 | 3.0% |
| Information | 20 | 1.5% |
| Educational services | 17 | 1.3% |
| Arts, entertainment, and recreation | 12 | 0.9% |
| Management of companies and enterprises | 5 | 0.4% |
| Utilities | 4 | 0.3% |
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ZIP Code Business Patterns (ZBP), 2023. Employment figures may include noise for disclosure avoidance.
Nearby ZIP Codes
Want a side-by-side? Compare 96720 vs 96781 →
ZIP 96720 vs its nearest neighbors, by population
Resident population of this ZIP and the closest reporting ZIP codes within ~10 miles.
- 96720
Hilo (96720)
46,165 residents
- 96771 8,339
Mountain View (96771)
8,339 residents
- 96781 1,670
Papaikou (96781)
1,670 residents
What this shows Among its immediate neighbors, ZIP 96720 ranks the most populous - useful context the national average alone can't give.
ZIP 96720 vs its nearest neighbors, by median income
Median household income of this ZIP and the closest reporting ZIP codes within ~10 miles.
- 96781
Papaikou (96781)
$96,400 median income
- 96720
Hilo (96720)
$80,938 median income
- 96771
Mountain View (96771)
$62,426 median income
What this shows By household income, ZIP 96720 ranks #2 of 3 neighboring ZIPs, local affluence varies block to block, not just metro to metro.
Nationwide ZIPs with similar ACS profiles
Two Census-derived peer sets for ZIP 96720, both outside HI so the neighborhoods are not geographic containment (Nearby and same-county blocks stay local).
Similar population
Nearest cross-state ZIPs by resident population (46,165 here; floor ≥1,000).
Similar median household income
Nearest cross-state ZIPs by ACS median household income.
More ZIP Codes in Hawaii County
Related Areas
Frequently Asked Questions
What county is ZIP code 96720 in?
ZIP code 96720 (Hilo) is located in Hawaii County, Hawaii. Hawaii County contains multiple ZIP codes, see the full list at /counties/hawaii-hi.
What is the population of ZIP code 96720?
ZIP code 96720 in Hilo, HI has a population of 46,165 according to the Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates.
What is the median household income in ZIP 96720?
The median household income in ZIP 96720 is $80,938, which is 6% above the national average of $76,288.
What is the average home value in ZIP 96720?
The median home value in ZIP 96720 is $485,400, which is 75% above the national average of $278,155.
What is the demographic makeup of ZIP 96720?
The largest racial group in ZIP 96720 is Two or More Ethnicities at 34.4%. Hispanic or Latino residents make up 10.8% of the population.
How many businesses are in ZIP code 96720?
ZIP code 96720 has 1,348 business establishments employing approximately 18,911 people, according to Census Bureau ZIP Code Business Patterns (ZBP) 2023 data.
What are the main industries in ZIP code 96720?
The top industries by establishment count in ZIP 96720 are: Health care and social assistance (233), Retail trade (222), Accommodation and food services (179). There are 17 industry sectors represented in total.
How have home values changed in ZIP code 96720?
According to the FHFA House Price Index, home values in ZIP 96720 increased by 8.4% in 2024. Since 2000, home values in this ZIP have appreciated by approximately 272%. This is a developmental index based on repeat sales and appraisal data from Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac.
What is the education level in ZIP code 96720?
In ZIP code 96720, 62.8% of residents aged 25+ have a high school diploma or higher, and 34.3% hold a bachelor's degree or higher. These figures come from the Census Bureau ACS 5-Year Estimates (2023).
What is the average commute time in ZIP 96720?
The mean commute time for workers in ZIP code 96720 is 20.4 minutes according to Census ACS data. The national average is roughly 26 minutes, so commuters here spend less time traveling to work than typical.
What percentage of residents own vs. rent in ZIP 96720?
In ZIP code 96720, approximately 66.5% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied and 33.5% are renter-occupied, based on Census ACS 2023 data.
What is the poverty rate in ZIP code 96720?
The poverty rate in ZIP code 96720 is 14.3% according to Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates. This measures the percentage of the population living below the federal poverty threshold.
Related
Take this with you
What to do with ZIP 96720's numbers, next.
- See how ZIP 96720 compares to a neighboring ZIP code on the same Census fields Compare this ZIP
- Check where Hilo, HI ranks among every U.S. ZIP code on income, education, or homeownership View national rankings
- Save this ZIP to your shortlist to track alongside others you're considering View your shortlist
ZIP Code Tabulation Areas (ZCTAs) are Census Bureau approximations of USPS ZIP codes; figures describe the ZCTA area, not any single address within it.