Pahoa, HI · standard
ZIP Code 96778
Hawaii County, Hawaii - Census ACS demographics, housing tenure, and business patterns, benchmarked against every US ZIP.
- 14,409
- 21/sq mi Moderate-density area
- $39,750
- Median income Below-median income area
- $273,800
- Median home value Near-median home value
- 20.1%
- Bachelor's or higher Near-average bachelor's attainment
National ZIP placement
Pahoa pairs one of the lowest household incomes in the country with above-median home values, in a rural, homeowner-dominated area.
- 5th pct
- household income, US ZIPs
- Top 38%
- home value, US ZIPs
- 21
- people per sq mi
- 80%
- owner-occupied homes
Source: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year Estimates (2019–2023). Percentiles rank ZIP 96778 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 96778 (Pahoa, HI) fell -7.0% from 2023 to 2024. The all-transactions index moved from 375.1 in 2023 to 348.9 in 2024 (2000 = 100).
ZIP code 96778 is a mid-sized community (a standard USPS delivery area) in Pahoa, Hawaii County, Hawaii, home to 14,409 residents across 696.1 square miles, a density of 21 people per square mile, in the Pacific/Honolulu time zone.
ZIP 96778 sits on the lower end of the income spectrum: median household income is $39,750 (57% below the average Hawaii ZIP), while per-capita income is $23,087. Economic pressure is pronounced: 35.4% of residents are below the poverty line and unemployment is 12.0%. Home values sit below the statewide ZIP benchmark: the median is $273,800 (65% below the average Hawaii ZIP), and median rent is $1,293; owner occupancy is 79.8%.
Educational attainment sits below the national norm: 20.1% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher, the median age is 47.5, and the average commute is 35 minutes. The page also surfaces 2 ZIP codes within roughly 10 miles and 6 more in Hawaii County, so 96778 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 96778
Top 5 sectors by establishment count in Pahoa, HI
Which industries have the most business establishments in ZIP 96778.
- Retail trade
Retail trade
28 establishments
- Accommodation and food services
Accommodation and food services
23 establishments
- Other services (except public administration)
Other services (except public administration)
15 establishments
- Professional, scientific, and technical services
Professional, scientific, and technical services
12 establishments
- Health care and social assistance 11
Health care and social assistance
11 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 96778, Pahoa, 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
14,409
Population
696.1
Area (sq mi)
21
People / sq mi
Pacific/Honolulu
Time Zone
standard
ZIP Type
Who lives in ZIP 96778?
47.5
Median Age
51.6%
Male
48.4%
Female
9.2%
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?
$39,750
Median Household Income
-57% vs state ZIP avg
$23,087
Per Capita Income
35.4%
Poverty Rate
12.0%
Unemployment Rate
34.7 min
Mean Commute Time
How ZIP 96778 ranks among Hawaii ZIPs
Pahoa, HI household income vs. every Hawaii ZIP code
Median household income among 83 reporting Hawaii ZIPs (this ZIP's population is too small for a reliable national-corpus placement)
$39,750 0th percentile higher than 0% of 83 Hawaii ZIPs
Each bar is a $20K-wide band; taller bars hold more Hawaii 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
7,098housing units
7,098
Total Housing Units
6,303
Occupied Units
795
Vacant Units
2.42
Avg Household Size
Occupancy Type
$273,800
Median Home Value
-65% vs state ZIP avg
$1,293
Median Rent
1991
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
-7.0%
YoY Change (2024)
349
HPI Index (2000 = 100)
+249%
Total Change Since 2000
Home values in ZIP 96778 have decreased 7.0% over the past year (2024). Since 2000, this ZIP has seen +249% cumulative appreciation.
| Year | Annual Change | HPI Index |
|---|---|---|
| 2020 | +2.4% | 244 |
| 2021 | +23.7% | 301 |
| 2022 | +13.0% | 340 |
| 2023 | +10.2% | 375 |
| 2024 | -7.0% | 349 |
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 132 business establishments in ZIP 96778, employing approximately 1,165 people with a combined annual payroll of $35,395,000.
132
Businesses
1,165
Employees
$35.4M
Annual Payroll
10
Industry Sectors
| Industry | Establishments | % of Total |
|---|---|---|
| Retail trade | 28 | 21.2% |
| Accommodation and food services | 23 | 17.4% |
| Other services (except public administration) | 15 | 11.4% |
| Professional, scientific, and technical services | 12 | 9.1% |
| Health care and social assistance | 11 | 8.3% |
| Construction | 10 | 7.6% |
| Administrative and support and waste management and remediation services | 9 | 6.8% |
| Finance and insurance | 7 | 5.3% |
| Real estate and rental and leasing | 5 | 3.8% |
| Educational services | 3 | 2.3% |
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 96778 vs 96760 →
ZIP 96778 vs its nearest neighbors, by population
Resident population of this ZIP and the closest reporting ZIP codes within ~10 miles.
- 96778
Pahoa (96778)
14,409 residents
- 96771
Mountain View (96771)
8,339 residents
- 96760 3,001
Kurtistown (96760)
3,001 residents
What this shows Among its immediate neighbors, ZIP 96778 ranks the most populous - useful context the national average alone can't give.
ZIP 96778 vs its nearest neighbors, by median income
Median household income of this ZIP and the closest reporting ZIP codes within ~10 miles.
- 96760
Kurtistown (96760)
$103,286 median income
- 96771
Mountain View (96771)
$62,426 median income
- 96778 $39,750
Pahoa (96778)
$39,750 median income
What this shows By household income, ZIP 96778 ranks #3 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 96778, 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 (14,409 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 96778 in?
ZIP code 96778 (Pahoa) 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 96778?
ZIP code 96778 in Pahoa, HI has a population of 14,409 according to the Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates.
What is the median household income in ZIP 96778?
The median household income in ZIP 96778 is $39,750, which is 48% below the national average of $76,288.
What is the average home value in ZIP 96778?
The median home value in ZIP 96778 is $273,800, which is 2% below the national average of $278,155.
What is the demographic makeup of ZIP 96778?
The largest racial group in ZIP 96778 is White at 42.1%. Hispanic or Latino residents make up 14.2% of the population.
How many businesses are in ZIP code 96778?
ZIP code 96778 has 132 business establishments employing approximately 1,165 people, according to Census Bureau ZIP Code Business Patterns (ZBP) 2023 data.
What are the main industries in ZIP code 96778?
The top industries by establishment count in ZIP 96778 are: Retail trade (28), Accommodation and food services (23), Other services (except public administration) (15). There are 10 industry sectors represented in total.
How have home values changed in ZIP code 96778?
According to the FHFA House Price Index, home values in ZIP 96778 decreased by 7.0% in 2024. Since 2000, home values in this ZIP have appreciated by approximately 249%. 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 96778?
In ZIP code 96778, 57.9% of residents aged 25+ have a high school diploma or higher, and 20.1% 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 96778?
The mean commute time for workers in ZIP code 96778 is 34.7 minutes according to Census ACS data. The national average is roughly 26 minutes, so commuters here spend more time traveling to work than typical.
What percentage of residents own vs. rent in ZIP 96778?
In ZIP code 96778, approximately 79.8% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied and 20.2% are renter-occupied, based on Census ACS 2023 data.
What is the poverty rate in ZIP code 96778?
The poverty rate in ZIP code 96778 is 35.4% 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 96778's numbers, next.
- See how ZIP 96778 compares to a neighboring ZIP code on the same Census fields Compare this ZIP
- Check where Pahoa, 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.