By Benjamin Finnerty (S), REALTOR® (RS-83812) with Keller Williams Realty Maui · Kīhei, Maui · 808-481-9748

Quick Answer: A Pew Charitable Trusts study published September 29, 2026 found that about 34% of Hawaiʻi’s measured poverty traces to housing costs, the largest share of any state or Washington, D.C. The study used 2023 data and the Census Bureau’s Supplemental Poverty Measure. For anyone moving to Maui, housing is the budget line to plan first.

I’m Benjamin Finnerty, a REALTOR® in Kīhei with Keller Williams Realty Maui. When people ask me what it really costs to live here, I always start with housing costs in Hawaiʻi, because they shape everything else. A new national study puts numbers on that, so here’s what it found, how it lines up with Maui data, and how I’d budget before a move.

What did the Pew study find about housing costs in Hawaiʻi?

Housing costs explain a bigger share of poverty in Hawaiʻi than anywhere else in the country. The analysis, written by University of Oxford professor Zachary Parolin for Pew, adjusted the Census Bureau’s Supplemental Poverty Measure for local housing costs using 2023 data. Pew’s appendix puts Hawaiʻi’s figure at 33.8%, which Pew and Civil Beat round to 34%.

The Supplemental Poverty Measure differs from the official poverty rate because it counts benefits and adjusts for what housing actually costs in a given place. In a high-cost state, that adjustment matters a lot.

Pew also modeled a hypothetical 20% drop in inflation-adjusted rents. Across the states it studied, that would cut overall poverty by 18% to 26%. For Hawaiʻi, Civil Beat reported Pew’s analysis showed overall poverty falling by about a quarter.

Why are housing costs so high on Maui?

Mostly limited supply against steady demand. A few figures from UHERO’s Hawaiʻi Housing Factbook 2026, published in May, help explain the Maui picture:

• Vacation rentals: About 15% of housing units in Maui County were advertised as vacation rentals in 2025.
• Association fees: 42% of Hawaiʻi homeowners pay HOA or AOAO fees, versus 25% nationally, and the statewide median fee of $470 a month is the second-highest in the country.
• Permitting: Maui County processed single-family permits faster in 2025 than in 2024, though building here still takes time and money.

How much income do you need to buy a home on Maui?

More than most households earn. UHERO found that buying Hawaiʻi’s median single-family home, $950,000 in 2025, required more than 180% of the state’s median income, putting it within reach of about one in five households. Condo affordability improved more, as condo prices eased.

Maui prices sit above the statewide figure for single-family homes. Here’s the latest countywide data from the REALTORS® Association of Maui:

Maui County, September 2026	Median sales price	Change vs. Sept. 2025
Single-family homes	$1,150,000	Down 11%
Condominiums	$660,000	Up 1.1%

With the 30-year fixed rate averaging 7.40% on October 15, 2026 (Freddie Mac), principal and interest on a $528,000 loan, 20% down on that median condo, runs about $3,656 a month before property tax, insurance and HOA dues.

What is Hawaiʻi doing about housing costs?

Pew’s recommendation is to make it easier to build: reform zoning, building codes and permitting so more homes, especially apartments and townhouses, get built. Pew pointed to cities such as Austin and Minneapolis, where rents fell after zoning and permitting changes.

Hawaiʻi has taken some steps, including a 2024 law allowing accessory dwelling units on residential lots, which Maui County has been implementing; I covered the County’s rules in my post on Maui’s ADU rules. Pew’s housing team described Hawaiʻi’s reforms so far as partial.

How should I budget for housing before moving to Maui?

Start with the full monthly cost, not the rent or the price. A common benchmark is HUD’s guideline that housing is affordable at 30% of income or less. To test your budget against it:

1. Price the actual home type you want in the area you’re considering, using recent rents or sales, not island-wide averages.
2. Add the extras. For owners, that’s property tax, insurance and any association dues. For renters, ask what utilities the rent includes.
3. Check the commute. A lower-cost area can cost more in time and fuel.
4. Leave room for one-time costs, such as shipping a car, deposits and closing costs.

My cost of living on Maui guide covers groceries, gas, utilities and taxes, and my post on renting on Maui before you buy looks at the rent side.

My Take: What I’m Telling People Moving to Maui

The Pew study confirms what the numbers on any Maui listing already show: housing is the line item that decides whether a move works. So before looking at a single property, the first thing I want to understand is what your Maui future looks like. Do you surf, swim, snorkel or dive? Do you prefer cooler weather upcountry, the rain in Haʻikū, or the sunsets of the Wailuku hillside? Those answers narrow the areas, and the areas set the housing budget.

Then I’d build that budget conservatively. Use today’s 7.40% mortgage rate, not a hoped-for lower one, and get the actual HOA budget and insurance quote for any condo before you count on a price that looks low. For many people relocating, a condo is the more attainable starting point; UHERO’s data shows condo affordability improved more than single-family affordability, though fees and insurance can offset part of that.

Finally, give yourself room. A budget that only works if nothing goes wrong is one I’d revisit before you ship anything across the Pacific.

Frequently Asked Questions

What share of Hawaiʻi’s poverty is due to housing costs?
About 34%, according to a Pew Charitable Trusts study published September 29, 2026, using 2023 data and the Supplemental Poverty Measure.

How much income is needed to buy a home in Hawaiʻi?
UHERO estimated more than 180% of the state median income for the median single-family home in 2025.

What is the median home price on Maui?
In September 2026, the REALTORS® Association of Maui reported $1,150,000 for single-family homes and $660,000 for condos.

What is a typical HOA fee in Hawaiʻi?
The statewide median is $470 a month, per UHERO. Maui condo fees vary widely by building.

Ask Benjamin

If you’re planning a move and want a realistic housing budget for the areas you’re considering, I’m Benjamin Finnerty, and I’m happy to pull recent sales and walk through the full monthly cost with you. Call or text 808-481-9748 or email benjamin@the808team.com.

Sources: The Pew Charitable Trusts (Sept. 29, 2026) and “Housing Policy and Poverty Across the United States” (Parolin, 2026); Honolulu Civil Beat (Oct. 6, 2026); UHERO, Hawaiʻi Housing Factbook 2026 (May 2026); Hawaii News Now (May 7, 2026); REALTORS® Association of Maui September 2026 data, as reported by Maui Now (Oct. 9, 2026); Freddie Mac Primary Mortgage Market Survey (Oct. 15, 2026).