Hawaii County, Hawaii

County Distress Index: Normal · 46.1 | 207,615 people · 1st most distressed in Hawaii
American Default Research

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Hawaii County, HI falls within the normal range for household financial distress at 46.1 — 1831st nationally out of 3144 counties. The primary driver is Economic Vitality, where wages are low relative to housing costs, business formation lags, and the local economy lacks dynamism. Within Hawaii, it ranks 1st of 5 counties. Its strongest area is Legal Distress, where bankruptcy filing rates are below the national average.

The Numbers Behind the Score

The CDI measures five statistically derived factors of household financial distress, PCA-weighted. Hawaii County's primary driver is Economic Vitality at 79.0 — worse than roughly 79% of U.S. counties.

Economic Vitality Primary driver 79.0
Wage-to-Rent Ratio 99
Rent-to-Income Ratio 99
Business Formation Rate 24
House Price Change (YoY) 24
Housing Cost Burden 73.4
Rent-Burdened (30%+) 75
Severely Rent-Burdened (50%+) 81
Mortgage-Burdened (30%+) 66
Homeownership Rate 57
Structural Poverty 55.4
Unemployment Rate 8
Poverty Rate 70
Income vs. State Median 85
Child Poverty Rate 63
Disability Rate 49
Transfer Income Dependency 42
Consumer Credit Distress 28.9
Debt in Collections 28
Medical Debt 25
Auto Loan Delinquency 36
Credit Card Delinquency 29
Uninsured Rate 10
Subprime Credit Population 34
Legal Distress 16.9
Bankruptcy Filing Rate 17

Scores are percentile-based: 50 = national median, higher = more distressed.

Neighbors and Peers

Population Peers

CountyScoreZonevs. Hawaii County
Bullitt County, KY 46.2 Normal +0.1
Mesa County, CO 46.1 Normal -0.1
Northumberland County, PA 46.0 Normal -0.1
Putnam County, WV 46.0 Normal -0.1
Cass County, MI 46.3 Normal +0.1

Download Data

Export all distress indicators for Hawaii County as a CSV file.

Find Help in Hawaii County

HUD-Approved Housing Counselors

Free foreclosure prevention and financial counseling near Hawaii County.

HAWAIIAN COMMUNITY ASSETS, INC. - HILO BRANCH
Hilo
808-934-0801 Website
Foreclosure PreventionFinancial CounselingHomeless/DisplacementPre-Purchase
LEGAL AID SOCIETY OF HAWAII - Hilo Branch
HILO
808-961-2851 Website
Foreclosure PreventionReverse Mortgage

See all counselors in Hawaii →

Find an Attorney

Hawaii State Bar Association Lawyer Referral and Information Service (LRIS) offers a lawyer referral service for bankruptcy, foreclosure defense, and consumer rights.

Hawaii State Bar Association Lawyer Referral and Information Service (LRIS) 808-537-9140

Free Legal Aid

Legal aid organizations serving Hawaii County residents at no cost.

Legal Aid Society of Hawaii 808-536-4302 (Oahu); 808-243-3726 (Maui); 808-935-6088 (Big Island); 808-245-7580 (Kauai)
Volunteer Legal Services Hawaii 808-528-7046

Self-Help Resources

Hawaii State Judiciary Self-Help Center

American Default Research does not endorse, rate, or rank any provider. Verify attorney credentials with your state bar.

Need legal help? Find a foreclosure defense attorney in Hawaii →

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Frequently Asked Questions

  • What is the distress score for Hawaii County, Hawaii?

    Hawaii County has a County Distress Index score of 46.1 out of 100, placing it in the Normal zone. It ranks 1,831st nationally out of 3,144 counties and 1st in Hawaii out of 5 counties.

  • What drives financial distress in Hawaii County?

    The primary driver of distress in Hawaii County is Economic Vitality, where the county scores 79.0 out of 100. This domain is measured by indicators including Wage-to-Rent Ratio, Rent-to-Income Ratio, Business Formation Rate.

  • How does Hawaii County compare to neighboring counties?

    Neighbor comparison data is not available for Hawaii County.

  • How is the County Distress Index calculated?

    The County Distress Index uses PCA-weighted percentile scoring across five statistically derived factors: Consumer Credit Distress (47.5%), Housing Cost Burden (22.3%), Structural Poverty (13.6%), Economic Vitality (9.2%), and Legal Distress (7.4%). Each county's indicators are ranked against all 3,144 U.S. counties. A score of 50 means the county is at the national median; higher scores indicate greater distress.

  • How often is the CDI updated?

    Annually, aligned to Census American Community Survey and Urban Institute Debt in America release windows — the slowest-moving source inputs. Between annual refreshes, faster-cadence indicators (BLS unemployment, QCEW wages) may drive light mid-year updates if a specific component moves meaningfully. Current data compiled April 14, 2026; next full refresh early 2027.

  • What does the Normal zone mean?

    The CDI divides counties into five zones: Healthy (below 46), Normal (46–55), Elevated (55–71), Serious (71–86), and Crisis (86 and above). Hawaii County's score of 46.1 sits in the Normal zone (46–55).

  • What data sources power Hawaii County's CDI score?

    Hawaii County's CDI score draws on Urban Institute Debt in America (Equifax credit-bureau panel), U.S. Census Bureau (American Community Survey 5-year, Small Area Income and Poverty Estimates), Bureau of Labor Statistics (LAUS, QCEW), U.S. Courts Administrative Office (F-5A bankruptcy filings), and HUD Fair Market Rents. Every number on this page traces to one of these public sources.

  • What is the population of Hawaii County?

    Hawaii County, Hawaii has a population of approximately 207,615 (2023 Census estimate), classified as a mid county.