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| What Hilo is like for active adults |
Hilo, the second largest city in Hawaii, is one of the most interesting retirement communities in the U.S. Located on the southeast coast of Hawaii (the “Big Island”) and near Mauna Loa, one of the active volcanoes in Hawaii Volcanoes National Park, the climate, the scenery, and the lifestyle are superb. The Hilo area offers unparalleled recreational and scenic opportunities for active adults 55+ in an ideal year round climate.
Hilo is an old city formed because of its beautiful harbor on the slopes of Mauna Kea. Early missionaries from Connecticut were instrumental in its creation, and then sugar took over. The downtown is charming with unique architecture dating from the early 1900’s. An enormous park runs along the water’s edge. Interesting shops and restaurants reveal both its colonial and Japanese heritage. As almost every where in Hawaii, as soon as one moves away from the waterfront the terrain goes up – to rivers, waterfalls, and stunning tropical forests. Hilo is the rainiest city in the U.S., which tends to come at night. Winding roads follow the coast and reveal beautiful homes and beaches.
A popular tourist destination, Hilo remains an enchanting colonial town with real neighborhoods. It is very different from the rest of Hawaii – some say it is Honolulu before the jets arrived. People come for the beauty of its terrain, quiet lifestyle, and outdoor sports. Many people use it as a retirement community for one season out of the year.
Retirees can live in town or in developments nearby. Most development is near the water on flat land. Hilo real estate is pricey, as is living in Hawaii. Condo prices shown in recent classified ads ranged from the high 200’s to over $1 million. The farther one gets from the center of town or a beach, the more reasonable the price. A review of Yahoo Real Estate in late 2006 found 310 homes on the MLS for a median price of $360,000, there were 138 classifieds with median price of $479,000. |
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| What is special about this retirement community |
| • The Mauna Kea Astronomy Education Center
• Annual Merrie Monarch festival
• Tsunami Museum Center |
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| What is not special about this retirement community |
| Hilo is way off the beaten track and far from the lower 48. It is also expensive |
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| What kinds of people like retiring here |
Hilo attracts a community of retirees who want to live in a unique environment by the sea, and who like the small town, international feel.
Use this link to find a list of retirement communities by state |
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| Local economy is driven by |
| Tourism, agriculture, retail, services, government, education, and real estate are important to the economy. |
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| Climate and Physical Environment |
| Hilo is on the coast of Hawaii, the biggest island in the 50th state. The town goes from the graceful harbor up the slopes of Mona Kea, following a river and waterfalls that are in the city limits. There have been several tsunamis in the 20th century that killed hundreds of people. |
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| Cultural environment |
| The downtown found a new role in the 1980s as the city's cultural center with several galleries and museums being opened; the Palace Theatre was reopened in 1998 as an art house. The University of Hawaii has a campus here |
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| Transportation |
| Hilo International Airport is 4 miles from town |
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Facts about HILO
- State: HI
- Environment: Suburban,Mountains,Coastal,
- City Population: 25,001-50,000
- Median age of Population: 25-44
- Avg Jan Temperature: 61 +
- Median HH Income: 41,001-60,000
- Average Home Price (MLS): $300,001-$500,000
- Annual Property Tax on a $200,000 house: NA
- Total Crime Index: <80 (Very low)
- Cost of Living Index: 121+ (very high)
- Culture Index: 101-110 (slightly above average)
- State Sales Tax:
- State Income Tax:
- Name of the Guide: jb
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Can you add to or correct these Facts? Or do you have a photo of this community we could use? If so, please click on Edit these facts |
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Vote on the Ratings for Hilo |
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Update Your Ratings |
1. Overall Retirement Ratings
1. Rating: 3.5/5 ( 2 votes cast)
2. Expense:
Inexpensive to Luxury
2. Rating: 2.0/5 ( 3 votes cast)
3. Taxes:
Inexpensive to Expensive
3. Rating: 2.0/5 ( 2 votes cast)
4. Culture:
None to Cosmopolitan
4. Rating: 2.3/5 ( 3 votes cast)
5.Recreation:
None to Summer camp
5. Rating: 5.0/5 ( 2 votes cast)
6. Transportation:
Boondocks to World Hub
6. Rating: 3.0/5 ( 2 votes cast)
7. Security:
Dangerous to Ft. Knox
7. Rating: 2.8/5 ( 4 votes cast)
8. Medical Facilities:
None to Excellent
8. Rating: 3.0/5 ( 2 votes cast)
9. Political Situation:
Conservative to Liberal
9. Rating: 3.7/5 ( 3 votes cast)
10. Environmental:
Oblivious to Ultra-Green
10. Rating: 4.0/5 ( 2 votes cast)
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