Rent to Income Ratio Comparison
Housing

California vs Hawaii: Rent to Income Ratio

Hawaii has a lower rent to income ratio than California.

California flag
California
CA • West
26.5%
Annualized median gross rent as a share of median household income.
Hawaii flag
Hawaii
HI • West
Winner
25.0%
Annualized median gross rent as a share of median household income.

Visual Comparison

California 26.5%
Hawaii 25.0%

Difference: 1.50 percentage points — Hawaii leads.

National Rankings

Where They Rank Nationally

See where both states fall among all 50 states for rent to income ratio.

California #50 · 26.5%
Hawaii #48 · 25.0%
Best Worst

10 Best States — Rent to Income Ratio

Lower is better
#1 North Dakota flag North Dakota
15.2%
#2 Iowa flag Iowa
15.5%
#3 South Dakota flag South Dakota
16.0%
#4 Nebraska flag Nebraska
16.5%
#5 Minnesota flag Minnesota
16.6%
#6 Wisconsin flag Wisconsin
17.2%
#7 Kansas flag Kansas
17.7%
#8 Missouri flag Missouri
17.8%
#9 Indiana flag Indiana
17.9%
#10 Wyoming flag Wyoming
17.9%
Selected states
#50 California flag California
26.5%
#48 Hawaii flag Hawaii
25.0%

California ranks 50th and Hawaii ranks 48th nationally for rent to income ratio.

Related Context

Rent Burden in Context

This ratio shows how much of a median paycheck goes straight to the landlord — the higher, the less breathing room renters have.

What This Means

California vs Hawaii: Rent to Income Ratio in context

Hawaii has a rent to income ratio of 25.0%, compared with 26.5% in California. Annualized median gross rent as a share of median household income.

California
26.5%
Hawaii
25.0%
Difference
1.50 percentage points

People Also Ask

California vs Hawaii Rent to Income Ratio — Common Questions

Q What is California's rent to income ratio?

California's rent to income ratio is 26.5%.

Q What is Hawaii's rent to income ratio?

Hawaii's rent to income ratio is 25.0%.

Q Which state has a lower rent to income ratio — California or Hawaii?

Hawaii has a lower rent to income ratio than California.

Sources: Core demographic data comes from the 2020 U.S. Census, with land area from U.S. Census Bureau TIGER files. Income, housing, affordability, and tax fields are maintained in our comparison dataset; purchasing-power figures use BEA Regional Price Parities. Minimum wage data comes from the U.S. Department of Labor, gas prices from AAA, and electricity rates from the U.S. Energy Information Administration. Political control and election fields use 2024 presidential results together with National Conference of State Legislatures data. Gun-law labels use the Giffords scorecard, alcohol system data comes from NABCA, and marijuana status uses NCSL's state cannabis laws tracker.