Compare states / Hawaii
HI
Compare Hawaii with other states
Hawaii is a smaller Western state: about 1.4 million residents, the 40th-largest population, at 223 people per square mile. Its top income-tax rate of 11.0% is the 2nd-highest among the 50 states; its effective property-tax rate of 0.29% is the lowest nationally. Housing is expensive: the median home value of $834,025 is the highest in the country. Its $16.00 minimum wage is tied for the 4th-highest nationally.
Data: Hawaii (tax.hawaii.gov, hidot.hawaii.gov); Tax Foundation 2026, Experian/Zillow, Census, FBI, NPS. Jump to sources · Methodology
Taxes and housing
| State income tax | Top listed rate 11.0% |
|---|---|
| Average sales tax (state + local) | 4.50% |
| Average property tax (real estate) | 0.29% effective |
| Personal property tax (vehicles) | No annual vehicle personal-property tax |
| Social Security tax | Not taxed. The state exempts Social Security benefits from income tax. |
| Estate tax | Hawaii uses a $5.49 million applicable exclusion (the 2017 federal amount). Tax applies to the Hawaii net taxable estate above that amount at graduated rates from 10% to 20%. Hawaii allows portability of unused exclusion to a surviving spouse. |
| Inheritance tax | No state inheritance tax. |
| Minimum wage | Statewide minimum wage $16.00. |
| Median home value | $834,025 |
Car title and license
| Tax on buying/titling a car | 4.00% |
|---|---|
| Title fee | $5.00 |
| Registration (base) | $45.00 |
| Car inspection | Varies by county — confirm locally |
| Nurse license from another state | Usually need a new state license |
Parks and people
| State parks | 14 |
|---|---|
| National parks | 2 |
| Population | 1,430,688 |
| Population density | 223.0 per sq mi |
| Demographics | 21.5% White (non-Hispanic) 11.1% Hispanic 1.8% Black 37.0% Asian |
| Violent crime | 217.7 per 100,000 |
Estimated income tax in Hawaii
Uses 2026 single-filer tax brackets (top listed rate 11.0%) after a per-dependent exemption. Not your actual tax bill.
Estimate car title cost in Hawaii
Uses this state’s title fee, plate, base registration, and 4.00% tax. County extras are not included.
Your move
Your to-do list in Hawaii
- Get an HI driver license within 30 days. Bring your current license, Social Security number, and two proofs you live in Hawaii.
- Title and register the car within 30 days. Inspection: Varies by county — confirm locally.
- Make sure car insurance meets 25/50/25.
- Register to vote. Hawaii elections site.
- Nurse license: Hawaii is not in the nurse compact. Plan on a new HI RN application — a compact license typically does not carry over.
- Enrolling a kindergartner? Kindergarten age cutoff in Hawaii: July 31. Compare kindergarten cutoffs by state.
How Hawaii compares
Alaska does not tax wages. Hawaii’s top listed rate is 11.0% (Top listed rate 11.0%).
Use the picker above for any other state. Published comparison pages that include Hawaii are listed here.
Sources
Compiled 2026. Statewide figures; counties can differ.
- State income tax. Tax Foundation, State Individual Income Tax Rates and Brackets, 2026.
- Average sales tax (state + local). Tax Foundation, State and Local Sales Tax Rates, January 2026.
- Average property tax (real estate). Tax Foundation, Property Taxes by State and County, 2026.
- Personal property tax (vehicles). WalletHub, Property Taxes by State, 2026 (vehicle table).
- Social Security tax. Hawaii does not tax Social Security benefits (HI tax agency).
- Estate tax. Hawaii estate tax.
- Inheritance tax. Hawaii has no state inheritance tax (HI tax agency).
- Minimum wage. Hawaii $16.00.
- Median home value. Experian / Zillow, Median Home Values by State, March 2026.
- Tax on buying/titling a car. Hawaii 4.00%.
- State parks. Hawaii 14. Official designated state parks.
- National parks. National Park Service, National Park System (units designated National Park on the National Park Service system list; parks that sit in more than one state are counted in each; HI 2).
- Population / density. U.S. Census Bureau, state population estimates · PopClock people per sq. mi..
- Demographics. U.S. Census Bureau QuickFacts (HI).
- Violent crime per 100,000. FBI Uniform Crime Reports, 2024 (state rates table).
- Days to get a license. Hawaii 30 days.
- Days to title a car. Hawaii 30 days.
Data last updated: September 2026. How the data is compiled