Isles have highest median housing costs, census data show

Hawaii had the highest median monthly housing cost in 2014 for the second year in a row, according to estimates released Thursday by the Census Bureau.

The median spent on housing last year in Hawaii was $1,489 per month, down slightly from $1,505 in 2013.

The monthly housing costs for owner-occupied units include mortgages, real estate taxes, property insurance, homeowner and maintenance fees, land rent and utilities. Repair expenses are not included. For renter-occupied homes, these costs include rent, utilities and property insurance.

Nationally, the median monthly housing cost was $987. Rounding out the top five most expensive states for housing were New Jersey, Maryland, California and Connecticut.

The median annual household income in Hawaii was $69,592 in 2014, an increase of 2.3 percent over the 2013 median income of $68,020. When adjusted for inflation, the difference was less than $500.

Hawaii County had the largest increase in income, with a jump of 9 percent, to $52,788 from $48,339 in 2013. Kauai was up 7 percent, to $64,847 from $60,155. The median income in Honolulu was $74,634 last year, compared with $73,388 in 2013; and Maui’s was $67,013 last year, compared with $65,558 in 2013.

Nationally, the median household income was $53,657, with Hawaii ranking fifth behind Maryland, New Jersey, Alaska and Connecticut.