Signals
Kapaa
Bellingham
Growth
34 · Bottom 24%
vs55 · Top 42%
Climate
96 · Top 1%
vs72 · Top 31%
Physical resilience
34 · Bottom 23%
vs51 · Bottom 45%
Housing affordability
44 · Bottom 1%
vs54 · Bottom 3%
Access
3 · Bottom 2%
vs42 · Bottom 7%
Economic stability
65 · Top 33%
vs64 · Top 33%
Measured values
| Metric | Kapaa | Bellingham | Source period |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population | 73,731 | 230,503 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median household income | $97,668 | $81,784 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Per capita income | $43,836 | $45,361 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Population density | 119/sq mi | 109/sq mi | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median home value | $873,200 | $585,800 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median gross rent | $1,870 | $1,555 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Homeownership rate | 68.6% | 63.7% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 30.1% | 39.3% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Poverty rate | 9.1% | 12.9% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Housing units permitted (12 months) | 119 | 1,071 | 12 months ending July 2026 |
| Permits per 1,000 residents | 1.6 | 4.6 | 12 months ending July 2026 |
| Permit change (year over year) | -17.9% | -18.9% | 12 months ending July 2026 |
| Average July high | 87°F | 77°F | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Average January low | 65°F | 32°F | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Annual precipitation | 17.8" | 83.0" | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Distance to major airport | 116 mi | 93 mi | NASR current cycle |
| Average commute | 24.8 min | 22.8 min | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median age | 43.1 | 38.4 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
A bolded value is the more favorable of the two where the metric has a clear direction. Metrics like population and density have no inherent better or worse and are shown unweighted.
Physical risk tradeoff
Kapaa
Elevated or high exposure: wildfire, tsunami.
Bellingham
Elevated or high exposure: earthquake.
Your best match
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Kapaa
46
Your Score
—
Area Score
Bellingham
57
Your Score
58
Area Score
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Full profiles: Kapaa, HI Micro Area · Bellingham, WA Metro Area · How this is calculated: methodology