LIHUE — On the Garden Isle, two people are born and one person is moving to the island per day.
As of July 1, the population on Kauai was 72,029, a 0.8 percent increase from 2015.
A growing population means fewer housing options, said Phil Fudge, a Realtor with Kauai Landmark Realty.
“The inventory is getting a little tighter,” he said.
The U.S. Census Bureau recently released its 2016 county estimates.
Between July 1, 2015 and June 30, 2016, the Big Island saw the largest increase in population, welcoming an additional 2,293 people, according to the data.
Maui came in second place, with 1,117 people moving to the island.
As of Jan. 1, 2016, the population on Oahu was recorded at 992,605, which is a 561, 0.1 percent decrease from the previous year.
Kauai gained 551 people between 2015 and 2016, according to the data.
During that same time period, there were 903 births and 664 deaths.
As of July 2015, 18 percent of Kauai’s population was 65 years and older, according the US Census.
Fudge works mostly with people from the Mainland who want to buy a home on Kauai.
Over the years, Fudge said he’s seen an increase in people who aren’t seeking to move into a new house right away.
“It seems a lot of people wanting to relocate for the future,” he said.
“A lot of these people, they’ve been coming here for years, and it’s time to retire,” he added
People moving to Kauai from the Mainland tend to buy homes in Princeville, Poipu and Kalaheo, Fudge said.
Kauai is growing in popularity as a great place to live, Fudge said.
