Quick Answer: Mililani Town and Mililani Mauka are two of Central Oahu's most popular neighborhoods, but they offer distinctly different lifestyles. Mililani Town features lower-priced homes with a median around $640,000, walkable shopping, and an established community feel. Mililani Mauka sits higher in elevation with newer construction, a median home price near $600,000 for condos and townhomes, and a quieter, more suburban atmosphere. Your ideal pick depends on your budget, commute priorities, and lifestyle preferences.

If you're house hunting on Oahu in 2026, chances are someone has already told you to check out Mililani. And honestly, they're right. Nestled in Central Oahu between the Waianae and Koolau mountain ranges, Mililani is one of the island's most family-friendly, well-planned communities.

But here's where it gets interesting: Mililani is actually split into two distinct neighborhoods, Mililani Town and Mililani Mauka. While they share the same zip code (96789) and school district, the vibe, pricing, and housing stock can feel surprisingly different. As local agents with the Kristy & Austin Home Group, we help buyers navigate this decision every week. Let's break it all down.

A Quick History of Mililani

Mililani Town was developed by Castle & Cooke starting in the 1960s on former pineapple plantation land. The vision was a master-planned community with parks, recreation centers, and shopping all within walking or biking distance. By the 1990s, demand pushed development higher up the hillside, and Mililani Mauka was born.

Today, Mililani Town covers roughly 3,400 acres with about 20,000 homes, while Mililani Mauka spans another 1,000 acres with approximately 4,500 homes. Together, they form one of Hawaii's largest residential communities with a combined population of over 50,000 residents.

Location & Geography: What's the Difference?

Mililani Town sits on relatively flat terrain near the H-2 freeway, making it easy to hop on the highway toward Pearl City, Honolulu, or the North Shore. Most of the neighborhood is accessible via Meheula Parkway and Kamehameha Highway. You'll find Mililani Town Center and Mililani Shopping Center anchoring the area with Foodland, Longs Drugs, restaurants, and local shops

Mililani Mauka, meaning "toward the mountain" in Hawaiian, sits at a higher elevation. Streets like Launani Valley and Kuahelani Avenue wind through the hillside. The area is quieter, with fewer commercial options nearby, but you gain cooler temperatures, mountain views, and a more residential feel. For groceries, most Mauka residents drive down to the Town Center or the Costco in Waipio.

Housing Stock & Home Prices in 2026

This is where things get really interesting for buyers. Here's what the numbers looked like heading into 2026:

Mililani Town: The median home price rose 1% to $1,085,000 in 2025 (source: HiCentral MLS via LocationsHawaii.com). Homes here tend to be older, built between the 1970s and 1990s, with 3-4 bedrooms on lots ranging from 5,000 to 7,000 square feet. You'll find single-family homes along streets like Kipapa Drive, Anania Circle, and Meheula Parkway. Condo options include complexes near the Town Center with median prices around $515,000.

Mililani Mauka: The median sale price was $600,000 as of early 2026 (source: Redfin), up 3.4% year-over-year. Homes are newer, generally built from the late 1990s through the 2010s. Many are townhome-style or clustered single-family homes with 3-4 bedrooms. Streets like Kuahelani Avenue and areas near Launani Valley offer mountain views and more modern floor plans.

Schools & Education

Both Mililani Town and Mililani Mauka feed into the same highly rated school system. Mililani public schools rank in the top 5% of all Hawaii public schools, with an average math proficiency of 56% compared to the state average of 39% (source: PublicSchoolReview.com).

Key schools include Mililani Ike Elementary (ranked #2 in Hawaii elementary schools), Mililani Mauka Elementary (ranked #3 and a 2025 National Blue Ribbon School), Mililani Middle School, and Mililani High School (ranked #3 in Hawaii with a 95.2% graduation rate). Whether you're in Town or Mauka, your kids attend the same excellent district schools.

Commute & Transportation

Mililani Town has a slight edge for commuters. It's closer to the H-2 on-ramp, meaning quicker access to Pearl Harbor, Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam, and downtown Honolulu. During morning rush hour, the drive from Mililani Town to downtown takes roughly 35-50 minutes depending on traffic.

From Mililani Mauka, add about 5-10 minutes to that commute since you're further from the freeway entrance. However, if you work at Schofield Barracks or Wheeler Army Airfield, Mauka is actually closer. Military families stationed at these bases often prefer Mauka for its proximity and newer housing.

Lifestyle & Amenities

Mililani Town shines when it comes to walkability and convenience. The Mililani Town Center features Foodland, restaurants like Teddy's Bigger Burgers, and various shops. The Mililani Recreation Centers (Rec 1 through Rec 5) offer pools, sports courts, and community gathering spaces. The bike path running through Town connects parks, schools, and shopping areas.

Mililani Mauka is more about peace and nature. The area has its own recreation center and access to hiking trails. The cooler temperatures at higher elevation are a genuine perk. Many residents enjoy mountain views from their lanai that you simply cannot get in Town. If you value a quiet evening with trade wind breezes and green ridgeline views, Mauka delivers.

Which One Is Right for You?

Choose Mililani Town if you want walkable shopping and dining, a shorter commute to Honolulu or Pearl Harbor, more affordable condo options, and an established neighborhood with mature landscaping and larger lots.

Choose Mililani Mauka if you prefer newer construction and modern floor plans, mountain views and cooler temperatures, a quieter residential atmosphere, or proximity to Schofield Barracks and Wheeler Army Airfield.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Mililani Town or Mililani Mauka more expensive? It depends on the property type. Single-family homes in Mililani Town have a higher median price ($1,085,000) than Mauka townhomes ($600,000). However, comparing apples to apples, newer single-family homes in Mauka can be priced similarly to renovated homes in Town.

Are Mililani Town and Mililani Mauka in the same school district? Yes. Both neighborhoods are served by the same public schools, including Mililani High School, which ranks among the top high schools in Hawaii.

Which area is better for military families? Mililani Mauka tends to be preferred by military families stationed at Schofield Barracks due to its closer proximity. Both areas are popular with military buyers using VA loans. Our team at Talk Realty works with VA buyers regularly and can guide you through the process.

Can I find new construction in either area? Mililani Mauka occasionally sees new construction or recently built homes. Mililani Town is largely built out, so you're primarily looking at resale properties, many of which have been tastefully renovated.

Have questions about buying in Mililani? Reach out to Kristy & Austin at (808) 829-6819 or visit kahomegroup.com.