Highland, IN

Full City Profile · Indiana · Lake County County

3.4 /5.0
B Good
23,749 Population 749/sq mi density
$76,219 Median Income $40,474 per capita
$219,500 Home Value $269,396 Zillow
$1,202 Median Rent 28.1% income on rent
50°F Avg Temperature
98 Violent Crime/100K 1,600 property/100K
B
Overall
3.4 / 5.0
Good overall score based on economy, affordability, safety and education
A
Economy
4.0 / 5.0
$76,219 median income, 5.0% unemployment
A+
Affordability
5.0 / 5.0
$219,500 home value, $1,202/mo rent
F
Safety
1.0 / 5.0
98 violent crimes/100K
B
Education
3.4 / 5.0
30.1% bachelor's degree or higher
Highland experiences four distinct seasons with an average annual temperature of 50°F (10°C). Winters average 23°F in January while summers reach 74°F in July. Annual precipitation totals 40.3 inches. The area receives 26.6 inches of snow annually. Air quality is rated Moderate with a median AQI of 52.

Temperature

23°F Jan (-5°C) 74°F Jul (23°C)
Annual Average49.8°F
8% below US avg
January Average23°F (-5°C)
July Average74°F (23°C)

Geography

Elevation613 ft (187 m)
Area7.0 sq mi (18.0 km²)
Population Density749/sq mi
Coordinates41.5466°N, 87.4576°W
TimezoneAmerica/Indiana/Indianapolis
CountyLake County County
Nearest AirportGary/Chicago International (GYY)
5 miles away

Precipitation & Snow

Annual Rainfall 40.3"
6% above US avg
Snowfall 26.6"
Wettest Month (Jun) 4.77"
Driest Month (Feb) 1.95"

Air Quality

AQI Median52.0
RatingModerate
Good Days %44.3%
Unhealthy Days5

Air Pollutants (EPA 2023)

Ozone (O₃)0.0452 ppm
NO₂ (Nitrogen Dioxide)13.8 ppb
SO₂ (Sulfur Dioxide)1.37 ppb
PM2.5 (Fine Particles)10.3 μg/m³

Natural Hazard Risk

Overall RiskRelatively High
Risk Score95.9 / 100
Social Vulnerability48.7 / 100
Community Resilience73.3 / 100

Hazard Breakdown

Tornado Very High
Hurricane Very Low
Earthquake Relatively Low
Wildfire Relatively Low
Flood Relatively High
Hail Relatively Low
Strong Wind Relatively High
Heat Wave Relatively Moderate
Winter Weather Relatively High
Lightning Relatively High
Ice Storm Relatively Moderate
Drought No Rating
Cold Wave Very High
Landslide Very Low
Coastal Flood Very Low
Source: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (Dec 2025)

Earthquake History

7 earthquakes (M2.5+) within 150 km since 1990. Strongest: M4.2. Most recent: M2.6 on Mar 15, 2025.

Jun 28, 2004 12 km NW of Dayton, Illinois M4.2 121 km
Feb 10, 2010 2 km NW of Lily Lake, Illinois M3.8 98 km
Nov 4, 2013 1 km SSW of Lyons, Illinois M3.2 42 km
Jul 15, 2024 2 km WNW of Somonauk, Illinois M3.1 105 km
Mar 25, 2015 3 km WNW of Lake in the Hills, Illinois M2.9 104 km
Jun 10, 2013 4 km NNE of Virgil, Illinois M2.6 100 km
Mar 15, 2025 6 km W of Dwight, Illinois M2.6 101 km
Source: USGS (M2.5+, 1990-2025)

Tornado History

550 tornadoes (EF0+) within 100 km since 1950. Strongest: EF5. Total: 89 fatalities, 1,776 injuries.

Date Rating Distance Fatalities
Aug 28, 1990 EF5 76 km 29
Jun 29, 1979 EF4 64 km 0
Jun 13, 1976 EF4 47 km 2
Sep 28, 1972 EF4 88 km 0
Apr 21, 1967 EF4 95 km 1
Apr 21, 1967 EF4 34 km 33
Apr 17, 1963 EF4 67 km 1
Jun 20, 2021 EF3 65 km 0
Jun 22, 2015 EF3 82 km 0
Jun 5, 2010 EF3 59 km 0
Oct 24, 2001 EF3 86 km 1
Mar 27, 1991 EF3 54 km 0
Apr 27, 1984 EF3 73 km 1
Apr 2, 1982 EF3 70 km 0
Mar 12, 1976 EF3 64 km 1
Mar 12, 1976 EF3 74 km 0
Mar 12, 1976 EF3 44 km 0
Mar 12, 1976 EF3 75 km 0
Jun 20, 1974 EF3 30 km 0
Oct 24, 1967 EF3 20 km 0
Source: NOAA SPC (EF0+, 1950-2024)

Tsunami History

1 tsunami recorded within 500 km. Highest wave on record: 3.0 m (10 ft).

Year Location Cause Max Wave Deaths Distance
1954 MICHIGAN CITY, IN (LAKE MICHIGAN) Avalanche 3.0 m 7 51 km
Source: NOAA/NCEI Historical Tsunami Database. Sorted by wave height.

Wildfire History

12 wildfires (100+ acres) within 100 km. Largest: UNNAMED (1,741 ac, 2019).

Year Name Acres Distance
2019 UNNAMED 1,741 62 km
2019 UNNAMED 1,664 58 km
2000 UNNAMED 1,602 63 km
2021 NORTHEAST PRAIRIE UNIT 3 978 52 km
2024 NORTHEAST PRAIRIE 3 RX 938 52 km
1986 OGDEN DUNS 863 21 km
2021 UNNAMED 738 53 km
2021 MIDDLE GRANT CREEK 700 61 km
2019 UNNAMED 698 52 km
2021 21-INDU TOLLESTON DUNES EAST 594 22 km
2017 UNNAMED 549 62 km
2017 17 INDU COWLES DUNES 522 31 km
Source: NIFC/IRWIN (100+ acres)

Monthly Weather

Month Avg Temperature Precipitation Summary
January 23°F (-5°C) 2.2 in Coldest
February 27°F (-3°C) 2.0 in Driest
March 37°F (3°C) 2.3 in
April 49°F (9°C) 4.1 in
May 60°F (16°C) 4.5 in
June 70°F (21°C) 4.8 in Wettest
July 74°F (23°C) 4.3 in Warmest
August 72°F (22°C) 4.4 in
September 65°F (18°C) 3.5 in
October 53°F (12°C) 3.5 in
November 40°F (4°C) 2.6 in
December 29°F (-2°C) 2.2 in

Highland has a seasonal temperature swing of 51°F / from 23°F in January to 74°F in July. Total annual precipitation is 40.3 inches, with June being the wettest month (4.8") and February the driest (2.0").

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