At a Glance
Median Income
$63,750
$48,722 per capita
Home Value
$666,300
Zillow: $1,010,831
Median Rent
$905/mo
27.2% of income on rent
Violent Crime
411/100K
7,084/100K property
Bachelor's Degree+
53.0%
95.8% high school+
Unemployment
1.8%
11.3% poverty rate
Obesity Rate
32.0%
11.9% smoking rate
Avg Temperature
51°F
302 sunny days/yr
How Highlands Compares to the U.S. Average
Each bar shows Highlands's value as a percentage of the national average (100% = U.S. avg)
Thin vertical line = U.S. national average (100%)
Is Highlands a Good Place to Live?
C+
2.8 / 5.0 — Fair
Based on economy, affordability, safety, and education metrics compared to national averages.
Economy & Jobs
Highlands residents earn a median household income of $63,750 , which is 15% below the national average of $75,149.
Per capita income is $48,722. The unemployment rate stands at 1.8% (50% below the U.S. rate of 3.6%). 11.3% of residents live below the poverty line. The area is home to 1,457 business establishments, including 131 restaurants.
Housing & Cost of Living
The median home value in Highlands is $666,300 , 136% above the national median of $281,900.
Zillow estimates the typical home at $1,010,831. Median rent is $905/month, with 27.2% of renters spending more than 30% of income on housing. The cost of living index is 94.3 (100 = national average). The median home was built in 1980.
Safety & Crime
Highlands reports 411 violent crimes per 100,000 residents
, which is 8% above the national average of 380/100K.
Property crime is 7,084/100K. The murder rate is 0.0/100K.
Education
53.0% of adults in Highlands hold a bachelor's degree or higher
(57% above the national average).
95.8% have completed high school. Local schools score 5.6/10 in standardized testing.
Climate & Weather
Highlands has an average annual temperature of 51°F (11°C).
Winters average 33°F in January while summers reach 68°F in July. The area gets 302 sunny days per year. Annual precipitation totals 88.3 inches. Air quality is rated Good with a median AQI of 40.
Data Overview
People
Population1,276
Median Age58.4 yrs
Density204/mi²
Male / Female48% / 52%
Foreign Born13.6%
Veterans8.1%
Economy
A
Median Income$63,750
Per Capita$48,722
Unemployment1.8%
Poverty11.3%
County GDP$2,130M
Avg Weekly Wage$893
Housing
F
Home Value$666,300
Rent$905
Ownership59.0%
Zillow$1,010,831
Housing Units2,487
Rent Burden27.2%
Crime
F
Violent411/100K
Property7,084/100K
Murder0.0/100K
Assault205/100K
Burglary2,361/100K
Health
Obesity32.0%
Diabetes8.4%
Smoking11.9%
Heart Disease5.1%
Premature Death10,667/100K
Climate
Avg Temp51°F
Sunny Days302/yr
Rain88.3 in/yr
AQI40 (Good)
Elevation3,849 ft
Education
A+
Bachelor's+53.0%
High School+95.8%
Graduate+23.7%
School Score5.6/10
Community
2024 VoteR 69% / D 31%
Commute14 min
Broadband90.3%
Internet Speed79 Mbps
EV Stations11
Libraries3
Did You Know?
Highlands was founded in 1875.
The median home in Highlands was built in 1980.
19.4% work from home.
The nearest airport is Oconee County Regional (32 miles).
The Gini coefficient (income inequality) is 0.472 (U.S. avg: 0.490).
Natural hazard risk is rated "Relatively Low" by FEMA.
10.2% of the population has a disability.
13.6% of residents are foreign-born.
There are 131 restaurants in the area.
The county recorded 3 fatal vehicle crashes.
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