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Living in
Highland.
About
Life in Highland
Living in Highland means settling into a solidly middle-class, family-focused community in the Inland Empire where you're still within striking distance of LA but far enough away to benefit from lower housing costs. The median home price of $485,600 and rents averaging $1,629 monthly are reasonable compared to coastal Southern California, though you'll want to understand that this is desert climate—hot summers are the norm, not the exception. Jobs are available locally with a 5.5% unemployment rate, though many residents commute to LA or surrounding areas, which typically runs about 30 minutes depending on your destination and traffic.
Highland at a Glance
Population, income, housing and more
Median Age
33.5 yrs
Poverty Rate
17.1%
Foreign-Born
21.4%
Broadband Internet
90.7%
of households
Population Growth
+1.2%
recent change · Census Bureau
Median household income
Demographics21.4% foreign-born, most often from Mexico
Who lives in Highland: race and ethnicity, ages, households, languages and countries of origin
In Highland, the largest foreign-born group is from Mexico (56.3%), and 38.2% of residents speak Spanish at home.
Under 18
27.9%
of residents
65 and Older
11.9%
of residents
Households with Kids
45.6%
anyone under 18
Living Alone
13.7%
of households
Married Couples
47.8%
of households
Avg Household Size
3.47
people
Race & Ethnicity
Hispanic or Latino of any race; other groups are non-Hispanic
Top countries of origin (foreign-born)
Languages Spoken at Home
Cost of Livingrent 20% below CA average
Rent, home values, and income in Highland
In Highland, rent runs 20% below the CA average, and home values are 34% below the CA average.
Median rent (per month)
Median home value
Rent Burdened
63.8%
spending 30%+ of income on rent
Severely Rent Burdened
37.6%
spending 50%+
Cost of Living Index
106.4
metro area (BEA) · US avg = 100
Median Property Tax
$3,843
per year, owner-occupied homes
Homeowners
64.1%
of occupied homes are owned
Typical Home Built
1983
median year built
Vacant Homes
3.2%
of housing units
Home Value Trend
Latest: $539,387 (September 2026)
Jobs & Economyunemployment about average for CA
Unemployment in Highland and typical pay across the metro area
Unemployment in Highland is close to the CA average.
Unemployment rate
City-level rate · BLS annual average
Unemployment Rate — 10 Year Trend
City-level (BLS) · Annual averages
What Highland Residents Do for Work · share of employed residents by industry
City residents, wherever they work
Median Salary by Occupation · metro area
Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA metro area
Commute30.4 min avg
How Highland residents get to work, and the nearest airports
In Highland, most residents drive alone to work (78%), and 61% get there in under 30 minutes.
How People Get to Work
Commute Time Distribution
Nearest airports · with airline service
- 3 mi
San Bernardino International Airport (SBD)
Regional airport · few flights26k passengers boarded in 2025
- 24 mi
Ontario International Airport (ONT)
Medium hub3.5M passengers boarded in 2025
- 71 mi
Los Angeles International Airport (LAX)
Major hub36.5M passengers boarded in 2025
Straight-line distance. Size is the FAA’s hub category, based on passenger traffic: regional airports may have only a few flights a day.
Safetyviolent crime 49% above national average
Crime rates for 2025
Violent crime in Highland runs 49% above the national average.
Violent Crime Rate
489.5
per 100,000 residents
Above average (329 national, 2025)
Property Crime Rate
1,062.4
per 100,000 residents
Below average (1,552 national, 2025)
Highland Police Department
Natural DisastersHigh Wind most common — 61 events in 2025
Natural hazard risk, storms and earthquakes
FEMA National Risk Index
Very High
99.8 / 100
Compares expected losses from natural hazards, social vulnerability and community resilience against every US county (higher = more risk).
San Bernardino County, county-wide · FEMA NRI December 2025
In San Bernardino County, which includes Highland, the most common type is high wind, with 61 recorded events in 2025.
Most common events:
Storm events by year
| Year | Events | Top Type | Property Damage |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 61 | Flash Flood | $4.8M |
| 2024 | 86 | High Wind | $16.4M |
| 2023 | 106 | High Wind | $4.0M |
| 2022 | 123 | High Wind | $12.1M |
| 2021 | 113 | Excessive Heat | $293,000 |
| 2020 | 78 | Excessive Heat | $298,000 |
| 2019 | 99 | Excessive Heat | $6.3M |
| 2018 | 66 | Flash Flood | $1.3M |
Property damage is the National Weather Service's estimate filed with each event. “None reported” means the events were logged with $0 damage; “Not estimated” means no estimate was filed. Storms covering several counties aren't counted here, since NOAA doesn't split their damage by county.
194 earthquakes of magnitude 2.5+ within 100 miles in the past year
San Bernardino County, county-wide
Highland is about 3% of San Bernardino County’s population, so county-wide figures may differ from local conditions.
Air Quality77 median AQI — Moderate
Days by air quality category (2025)
Air quality in San Bernardino County, which includes Highland, is typically moderate — acceptable for most people, but can affect those unusually sensitive to air pollution.
Median AQI
77
Good Days
46
per year
Moderate Days
209
per year
Unhealthy Days
43
per year
San Bernardino County, county-wide
Highland is about 3% of San Bernardino County’s population, so county-wide figures may differ from local conditions.
Climate93°F summers, 41°F winters
30-year climate averages (1991–2020) — monthly temperatures and precipitation
Highland has hot summers (avg high 93°F) and mild winters (avg low 41°F).
Spring (Mar–May)
76°/48°F
avg high / low
Summer (Jun–Aug)
93°/61°F
avg high / low
Fall (Sep–Nov)
83°/53°F
avg high / low
Winter (Dec–Feb)
67°/41°F
avg high / low
Annual Precipitation
12.9"
Annual Snowfall
0.0"
Hot Days/Year
104
days above 90°F
Freeze Days/Year
3
days below 32°F
Rainy Days/Year
43
Average month
Show month-by-month table ↓Hide table ↑
| Month | High | Low | Precip |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 67°F | 41°F | 2.76" |
| Feb | 67°F | 42°F | 2.99" |
| Mar | 71°F | 45°F | 2.01" |
| Apr | 76°F | 48°F | 0.91" |
| May | 80°F | 52°F | 0.35" |
| Jun | 89°F | 56°F | 0.10" |
| Jul | 95°F | 63°F | 0.10" |
| Aug | 96°F | 63°F | 0.09" |
| Sep | 92°F | 60°F | 0.13" |
| Oct | 83°F | 53°F | 0.53" |
| Nov | 75°F | 45°F | 0.89" |
| Dec | 67°F | 40°F | 2.01" |
Healthcare
Hospitals, ratings, and health insurance in Highland
Uninsured
7.8%
of residents
No hospitals inside Highland's limits — nearest hospitals · within 15 miles
Redlands Community Hospital
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available · 5.4 mi away · Redlands
Loma Linda VA Medical Center
Acute Care - Veterans Administration · ER available · 6.5 mi away · Loma Linda
St Bernardine Medical Center
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available · 6.7 mi away · San Bernardino
Adult Health · vs. the typical US place
Share of adults. Modeled estimates, not counted cases. “US” = the typical US place.
Medicare-certified hospitals only. Doesn’t include clinics, urgent care, or freestanding ERs.
Education22.4:1 student/teacher ratio
Schools and degree attainment in Highland
Highland's student/teacher ratio is 22.4:1 (higher than the national average of 16:1), and 22.7% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Public Schools
10
within city limits
Private Schools
1
within city limits
College Degree Rate
22.7%
adults 25+ with bachelor's or higher
Student/Teacher Ratio
22.4:1
National avg 16:1
Schools located within city limits (2023) — school-level metrics change slowly year to year
Colleges Near Highland (within 15 miles)
University of California-Riverside
13.4 mi awayPublic · 4-year · 22,593 students · in-state tuition $16,103 · 79% graduate · median earnings $72,974 (10 yrs after entry)
California State University-San Bernardino
10.3 mi awayPublic · 4-year · 15,023 students · in-state tuition $8,524 · 71% graduate · median earnings $61,951 (10 yrs after entry)
Public · 2-year · 12,234 students · in-state tuition $1,185 · 22% graduate · median earnings $43,912 (10 yrs after entry)
Public · 2-year · 5,687 students · in-state tuition $1,184 · 32% graduate · median earnings $47,391 (10 yrs after entry)
Private nonprofit · 4-year · 2,049 students · in-state tuition $62,682 · 70% graduate · median earnings $80,659 (10 yrs after entry)
Private nonprofit · 4-year · 909 students · in-state tuition $21,032 · 94% graduate · median earnings $99,540 (10 yrs after entry)
Degree-granting colleges with 100+ students, placed by campus location (main campuses only — branch campuses are reported under their parent school)
Parks & Recreationclosest: Juan Bautista de Anza National Historic Trail, 17 mi
Nearby national parks, recreation areas and public libraries for Highland
Highland has 4 nearby national parks or recreation areas, closest being Juan Bautista de Anza National Historic Trail (17 mi away).
Nearby National Parks & Recreation Areas
Juan Bautista de Anza National Historic Trail
National Historic Trail
17 mi awayJoshua Tree National Park
National Park
77 mi awaySanta Monica Mountains National Recreation Area
National Recreation Area
92 mi awayCabrillo National Monument
National Monument
100 mi awayPublic Libraries in Highland
Highland Sam J. Racadio Library And Environmental Learning C
7863 Central Avenue, Highland
Cities Near Highland
The closest cities within 60 miles
Planning a move to Highland?
Read our full moving guide — what it's really like to live here.
Highland FAQ
Is Highland, California affordable?⌄
Highland's median rent is $1,629/month, which is above the national average. The median household income is $77,120/year. Median home value is $485,600.
Is Highland, California safe?⌄
Highland's violent crime rate was 490 per 100,000 residents in 2025, which is above the national average of 329/100k that year. Property crime rate is 1062 per 100,000. As with any city, crime rates vary by neighborhood.
What is the job market like in Highland, California?⌄
Highland has an unemployment rate of 5.5%, which is slightly above the national average of 4.3%.
What is the cost of living in Highland, California?⌄
The cost of living in Highland is primarily driven by housing. Median rent is $1,629/month and median household income is $77,120/year. The median home value is $485,600. About 64% of renters spend more than 30% of their income on housing.
How is the commute in Highland, California?⌄
The average commute in Highland is 30 minutes, which is about average compared to the national average of 26 minutes.
Data from the US Census Bureau, BLS, FBI, NOAA, EPA, Zillow Research and other public sources. Where our data comes from