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Living in
Highlands Ranch.
Highlands Ranch is an unincorporated community in Douglas County, CO. It has no city government: the county runs it, and the Census counts it as its own place.
About
Life in Highlands Ranch
This is a prosperous Denver suburb where you're buying into stability and family-oriented community life, though you'll pay for it. With a median household income around $159,000 and median home values near $713,000, Highlands Ranch skews affluent—the cost of living runs about 7% above the national average, and housing especially reflects the Colorado Front Range premium. That said, the job market is solid with a 3.8% unemployment rate and major employers like Visa's Operations Center and UDR headquartered here, plus you're only 13 miles from downtown Denver's broader job market if you're willing to commute (average is about 25 minutes).
Highlands Ranch at a Glance
Population, income, housing and more
Median Age
41.5 yrs
Poverty Rate
2.9%
Foreign-Born
8.6%
Broadband Internet
98.1%
of households
Population Growth
-4.0%
recent change · Census Bureau
Median household income
Demographics8.6% foreign-born, most often from India
Who lives in Highlands Ranch: race and ethnicity, ages, households, languages and countries of origin
In Highlands Ranch, the largest foreign-born group is from India (19.1%), and 2.9% of residents speak Spanish at home.
Under 18
24.0%
of residents
65 and Older
14.7%
of residents
Households with Kids
37.2%
anyone under 18
Living Alone
20.8%
of households
Married Couples
63.3%
of households
Avg Household Size
2.65
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 44% above CO average
Rent, home values, and income in Highlands Ranch
In Highlands Ranch, rent runs 44% above the CO average, and home values are 32% above the CO average.
Median rent (per month)
Median home value
Rent Burdened
48.0%
spending 30%+ of income on rent
Severely Rent Burdened
21.6%
spending 50%+
Cost of Living Index
105.8
metro area (BEA) · US avg = 100
Median Property Tax
$3,701
per year, owner-occupied homes
Homeowners
78.1%
of occupied homes are owned
Typical Home Built
1997
median year built
Vacant Homes
2.5%
of housing units
Home Value Trend
Latest: $689,007 (September 2026)
Jobs & Economyunemployment about average for CO
Unemployment in Highlands Ranch and typical pay across the metro area
Unemployment in Douglas County, which includes Highlands Ranch, is close to the CO average.
Unemployment rate
Highlands Ranch: Douglas County rate (county-wide) · BLS annual average
Unemployment Rate — 10 Year Trend
Douglas County (county-wide) · Annual averages
What Highlands Ranch Residents Do for Work · share of employed residents by industry
City residents, wherever they work
Median Salary by Occupation · metro area
Denver-Aurora-Lakewood, CO metro area
Commute24.2 min avg
How Highlands Ranch residents get to work, and the nearest airports
In Highlands Ranch, most residents drive alone to work (61%), and 66% get there in under 30 minutes.
How People Get to Work
Commute Time Distribution
Nearest airports · with airline service
- 28 mi
Denver International Airport (DEN)
Major hub40.0M 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 43% below national average
Crime rates for 2025
Violent crime in the area policed by the Douglas County Sheriff's Office, which covers Highlands Ranch, runs 43% below the national average.
Violent Crime Rate
188.5
per 100,000 residents
Below average (329 national, 2025)
Property Crime Rate
820.8
per 100,000 residents
Below average (1,552 national, 2025)
Policed by Douglas County Sheriff's Office (county-wide rate)
Natural DisastersWinter Weather most common — 29 events in 2025
Natural hazard risk, storms and earthquakes
FEMA National Risk Index
Relatively Moderate
88.7 / 100
Compares expected losses from natural hazards, social vulnerability and community resilience against every US county (higher = more risk).
Douglas County, county-wide · FEMA NRI December 2025
In Douglas County, which includes Highlands Ranch, the most common type is winter weather, with 29 recorded events in 2025.
Most common events:
Storm events by year
| Year | Events | Top Type | Property Damage |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 29 | Winter Weather | Not estimated |
| 2024 | 40 | Winter Weather | $20,000 |
| 2023 | 38 | Winter Weather | $25,000 |
| 2022 | 34 | Winter Weather | None reported |
| 2021 | 28 | Winter Weather | None reported |
| 2020 | 22 | High Wind | None reported |
| 2019 | 28 | Winter Weather | None reported |
| 2018 | 24 | Hail | None reported |
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.
1 earthquake of magnitude 2.5+ within 100 miles in the past year
Douglas County, county-wide
Air Quality46 median AQI — Good
Days by air quality category (2025)
Air quality in Douglas County, which includes Highlands Ranch, is typically good — 247 good-air days per year.
Median AQI
46
Good Days
247
per year
Moderate Days
111
per year
Unhealthy Days
0
per year
Douglas County, county-wide
Climate84°F summers, 17°F winters
30-year climate averages (1991–2020) — monthly temperatures and precipitation
Highlands Ranch has warm summers (avg high 84°F) and very cold winters (avg low 17°F).
Spring (Mar–May)
62°/34°F
avg high / low
Summer (Jun–Aug)
84°/56°F
avg high / low
Fall (Sep–Nov)
66°/36°F
avg high / low
Winter (Dec–Feb)
47°/17°F
avg high / low
Annual Precipitation
18.2"
Annual Snowfall
64.0"
Hot Days/Year
36
days above 90°F
Freeze Days/Year
156
days below 32°F
Rainy Days/Year
87
Average month
Show month-by-month table ↓Hide table ↑
| Month | High | Low | Precip |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 47°F | 17°F | 0.61" |
| Feb | 47°F | 18°F | 0.74" |
| Mar | 55°F | 26°F | 1.68" |
| Apr | 61°F | 33°F | 2.36" |
| May | 69°F | 43°F | 2.48" |
| Jun | 81°F | 52°F | 1.82" |
| Jul | 87°F | 59°F | 1.71" |
| Aug | 85°F | 57°F | 2.01" |
| Sep | 78°F | 48°F | 1.69" |
| Oct | 66°F | 36°F | 1.49" |
| Nov | 54°F | 25°F | 0.92" |
| Dec | 46°F | 17°F | 0.73" |
Healthcare2 hospitals, avg 5.0/5
Hospitals, ratings, and health insurance in Highlands Ranch
Highlands Ranch has 2 hospitals, averaging 5.0 out of 5 on CMS's quality rating — above-average care.
Hospitals
2
within city limits
Uninsured
3.8%
of residents
Avg Hospital Rating
5.0 / 5
Uchealth Highlands Ranch Hospital
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available
Highlands Behavioral Health System
Psychiatric
Nearby hospitals · within 15 miles
Adventhealth Littleton
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available · 2.1 mi away · Littleton
Colorado Mental Health Hospital in Fort Logan
Psychiatric · 6.7 mi away · Denver
Sky Ridge Medical Center
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available · 6.9 mi away · Lone Tree
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.
Education17.8:1 student/teacher ratio
Schools and degree attainment in Highlands Ranch
Highlands Ranch's student/teacher ratio is 17.8:1 (higher than the national average of 16:1), and 67.8% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Public Schools
28
within city limits
Private Schools
6
within city limits
College Degree Rate
67.8%
adults 25+ with bachelor's or higher
Student/Teacher Ratio
17.8:1
National avg 16:1
Schools located within city limits (2023) — school-level metrics change slowly year to year
Colleges Near Highlands Ranch (within 15 miles)
Metropolitan State University of Denver
13.5 mi awayPublic · 4-year · 15,002 students · in-state tuition $11,540 · 39% graduate · median earnings $57,612 (10 yrs after entry)
Colorado State University Global
13.6 mi awayPublic · 4-year · 6,563 students · in-state tuition $9,000 · 45% graduate · median earnings $82,047 (10 yrs after entry)
Private nonprofit · 4-year · 6,025 students · in-state tuition $63,246 · 77% graduate · median earnings $77,205 (10 yrs after entry)
Private nonprofit · 4-year · 5,549 students · in-state tuition $42,758 · 31% graduate · median earnings $52,025 (10 yrs after entry)
Public · 2-year · 5,096 students · in-state tuition $5,218 · 15% graduate · median earnings $44,120 (10 yrs after entry)
Rocky Mountain College of Art and Design
14 mi awayPrivate for-profit · 4-year · 2,050 students · in-state tuition $20,190 · 37% graduate · median earnings $45,764 (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: Florissant Fossil Beds National Monument, 46 mi
Nearby national parks, recreation areas and public libraries for Highlands Ranch
Highlands Ranch has 2 nearby national parks or recreation areas, closest being Florissant Fossil Beds National Monument (46 mi away).
Nearby National Parks & Recreation Areas
Florissant Fossil Beds National Monument
National Monument
46 mi awayRocky Mountain National Park
National Park
67 mi awayPublic Libraries in Highlands Ranch
Highlands Ranch Library
9292 Ridgeline Blvd, Highlands Ranch
Cities Near Highlands Ranch
The closest cities within 60 miles
Planning a move to Highlands Ranch?
Read our full moving guide — what it's really like to live here.
Highlands Ranch FAQ
Is Highlands Ranch, Colorado affordable?⌄
Highlands Ranch's median rent is $2,531/month, which is significantly above the national average. The median household income is $159,307/year. Median home value is $712,700.
Is Highlands Ranch, Colorado safe?⌄
Highlands Ranch is policed by the Douglas County Sheriff's Office, whose violent crime rate across its service area was 189 per 100,000 residents in 2025, which is well below the national average — one of the safer cities in the country of 329/100k that year. Property crime rate is 821 per 100,000. As with any city, crime rates vary by neighborhood.
What is the job market like in Highlands Ranch, Colorado?⌄
Douglas County, which includes Highlands Ranch, has an unemployment rate of 3.7%, which is solid, slightly below the national average of 4.3%.
What is the cost of living in Highlands Ranch, Colorado?⌄
The cost of living in Highlands Ranch is primarily driven by housing. Median rent is $2,531/month and median household income is $159,307/year. The median home value is $712,700. About 48% of renters spend more than 30% of their income on housing.
How is the commute in Highlands Ranch, Colorado?⌄
The average commute in Highlands Ranch is 24 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