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Living in
Highland.
About
Life in Highland
Highland is a community of 10,268 people in Illinois. The median household income is $82,551, median rent runs about $855 per month, and median home values are around $202,900. The unemployment rate is 4.0%.
Highland at a Glance
Population, income, housing and more
Median Age
41.8 yrs
Poverty Rate
6.0%
Foreign-Born
3.3%
Broadband Internet
95.4%
of households
Population Growth
0.0%
recent change · Census Bureau
Median household income
Demographics3.3% foreign-born, most often from England
Who lives in Highland: race and ethnicity, ages, households, languages and countries of origin
In Highland, the largest foreign-born group is from England (36.7%), and 1.4% of residents speak Spanish at home.
Under 18
19.2%
of residents
65 and Older
19.8%
of residents
Households with Kids
26.5%
anyone under 18
Living Alone
39.5%
of households
Married Couples
40.9%
of households
Avg Household Size
2.05
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 33% below IL average
Rent, home values, and income in Highland
In Highland, rent runs 33% below the IL average, and home values are 23% below the IL average.
Median rent (per month)
Median home value
Rent Burdened
42.2%
spending 30%+ of income on rent
Severely Rent Burdened
18.5%
spending 50%+
Cost of Living Index
95.1
metro area (BEA) · US avg = 100
Median Property Tax
$3,908
per year, owner-occupied homes
Homeowners
72.7%
of occupied homes are owned
Typical Home Built
1979
median year built
Home Value Trend
Latest: $275,189 (September 2026)
Jobs & Economyunemployment 0.6 pts below IL average
Unemployment in Highland and typical pay across the metro area
Unemployment in Madison County, which includes Highland, is 0.6 percentage points lower than the IL average.
Unemployment rate
Highland: Madison County rate (county-wide) · BLS annual average
Unemployment Rate — 10 Year Trend
Madison County (county-wide) · Annual averages
Highland is about 4% of Madison County’s population, so county-wide figures may differ from local conditions.
What Highland Residents Do for Work · share of employed residents by industry
City residents, wherever they work
Median Salary by Occupation · metro area
St. Louis, MO-IL metro area
Commute27.3 min avg
How Highland residents get to work, and the nearest airports
In Highland, most residents drive alone to work (83%), and 49% get there in under 30 minutes.
How People Get to Work
Commute Time Distribution
Nearest airports · with airline service
- 16 mi
Scott AFB/Midamerica Airport (BLV)
Regional airport · few flights193k passengers boarded in 2025
- 38 mi
St. Louis Lambert International Airport (STL)
Medium hub7.5M 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 73% below national average
Crime rates for 2025
Violent crime in Highland runs 73% below the national average.
Violent Crime Rate
89.9
per 100,000 residents
Below average (329 national, 2025)
Property Crime Rate
319.6
per 100,000 residents
Below average (1,552 national, 2025)
Highland Police Department
Natural DisastersThunderstorm Wind most common — 14 events in 2025
Natural hazard risk, storms and earthquakes
FEMA National Risk Index
Relatively Moderate
93.4 / 100
Compares expected losses from natural hazards, social vulnerability and community resilience against every US county (higher = more risk).
Madison County, county-wide · FEMA NRI December 2025
In Madison County, which includes Highland, the most common type is thunderstorm wind, with 14 recorded events in 2025.
Most common events:
Storm events by year
| Year | Events | Top Type | Property Damage |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 14 | Thunderstorm Wind | $37,000 |
| 2024 | 10 | Thunderstorm Wind | $217,000 |
| 2023 | 16 | Thunderstorm Wind | $250,000 |
| 2022 | 7 | Thunderstorm Wind | $106,000 |
| 2021 | 10 | Thunderstorm Wind | $5.0M |
| 2020 | 4 | Thunderstorm Wind | None reported |
| 2019 | 12 | Thunderstorm Wind | $24.8M |
| 2018 | 16 | 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.
2 earthquakes of magnitude 2.5+ within 100 miles in the past year
Madison County, county-wide
Highland is about 4% of Madison County’s population, so county-wide figures may differ from local conditions.
Air Quality49 median AQI — Good
Days by air quality category (2025)
Air quality in Madison County, which includes Highland, is typically good — 191 good-air days per year.
Median AQI
49
Good Days
191
per year
Moderate Days
170
per year
Unhealthy Days
1
per year
Madison County, county-wide
Highland is about 4% of Madison County’s population, so county-wide figures may differ from local conditions.
Climate89°F summers, 27°F winters
30-year climate averages (1991–2020) — monthly temperatures and precipitation
Highland has warm summers (avg high 89°F) and cold winters (avg low 27°F).
Spring (Mar–May)
70°/46°F
avg high / low
Summer (Jun–Aug)
89°/66°F
avg high / low
Fall (Sep–Nov)
71°/47°F
avg high / low
Winter (Dec–Feb)
46°/27°F
avg high / low
Annual Precipitation
44.5"
Annual Snowfall
10.2"
Hot Days/Year
53
days above 90°F
Freeze Days/Year
94
days below 32°F
Rainy Days/Year
103
Average month
Show month-by-month table ↓Hide table ↑
| Month | High | Low | Precip |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 43°F | 24°F | 2.56" |
| Feb | 49°F | 28°F | 2.16" |
| Mar | 59°F | 36°F | 3.44" |
| Apr | 71°F | 46°F | 4.90" |
| May | 79°F | 56°F | 5.05" |
| Jun | 87°F | 65°F | 4.62" |
| Jul | 90°F | 68°F | 4.03" |
| Aug | 89°F | 65°F | 3.92" |
| Sep | 83°F | 57°F | 3.35" |
| Oct | 73°F | 47°F | 3.12" |
| Nov | 58°F | 37°F | 3.60" |
| Dec | 46°F | 28°F | 2.61" |
Healthcare1 hospital, avg 3.0/5
Hospitals, ratings, and health insurance in Highland
Highland has 1 hospital, averaging 3.0 out of 5 on CMS's quality rating.
Hospitals
1
within city limits
Uninsured
1.7%
of residents
Avg Hospital Rating
3.0 / 5
St Joseph's Hospital
Critical Access Hospitals · ER available
Nearby hospitals · within 15 miles
St Josephs Hospital
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available · 12.4 mi away · Breese
Anderson Hospital
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available · 14.4 mi away · Maryville
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.
Education14.3:1 student/teacher ratio
Schools and degree attainment in Highland
Highland's student/teacher ratio is 14.3:1 (lower than the national average of 16:1), and 35.8% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Public Schools
4
within city limits
Private Schools
1
within city limits
College Degree Rate
35.8%
adults 25+ with bachelor's or higher
Student/Teacher Ratio
14.3:1
National avg 16:1
Schools located within city limits (2023) — school-level metrics change slowly year to year
Parks & Recreationclosest: Gateway Arch National Park, 29 mi
Nearby national parks, recreation areas and public libraries for Highland
Highland has 6 nearby national parks or recreation areas, closest being Gateway Arch National Park (29 mi away).
Nearby National Parks & Recreation Areas
Gateway Arch National Park
National Park
29 mi awayUlysses S Grant National Historic Site
National Historic Site
39 mi awaySte. Geneviève National Historical Park
National Historical Park
57 mi awayLincoln Home National Historic Site
National Historic Site
72 mi awaySpringfield 1908 Race Riot National Monument
National Monument
72 mi awayNew Philadelphia National Historic Site
National Historic Site
94 mi awayPublic Libraries in Highland
Louis Latzer Memorial Public Library
1001 Ninth Street, 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, Illinois affordable?⌄
Highland's median rent is $855/month, which is below the national average, making it relatively affordable. The median household income is $82,551/year. Median home value is $202,900.
Is Highland, Illinois safe?⌄
Highland's violent crime rate was 90 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 320 per 100,000. As with any city, crime rates vary by neighborhood.
What is the job market like in Highland, Illinois?⌄
Madison County, which includes Highland, has an unemployment rate of 4.0%, which is close to the national average of 4.3%.
What is the cost of living in Highland, Illinois?⌄
The cost of living in Highland is primarily driven by housing. Median rent is $855/month and median household income is $82,551/year. The median home value is $202,900. About 42% of renters spend more than 30% of their income on housing.
How is the commute in Highland, Illinois?⌄
The average commute in Highland is 27 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