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Living in
Highland.
About
Life in Highland
This is a young, family-oriented community about 30 miles south of Salt Lake City where nearly 85% of households are married couples and the median age hovers around 27—which means you'll see a lot of kids, active families, and people in similar life stages. The flip side is that it's extremely homogeneous and religious; about 93% of residents belong to The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, so if that's not your background, understand that this deeply shapes the community's culture, social calendar, and weekend rhythms. Housing is expensive—median home values sit around $928k and rent averages $2,100 a month—which reflects the area's desirability, but the median household income of $186k suggests most residents here are doing well financially, often working in tech, healthcare, or the broader Provo-Orem job market that's been booming.
Highland at a Glance
Population, income, housing and more
Median Age
28.0 yrs
Poverty Rate
1.9%
Foreign-Born
3.4%
Broadband Internet
97.9%
of households
Population Growth
+11.3%
recent change · Census Bureau
Median household income
Demographics3.4% 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 (16.9%), and 2.9% of residents speak Spanish at home.
Under 18
37.4%
of residents
65 and Older
9.1%
of residents
Households with Kids
56.7%
anyone under 18
Living Alone
7.4%
of households
Married Couples
82.5%
of households
Avg Household Size
3.98
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 45% above UT average
Rent, home values, and income in Highland
In Highland, rent runs 45% above the UT average, and home values are 90% above the UT average.
Median rent (per month)
Median home value
Rent Burdened
37.1%
spending 30%+ of income on rent
Severely Rent Burdened
15.7%
spending 50%+
Cost of Living Index
98.2
metro area (BEA) · US avg = 100
Median Property Tax
$3,657
per year, owner-occupied homes
Homeowners
91.7%
of occupied homes are owned
Typical Home Built
2004
median year built
Vacant Homes
3.0%
of housing units
Home Value Trend
Latest: $975,535 (September 2026)
Jobs & Economyunemployment about average for UT
Unemployment in Highland and typical pay across the metro area
Unemployment in Utah County, which includes Highland, is close to the UT average.
Unemployment rate
Highland: Utah County rate (county-wide) · BLS annual average
Unemployment Rate — 10 Year Trend
Utah County (county-wide) · Annual averages
Highland is about 3% of Utah 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
Provo-Orem, UT metro area
Commute23.1 min avg
How Highland residents get to work, and the nearest airports
In Highland, most residents drive alone to work (64%), and 67% get there in under 30 minutes.
How People Get to Work
Commute Time Distribution
Nearest airports · with airline service
- 15 mi
Provo Municipal Airport (PVU)
Small hub531k passengers boarded in 2025
- 27 mi
Salt Lake City International Airport (SLC)
Major hub13.4M 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 55% below national average
Crime rates for 2025
Violent crime in the area policed by the Utah County Sheriff's Office, which covers Highland, runs 55% below the national average.
Violent Crime Rate
147
per 100,000 residents
Below average (329 national, 2025)
Property Crime Rate
214.6
per 100,000 residents
Below average (1,552 national, 2025)
Policed by Utah County Sheriff's Office (county-wide rate)
Natural DisastersHeavy Snow most common — 19 events in 2025
Natural hazard risk, storms and earthquakes
FEMA National Risk Index
Relatively High
95.3 / 100
Compares expected losses from natural hazards, social vulnerability and community resilience against every US county (higher = more risk).
Utah County, county-wide · FEMA NRI December 2025
In Utah County, which includes Highland, the most common type is heavy snow, with 19 recorded events in 2025.
Most common events:
Storm events by year
| Year | Events | Top Type | Property Damage |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 19 | High Wind | $616,000 |
| 2024 | 36 | Thunderstorm Wind | $111,000 |
| 2023 | 51 | Heavy Snow | $160,750 |
| 2022 | 29 | Heavy Snow | $30,500 |
| 2021 | 19 | Thunderstorm Wind | $107,000 |
| 2020 | 3 | Thunderstorm Wind | None reported |
| 2019 | 6 | Flash Flood | $288,000 |
| 2018 | 3 | Thunderstorm Wind | $20,000 |
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.
12 earthquakes of magnitude 2.5+ within 100 miles in the past year
Utah County, county-wide
Highland is about 3% of Utah County’s population, so county-wide figures may differ from local conditions.
Air Quality48 median AQI — Good
Days by air quality category (2025)
Air quality in Utah County, which includes Highland, is typically good — 206 good-air days per year.
Median AQI
48
Good Days
206
per year
Moderate Days
158
per year
Unhealthy Days
0
per year
Utah County, county-wide
Highland is about 3% of Utah County’s population, so county-wide figures may differ from local conditions.
Climate86°F summers, 23°F winters
30-year climate averages (1991–2020) — monthly temperatures and precipitation
Highland has warm summers (avg high 86°F) and cold winters (avg low 23°F).
Spring (Mar–May)
62°/38°F
avg high / low
Summer (Jun–Aug)
86°/56°F
avg high / low
Fall (Sep–Nov)
65°/39°F
avg high / low
Winter (Dec–Feb)
40°/23°F
avg high / low
Annual Precipitation
18.6"
Annual Snowfall
74.4"
Hot Days/Year
36
days above 90°F
Freeze Days/Year
133
days below 32°F
Rainy Days/Year
93
Average month
Show month-by-month table ↓Hide table ↑
| Month | High | Low | Precip |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 39°F | 22°F | 2.50" |
| Feb | 44°F | 25°F | 2.03" |
| Mar | 54°F | 32°F | 2.03" |
| Apr | 61°F | 37°F | 2.49" |
| May | 71°F | 44°F | 2.42" |
| Jun | 82°F | 51°F | 1.00" |
| Jul | 90°F | 59°F | 0.64" |
| Aug | 87°F | 58°F | 0.95" |
| Sep | 79°F | 49°F | 1.33" |
| Oct | 65°F | 39°F | 1.84" |
| Nov | 50°F | 29°F | 1.63" |
| Dec | 39°F | 22°F | 2.26" |
Healthcare
Hospitals, ratings, and health insurance in Highland
Uninsured
4.4%
of residents
No hospitals inside Highland's limits — nearest hospitals · within 15 miles
American Fork Hospital
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available · 3.5 mi away · American Fork
Lone Peak Hospital
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available · 8.9 mi away · Draper
Timpanogos Regional Hospital
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available · 9.1 mi away · Orem
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.
Education27.4:1 student/teacher ratio
Schools and degree attainment in Highland
Highland's student/teacher ratio is 27.4:1 (higher than the national average of 16:1), and 64.4% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Public Schools
5
within city limits
Private Schools
0
within city limits
College Degree Rate
64.4%
adults 25+ with bachelor's or higher
Student/Teacher Ratio
27.4:1
National avg 16:1
Schools located within city limits (2023) — school-level metrics change slowly year to year
Colleges Near Highland (within 15 miles)
Private nonprofit · 4-year · 32,952 students · in-state tuition $6,888 · 86% graduate · median earnings $80,228 (10 yrs after entry)
Public · 2-year · 28,453 students · in-state tuition $6,674 · 48% graduate · median earnings $60,162 (10 yrs after entry)
Joyce University of Nursing and Health Sciences
8.6 mi awayPrivate for-profit · 2-year · 2,058 students · in-state tuition $23,710 · 76% graduate · median earnings $34,098 (10 yrs after entry)
Private for-profit · 4-year · 669 students · in-state tuition $16,606 · 65% graduate · median earnings $42,739 (10 yrs after entry)
Galen Health Institutes-Salt Lake City
7.6 mi awayPrivate for-profit · 2-year · 122 students · in-state tuition $17,984 · median earnings $69,188 (10 yrs after entry)
Private for-profit · 4-year · 118 students · 98% graduate · median earnings $36,881 (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: Timpanogos Cave National Monument, 5 mi
Nearby national parks, recreation areas and public libraries for Highland
Highland has 2 nearby national parks or recreation areas, closest being Timpanogos Cave National Monument (5 mi away).
Nearby National Parks & Recreation Areas
Timpanogos Cave National Monument
National Monument
5 mi awayGolden Spike National Historical Park
National Historical Park
91 mi awayPublic Libraries in Highland
Highland City Library
5400 W Civic Center Dr, Suite 2, 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, Utah affordable?⌄
Highland's median rent is $2,166/month, which is significantly above the national average. The median household income is $186,075/year. Median home value is $928,300.
Is Highland, Utah safe?⌄
Highland is policed by the Utah County Sheriff's Office, whose violent crime rate across its service area was 147 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 215 per 100,000. As with any city, crime rates vary by neighborhood.
What is the job market like in Highland, Utah?⌄
Utah County, which includes Highland, has an unemployment rate of 3.6%, which is solid, slightly below the national average of 4.3%.
What is the cost of living in Highland, Utah?⌄
The cost of living in Highland is primarily driven by housing. Median rent is $2,166/month and median household income is $186,075/year. The median home value is $928,300. About 37% of renters spend more than 30% of their income on housing.
How is the commute in Highland, Utah?⌄
The average commute in Highland is 23 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