Highland Lakes, New Jersey Demographics & Population 2026

Population Overview

Highland Lakes is a small community located in New Jersey, within Sussex County. The total population is 3,852. It ranks as the 346th most populous out of 700 Census-designated places in New Jersey.

Age Demographics

The median age in Highland Lakes is 53.4 years. This is 33% higher than the state median of 40.1 years. Only 12.7% of residents are under 18, indicating fewer families with children.

Economy, Income & Housing

The median household income in Highland Lakes is $109,000. This is 5% higher than the state median of $103,556. It is also 35% higher than the national median of $80,734. The poverty rate stands at 2.7%. This is 73% lower than the state poverty rate of 9.7%. This exceptionally low poverty rate indicates strong economic prosperity across the community. The unemployment rate is 4.9%. This is 23% lower than the state rate of 6.3%. The median home value is $295,300. Housing costs are 35% lower than the state median of $454,400. With a home-value-to-income ratio of just 2.7x, Highland Lakes is one of the most affordable housing markets in the area. 93.1% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied. This homeownership rate is 46% higher than the state average of 63.8%.

Race & Ethnicity

Highland Lakes has a predominantly White (non-Hispanic) population, comprising 88.5% of all residents. Hispanic or Latino residents account for 7.4%. The White (non-Hispanic) population is significantly higher than the state average (88.5% vs 50.9%). The Hispanic or Latino population (7.4%) is well below the state average of 22.5%. The Asian population (0.6%) is well below the state average of 10.1%.

Education

50.3% of residents aged 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or higher. This is 15% higher than the state rate of 43.6%. Nationally, 35.7% of adults hold at least a bachelor's degree. The high school graduation rate (or equivalent) is 98.6%. Notably, 17.0% of adults hold a graduate or professional degree, indicating a highly educated workforce.

Data Sources & Methodology

All demographic data for Highland Lakes, New Jersey is sourced from the U.S. Census Bureau's American Community Survey (ACS) 2020–2024 5-Year Estimates. The ACS collects data from approximately 3.5 million households annually and pools five years of responses so that even small communities can be measured, though the margin of error widens as the population falls. Comparisons are made against New Jersey state averages and national averages calculated from the same dataset. Rankings reflect the city's position among all 700 Census-designated places in New Jersey. Read more about how these figures are produced on our methodology page, or visit data.census.gov for official data.