Highland-on-the-Lake, New York Demographics & Population 2026

Population Overview

Highland-on-the-Lake is a small community located in New York, within Erie County. The total population is 3,584. It ranks as the 452nd most populous out of 1,289 Census-designated places in New York.

Age Demographics

The median age in Highland-on-the-Lake is 50.6 years. This is 27% higher than the state median of 39.8 years. Only 10.2% of residents are under 18, indicating fewer families with children. 10.3% of residents are 75 or older, suggesting a significant retirement-age population with implications for healthcare services and senior housing.

Economy, Income & Housing

The median household income in Highland-on-the-Lake is $87,800. This is 2% higher than the state median of $85,974. It is also 9% higher than the national median of $80,734. The poverty rate stands at 15.9%. This is 14% higher than the state poverty rate of 14.0%. The unemployment rate is 2.8%. This is 56% lower than the state rate of 6.4%. The median home value is $186,300. Housing costs are 56% lower than the state median of $423,800. With a home-value-to-income ratio of just 2.1x, Highland-on-the-Lake is one of the most affordable housing markets in the area. 81.3% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied. This homeownership rate is 50% higher than the state average of 54.4%.

Race & Ethnicity

Highland-on-the-Lake has a predominantly White (non-Hispanic) population, comprising 92.0% of all residents. Hispanic or Latino residents account for 1.9%. The White (non-Hispanic) population is significantly higher than the state average (92.0% vs 52.8%). The Black or African American population (1.7%) is well below the state average of 13.4%. The Hispanic or Latino population (1.9%) is well below the state average of 19.8%.

Education

18.5% of residents aged 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or higher. This is 54% lower than the state rate of 40.2%. Nationally, 35.7% of adults hold at least a bachelor's degree. The high school graduation rate (or equivalent) is 94.6%.

Data Sources & Methodology

All demographic data for Highland-on-the-Lake, New York 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 York state averages and national averages calculated from the same dataset. Rankings reflect the city's position among all 1,289 Census-designated places in New York. Read more about how these figures are produced on our methodology page, or visit data.census.gov for official data.