Highlands town, North Carolina Demographics & Population 2026

Population Overview

Highlands town is a small community located in North Carolina, within Macon County. The total population is 1,276. It ranks as the 419th most populous out of 774 cities and towns in North Carolina.

Age Demographics

The median age in Highlands town is 58.4 years. This is 49% higher than the state median of 39.1 years. Only 11.4% of residents are under 18, indicating fewer families with children. 15.8% 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 Highlands town is $63,750. This is 9% lower than the state median of $69,904. Compared to the national median of $78,538, household income here is 19% lower. The poverty rate stands at 12.8%. This is 3% lower than the state poverty rate of 13.2%. The unemployment rate is 3.7%. This is 23% lower than the state rate of 4.8%. The median home value is $666,300. Housing costs are 157% higher than the state median of $259,400. The home-value-to-income ratio of 10.5x suggests that housing affordability is a significant concern for many residents. 59.0% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied. This homeownership rate is 11% lower than the state average of 66.4%.

Race & Ethnicity

Highlands town has a predominantly White (non-Hispanic) population, comprising 85.0% of all residents. Hispanic or Latino residents account for 10.1%. The Black or African American population (3.1%) is well below the state average of 20.3%. The Asian population (1.2%) is well below the state average of 3.1%.

Education

53.0% of residents aged 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or higher. This places Highlands town in the top 10% of all cities in the state for educational attainment. This is 53% higher than the state rate of 34.7%. Nationally, 35.0% of adults hold at least a bachelor's degree. The high school graduation rate (or equivalent) is 95.8%. Notably, 22.1% of adults hold a graduate or professional degree, indicating a highly educated workforce.

Data Sources & Methodology

All demographic data for Highlands town, North Carolina is sourced from the U.S. Census Bureau's American Community Survey (ACS) 5-Year Estimates (2019-2023). The ACS collects data from approximately 3.5 million households annually, providing reliable estimates for communities of all sizes. Comparisons are made against North Carolina state averages and national averages calculated from the same dataset. Rankings reflect the city's position among all 774 Census-designated places in North Carolina. For official data, visit data.census.gov.