Highlands, North Carolina Demographics & Population 2026

Population Overview

Highlands is a small community located in North Carolina, within Jackson County. The total population is 1,074. It ranks as the 442nd most populous out of 772 Census-designated places in North Carolina.

Age Demographics

The median age in Highlands is 62.7 years. This is 60% higher than the state median of 39.1 years. Only 6.7% of residents are under 18, indicating fewer families with children. 18.6% 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 is $71,509. This is 1% lower than the state median of $72,388. It is also 11% lower than the national median of $80,734. The poverty rate stands at 7.9%. This is 39% lower than the state poverty rate of 13.0%. The unemployment rate is 4.3%. This is 10% lower than the state rate of 4.7%. The median home value is $700,900. Housing costs are 143% higher than the state median of $288,900. The home-value-to-income ratio of 9.8x suggests that housing affordability is a significant concern for many residents. 67.2% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied.

Race & Ethnicity

Highlands has a predominantly White (non-Hispanic) population, comprising 86.8% of all residents. Hispanic or Latino residents account for 5.9%. The Black or African American population (5.2%) is well below the state average of 20.0%. The Asian population (1.5%) is well below the state average of 3.3%.

Education

57.8% of residents aged 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or higher. This places Highlands in the top 10% of all cities in the state for educational attainment. This is 62% higher than the state rate of 35.6%. Nationally, 35.7% of adults hold at least a bachelor's degree. The high school graduation rate (or equivalent) is 96.9%. Notably, 20.9% of adults hold a graduate or professional degree, indicating a highly educated workforce.

Data Sources & Methodology

All demographic data for Highlands, North Carolina 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 North Carolina state averages and national averages calculated from the same dataset. Rankings reflect the city's position among all 772 Census-designated places in North Carolina. Read more about how these figures are produced on our methodology page, or visit data.census.gov for official data.