Highland Lake is a small town of 444 in Alabama, with a median household income of $57,422
and a 4.6% unemployment rate.
Its cost of living index is 93 (US average = 100), which is
7% below the national average.
Strengths:
Highland Lake stands out for an affordable cost of living.
Trade-offs:
Potential downsides include longer commutes. Whether Highland Lake is right for you depends on your priorities — the full breakdown is below.
All Highland Lake city data on this page comes from official government sources —
the US Census Bureau, FBI, NCES, BEA, and NOAA — updated annually.
Cost of Living
Index: 92.6
Highland Lake's overall cost of living index is 92.6,
where 100 represents the US national average.
Living in Highland Lake costs roughly 7% less than the average American city.
Metric
Highland Lake, AL
National Avg
Median Home Value
$253,100
$244,900
Median Monthly Rent
N/A
$1,163
Homeownership Rate
89.1%
65.9%
Median Household Income
$57,422
$74,755
Crime & Safety
Safer than Average
Highland Lake's violent crime rate is 205.8 per 100,000 residents
— 46% lower than the national average of ~380 per 100,000.
Violent Crime
205.8 /100k
Property Crime
1456.1 /100k
Vertical marker = national average. Source: FBI UCR Program.
Schools & Education
Metric
Highland Lake, AL
National Avg
School District
N/A
—
Elementary Schools
N/A
—
Middle Schools
N/A
—
High Schools
N/A
—
Student/Teacher Ratio
N/A
16:1
Bachelor's Degree or Higher
24.1%
35.4%
High School Diploma or Higher
89.8%
91.1%
Weather & Climate
Highland Lake sees average highs of 53.2°F in January
and 90.9°F in July,
with 57.4 inches of annual precipitation
and 1.7 inches of snow per year.
Highland Lake's cost of living index is 93, where 100 is the national average.
That makes Highland Lake roughly 7% less expensive than a typical US city — a meaningful affordability advantage.
The median home price is $253,100 and median rent is N/A/month.
Highland Lake's violent crime rate is 205.8 per 100,000 residents — the national average is ~380 per 100,000. Property crime is 1456.1 per 100,000 (national avg ~2,100). Data from the FBI Uniform Crime Reporting Program.
School district information is sourced from NCES Common Core of Data.
Highland Lake, AL has a population of 444, a median household income of $57,422, and an unemployment rate of 4.6%.
It offers below-average costs of living, which stretches take-home pay further than in most American cities. Whether it's right for you depends on your priorities — use the compare tool above to stack it against another city you're considering.
Highland Lake averages 53.2°F in January and 90.9°F in July. Annual rainfall is 57.4 inches
with about 1.7 inches of snow per year.
Based on NOAA 30-year climate normals (1991–2020).
The population of Highland Lake, Alabama is 444 with a median age of 59.2. Source: US Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.
Key numbers for living in Highland Lake: cost of living index 93 (100 = US average), median home $253,100, median household income $57,422, crime index 60 (100 = US average, lower is safer). Whether these are benefits or drawbacks depends on where you're coming from — compare Highland Lake side by side with your current city to see the trade-offs.