What are the schools like in Highland, IL?

Highland is served primarily by Highland CUSD 5. The district operates 4 elementary schools, 1 middle schools, and 1 high schools with a student-to-teacher ratio of 13.6:1.

What is the median household income in Highland?

The median household income in Highland, IL is $75,779 according to the most recent US Census American Community Survey 5-year estimates. The unemployment rate is 2.4%.

What is the weather like in Highland, IL?

Highland has an average high temperature of 42.9°F in January and 90.2°F in July. Annual precipitation averages 44.5 inches and annual snowfall averages 10.2 inches.

Highland, IL Cost of Living, Crime & Is It a Good Place to Live? (2026)

Q: Is Highland, IL affordable or expensive?

Highland's cost of living index is 96, where 100 represents the national average. This means Highland is 4% less expensive than the average US city. The median home value is $176,300 and the median rent is $796 per month.

Q: What is the crime rate in Highland, IL?

Highland has a violent crime rate of 130.9 incidents per 100,000 residents and a property crime rate of 603.9 per 100,000. The national average violent crime rate is approximately 380 per 100,000.

Is Highland, IL a Good Place to Live?

Highland is a small city of 10,215 in Illinois, with a median household income of $75,779 and a 2.4% unemployment rate. Its cost of living index is 96 (US average = 100), which is 4% below the national average.

Strengths: Highland stands out for an affordable cost of living, below-average home prices, lower-than-average crime, solid school ratings (B).

Trade-offs: No major red flags stand out in the available data. Whether Highland is right for you depends on your priorities — the full breakdown is below.

All Highland 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: 96.3

Highland's overall cost of living index is 96.3, where 100 represents the US national average. Living in Highland costs roughly 4% less than the average American city.

Metric	Highland, IL	National Avg
Median Home Value	$176,300	$244,900
Median Monthly Rent	$796	$1,163
Homeownership Rate	68.7%	65.9%
Median Household Income	$75,779	$74,755

Crime & Safety

Very Safe

Highland's violent crime rate is 130.9 per 100,000 residents — 66% lower than the national average of ~380 per 100,000.

Violent Crime

130.9 /100k

Property Crime

603.9 /100k

Vertical marker = national average. Source: FBI UCR Program.

Schools & Education

Highland is served primarily by Highland CUSD 5. The student-to-teacher ratio is 13.6:1 (better than the national average of ~16:1).

Metric	Highland, IL	National Avg
School District	Highland CUSD 5	—
Elementary Schools	4	—
Middle Schools	1	—
High Schools	1	—
Student/Teacher Ratio	13.6:1	16:1
Bachelor's Degree or Higher	28.9%	35.4%
High School Diploma or Higher	96.0%	91.1%

Weather & Climate

Highland sees average highs of 42.9°F in January and 90.2°F in July, with 44.5 inches of annual precipitation and 10.2 inches of snow per year.

Metric	Highland, IL
Average High — January	42.9°F
Average High — July	90.2°F
Annual Precipitation	44.5"
Annual Snowfall	10.2"

Demographics

Metric	Highland, IL	National Avg
Population	10,215	—
Median Age	42.8	38.9
Unemployment Rate	2.4%	3.7%
Avg Commute Time	28.7 min	26 min
White (non-Hispanic)	94.2%	59.3%
Black or African American	0.4%	13.6%
Hispanic or Latino	0.5%	18.9%
Asian	3.3%	6.3%
Under 18	19.6%	22.2%
65 and over	19.0%	16.8%

Nearby Cities

Grantfork, IL 4 mi Marine, IL 5 mi Pierron, IL 5 mi St. Jacob, IL 5 mi Alhambra, IL 9 mi

ZIP Codes in Highland

Highland, IL is covered by 1 ZIP code:

62249

Highland vs Other Cities

Highland, IL vs Grantfork, IL Highland, IL vs Marine, IL Highland, IL vs Pierron, IL Highland, IL vs St. Jacob, IL Highland, IL vs Alhambra, IL

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Highland, IL affordable or expensive?

Highland's cost of living index is 96, where 100 is the national average. That makes Highland roughly 4% less expensive than a typical US city — a meaningful affordability advantage. The median home price is $176,300 and median rent is $796/month.

What is the crime rate in Highland, IL?

Highland's violent crime rate is 130.9 per 100,000 residents — the national average is ~380 per 100,000. Property crime is 603.9 per 100,000 (national avg ~2,100). Data from the FBI Uniform Crime Reporting Program.

What are the schools like in Highland?

Public schools in Highland are operated by Highland CUSD 5. The district has 4 elementary, 1 middle, and 1 high schools. The student-to-teacher ratio is 13.6:1. 28.9% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

Is Highland, IL a good place to live?

Highland, IL has a population of 10,215, a median household income of $75,779, and an unemployment rate of 2.4%. Whether it's right for you depends on your priorities — use the compare tool above to stack it against another city you're considering.

What is the weather like in Highland?

Highland averages 42.9°F in January and 90.2°F in July. Annual rainfall is 44.5 inches with about 10.2 inches of snow per year. Based on NOAA 30-year climate normals (1991–2020).

What ZIP codes are in Highland?

Highland, IL is covered by 1 ZIP code: 62249.

What is the population of Highland?

The population of Highland, Illinois is 10,215 with a median age of 42.8. Source: US Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.

What are the pros and cons of living in Highland?

Key numbers for living in Highland: cost of living index 96 (100 = US average), median home $176,300, median household income $75,779, crime index 32 (100 = US average, lower is safer), schools rated B. Whether these are benefits or drawbacks depends on where you're coming from — compare Highland side by side with your current city to see the trade-offs.