What are the schools like in Highwood, IL?

Highwood is served primarily by North Shore SD 112. The district operates 7 elementary schools, 2 middle schools, and several high schools with a student-to-teacher ratio of 11.3:1.

What is the median household income in Highwood?

The median household income in Highwood, IL is $105,282 according to the most recent US Census American Community Survey 5-year estimates. The unemployment rate is 6.7%.

What is the weather like in Highwood, IL?

Highwood has an average high temperature of 32.3°F in January and 83.5°F in July. Annual precipitation averages 39.3 inches and annual snowfall averages 33.6 inches.

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

Q: Is Highwood, IL affordable or expensive?

Highwood's cost of living index is 103, where 100 represents the national average. This means Highwood is 3% more expensive than the average US city. The median home value is $502,800 and the median rent is $1,770 per month.

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

Highwood has a violent crime rate of 116.6 incidents per 100,000 residents and a property crime rate of 769.4 per 100,000. The national average violent crime rate is approximately 380 per 100,000.

Is Highwood, IL a Good Place to Live?

Highwood is a small town of 5,227 in Illinois, with a median household income of $105,282 and a 6.7% unemployment rate. Its cost of living index is 103 (US average = 100), which is 3% above the national average.

Strengths: Highwood stands out for solid school ratings (A), a well-educated population.

Trade-offs: Potential downsides include high home prices, longer commutes, an elevated unemployment rate. Whether Highwood is right for you depends on your priorities — the full breakdown is below.

All Highwood 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: 102.6

Highwood's overall cost of living index is 102.6, where 100 represents the US national average. Living in Highwood costs roughly 3% more than the average American city.

Metric	Highwood, IL	National Avg
Median Home Value	$502,800	$244,900
Median Monthly Rent	$1,770	$1,163
Homeownership Rate	50.3%	65.9%
Median Household Income	$105,282	$74,755

Crime & Safety

Very Safe

Highwood's violent crime rate is 116.6 per 100,000 residents — 69% lower than the national average of ~380 per 100,000.

Violent Crime

116.6 /100k

Property Crime

769.4 /100k

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

Schools & Education

Highwood is served primarily by North Shore SD 112. The student-to-teacher ratio is 11.3:1 (better than the national average of ~16:1).

Metric	Highwood, IL	National Avg
School District	North Shore SD 112	—
Elementary Schools	7	—
Middle Schools	2	—
High Schools	N/A	—
Student/Teacher Ratio	11.3:1	16:1
Bachelor's Degree or Higher	39.6%	35.4%
High School Diploma or Higher	83.5%	91.1%

Weather & Climate

Highwood sees average highs of 32.3°F in January and 83.5°F in July, with 39.3 inches of annual precipitation and 33.6 inches of snow per year.

Metric	Highwood, IL
Average High — January	32.3°F
Average High — July	83.5°F
Annual Precipitation	39.3"
Annual Snowfall	33.6"

Demographics

Metric	Highwood, IL	National Avg
Population	5,227	—
Median Age	36.3	38.9
Unemployment Rate	6.7%	3.7%
Avg Commute Time	32.6 min	26 min
White (non-Hispanic)	64.8%	59.3%
Black or African American	2.5%	13.6%
Hispanic or Latino	31.1%	18.9%
Asian	1.1%	6.3%
Under 18	24.9%	22.2%
65 and over	16.1%	16.8%

Nearby Cities

Highland Park, IL 2 mi Lake Forest, IL 3 mi Bannockburn, IL 3 mi Deerfield, IL 3 mi Riverwoods, IL 5 mi

ZIP Codes in Highwood

Highwood, IL is covered by 1 ZIP code:

60040

Highwood vs Other Cities

Highwood, IL vs Highland Park, IL Highwood, IL vs Lake Forest, IL Highwood, IL vs Bannockburn, IL Highwood, IL vs Deerfield, IL Highwood, IL vs Riverwoods, IL

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Highwood, IL affordable or expensive?

Highwood's cost of living index is 103, where 100 is the national average. That puts Highwood roughly 3% above the national average in cost. The median home price is $502,800 and median rent is $1,770/month.

What is the crime rate in Highwood, IL?

Highwood's violent crime rate is 116.6 per 100,000 residents — the national average is ~380 per 100,000. Property crime is 769.4 per 100,000 (national avg ~2,100). Data from the FBI Uniform Crime Reporting Program.

What are the schools like in Highwood?

Public schools in Highwood are operated by North Shore SD 112. The district has 7 elementary, 2 middle, and several high schools. The student-to-teacher ratio is 11.3:1. 39.6% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

Is Highwood, IL a good place to live?

Highwood, IL has a population of 5,227, a median household income of $105,282, and an unemployment rate of 6.7%. 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 Highwood?

Highwood averages 32.3°F in January and 83.5°F in July. Annual rainfall is 39.3 inches with about 33.6 inches of snow per year. Based on NOAA 30-year climate normals (1991–2020).

What ZIP codes are in Highwood?

Highwood, IL is covered by 1 ZIP code: 60040.

What is the population of Highwood?

The population of Highwood, Illinois is 5,227 with a median age of 36.3. Source: US Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.

What are the pros and cons of living in Highwood?

Key numbers for living in Highwood: cost of living index 103 (100 = US average), median home $502,800, median household income $105,282, crime index 33 (100 = US average, lower is safer), schools rated A. Whether these are benefits or drawbacks depends on where you're coming from — compare Highwood side by side with your current city to see the trade-offs.