What are the schools like in Highlands, NC?

Highlands is served primarily by Macon County Schools. The district operates 4 elementary schools, 2 middle schools, and 3 high schools with a student-to-teacher ratio of 15.9:1.

What is the median household income in Highlands?

The median household income in Highlands, NC is $55,573 according to the most recent US Census American Community Survey 5-year estimates. The unemployment rate is 3.3%.

What is the weather like in Highlands, NC?

Highlands has an average high temperature of 42.3°F in January and 77.7°F in July. Annual precipitation averages 88.3 inches and annual snowfall averages 10.2 inches.

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

Q: Is Highlands, NC affordable or expensive?

Highlands's cost of living index is 99, where 100 represents the national average. This means Highlands is 1% less expensive than the average US city. The median home value is $642,300 and the median rent is $896 per month.

Q: What is the crime rate in Highlands, NC?

Highlands has a violent crime rate of 122.7 incidents per 100,000 residents and a property crime rate of 1450.2 per 100,000. The national average violent crime rate is approximately 380 per 100,000.

Is Highlands, NC a Good Place to Live?

Highlands is a small town of 1,140 in North Carolina, with a median household income of $55,573 and a 3.3% unemployment rate. Its cost of living index is 99 (US average = 100), which is 1% below the national average.

Strengths: Highlands stands out for solid school ratings (A), a well-educated population, short average commutes.

Trade-offs: Potential downsides include high home prices. Whether Highlands is right for you depends on your priorities — the full breakdown is below.

All Highlands 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: 98.8

Highlands's overall cost of living index is 98.8, where 100 represents the US national average. Living in Highlands costs roughly 1% less than the average American city.

Metric	Highlands, NC	National Avg
Median Home Value	$642,300	$244,900
Median Monthly Rent	$896	$1,163
Homeownership Rate	58.0%	65.9%
Median Household Income	$55,573	$74,755

Crime & Safety

Very Safe

Highlands's violent crime rate is 122.7 per 100,000 residents — 68% lower than the national average of ~380 per 100,000.

Violent Crime

122.7 /100k

Property Crime

1450.2 /100k

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

Schools & Education

Highlands is served primarily by Macon County Schools. The student-to-teacher ratio is 15.9:1 (better than the national average of ~16:1).

Metric	Highlands, NC	National Avg
School District	Macon County Schools	—
Elementary Schools	4	—
Middle Schools	2	—
High Schools	3	—
Student/Teacher Ratio	15.9:1	16:1
Bachelor's Degree or Higher	54.2%	35.4%
High School Diploma or Higher	95.7%	91.1%

Weather & Climate

Highlands sees average highs of 42.3°F in January and 77.7°F in July, with 88.3 inches of annual precipitation and 10.2 inches of snow per year.

Metric	Highlands, NC
Average High — January	42.3°F
Average High — July	77.7°F
Annual Precipitation	88.3"
Annual Snowfall	10.2"

Demographics

Metric	Highlands, NC	National Avg
Population	1,140	—
Median Age	59.0	38.9
Unemployment Rate	3.3%	3.7%
Avg Commute Time	12.9 min	26 min
White (non-Hispanic)	91.0%	59.3%
Black or African American	4.7%	13.6%
Hispanic or Latino	3.2%	18.9%
Asian	0.6%	6.3%
Under 18	7.2%	22.2%
65 and over	37.9%	16.8%

Nearby Cities

Cashiers, NC 7 mi Sky Valley, GA 9 mi Glenville, NC 9 mi Dillard, GA 12 mi Franklin, NC 14 mi

ZIP Codes in Highlands

Highlands, NC is covered by 1 ZIP code:

28741

Highlands vs Other Cities

Highlands, NC vs Cashiers, NC Highlands, NC vs Sky Valley, GA Highlands, NC vs Glenville, NC Highlands, NC vs Dillard, GA Highlands, NC vs Franklin, NC

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Highlands, NC affordable or expensive?

Highlands's cost of living index is 99, where 100 is the national average. That makes Highlands roughly 1% less expensive than a typical US city — a meaningful affordability advantage. The median home price is $642,300 and median rent is $896/month.

What is the crime rate in Highlands, NC?

Highlands's violent crime rate is 122.7 per 100,000 residents — the national average is ~380 per 100,000. Property crime is 1450.2 per 100,000 (national avg ~2,100). Data from the FBI Uniform Crime Reporting Program.

What are the schools like in Highlands?

Public schools in Highlands are operated by Macon County Schools. The district has 4 elementary, 2 middle, and 3 high schools. The student-to-teacher ratio is 15.9:1. 54.2% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

Is Highlands, NC a good place to live?

Highlands, NC has a population of 1,140, a median household income of $55,573, and an unemployment rate of 3.3%. 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 Highlands?

Highlands averages 42.3°F in January and 77.7°F in July. Annual rainfall is 88.3 inches with about 10.2 inches of snow per year. Based on NOAA 30-year climate normals (1991–2020).

What ZIP codes are in Highlands?

Highlands, NC is covered by 1 ZIP code: 28741.

What is the population of Highlands?

The population of Highlands, North Carolina is 1,140 with a median age of 59.0. Source: US Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.

What are the pros and cons of living in Highlands?

Key numbers for living in Highlands: cost of living index 99 (100 = US average), median home $642,300, median household income $55,573, crime index 47 (100 = US average, lower is safer), schools rated A. Whether these are benefits or drawbacks depends on where you're coming from — compare Highlands side by side with your current city to see the trade-offs.