What are the schools like in Highlands, NJ?

Highlands is served primarily by Henry Hudson Regional School District. The district operates 2 elementary schools, several middle schools, and 1 high schools with a student-to-teacher ratio of 8.4:1.

What is the median household income in Highlands?

The median household income in Highlands, NJ is $86,901 according to the most recent US Census American Community Survey 5-year estimates. The unemployment rate is 6.3%.

What is the weather like in Highlands, NJ?

Highlands has an average high temperature of 41.8°F in January and 83.5°F in July. Annual precipitation averages 50.7 inches and annual snowfall averages 24.5 inches.

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

Q: Is Highlands, NJ affordable or expensive?

Highlands's cost of living index is 112, where 100 represents the national average. This means Highlands is 12% more expensive than the average US city. The median home value is $396,200 and the median rent is $1,725 per month.

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

Highlands has a violent crime rate of 117.9 incidents per 100,000 residents and a property crime rate of 495.3 per 100,000. The national average violent crime rate is approximately 380 per 100,000.

Is Highlands, NJ a Good Place to Live?

Highlands is a small town of 4,646 in New Jersey, with a median household income of $86,901 and a 6.3% unemployment rate. Its cost of living index is 112 (US average = 100), which is 12% above the national average.

Strengths: Highlands stands out for lower-than-average crime, solid school ratings (A+), a well-educated population.

Trade-offs: Potential downsides include an above-average cost of living, longer commutes, an elevated unemployment rate. 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: 112.5

Highlands's overall cost of living index is 112.5, where 100 represents the US national average. Living in Highlands costs roughly 12% more than the average American city.

Metric	Highlands, NJ	National Avg
Median Home Value	$396,200	$244,900
Median Monthly Rent	$1,725	$1,163
Homeownership Rate	67.0%	65.9%
Median Household Income	$86,901	$74,755

Crime & Safety

Very Safe

Highlands's violent crime rate is 117.9 per 100,000 residents — 69% lower than the national average of ~380 per 100,000.

Violent Crime

117.9 /100k

Property Crime

495.3 /100k

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

Schools & Education

Highlands is served primarily by Henry Hudson Regional School District. The student-to-teacher ratio is 8.4:1 (better than the national average of ~16:1).

Metric	Highlands, NJ	National Avg
School District	Henry Hudson Regional School District	—
Elementary Schools	2	—
Middle Schools	N/A	—
High Schools	1	—
Student/Teacher Ratio	8.4:1	16:1
Bachelor's Degree or Higher	49.7%	35.4%
High School Diploma or Higher	91.1%	91.1%

Weather & Climate

Highlands sees average highs of 41.8°F in January and 83.5°F in July, with 50.7 inches of annual precipitation and 24.5 inches of snow per year.

Metric	Highlands, NJ
Average High — January	41.8°F
Average High — July	83.5°F
Annual Precipitation	50.7"
Annual Snowfall	24.5"

Demographics

Metric	Highlands, NJ	National Avg
Population	4,646	—
Median Age	47.0	38.9
Unemployment Rate	6.3%	3.7%
Avg Commute Time	37.6 min	26 min
White (non-Hispanic)	87.5%	59.3%
Black or African American	0.7%	13.6%
Hispanic or Latino	2.2%	18.9%
Asian	5.6%	6.3%
Under 18	13.7%	22.2%
65 and over	21.4%	16.8%

Nearby Cities

Atlantic Highlands, NJ 2 mi Navesink, NJ 3 mi Rumson, NJ 3 mi Sea Bright, NJ 3 mi Leonardo, NJ 4 mi

ZIP Codes in Highlands

Highlands, NJ is covered by 1 ZIP code:

07732

Highlands vs Other Cities

Highlands, NJ vs Atlantic Highlands, NJ Highlands, NJ vs Navesink, NJ Highlands, NJ vs Rumson, NJ Highlands, NJ vs Sea Bright, NJ Highlands, NJ vs Leonardo, NJ

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Highlands, NJ affordable or expensive?

Highlands's cost of living index is 112, where 100 is the national average. That puts Highlands roughly 12% above the national average in cost. The median home price is $396,200 and median rent is $1,725/month.

What is the crime rate in Highlands, NJ?

Highlands's violent crime rate is 117.9 per 100,000 residents — the national average is ~380 per 100,000. Property crime is 495.3 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 Henry Hudson Regional School District. The district has 2 elementary, several middle, and 1 high schools. The student-to-teacher ratio is 8.4:1. 49.7% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

Is Highlands, NJ a good place to live?

Highlands, NJ has a population of 4,646, a median household income of $86,901, and an unemployment rate of 6.3%. 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 41.8°F in January and 83.5°F in July. Annual rainfall is 50.7 inches with about 24.5 inches of snow per year. Based on NOAA 30-year climate normals (1991–2020).

What ZIP codes are in Highlands?

Highlands, NJ is covered by 1 ZIP code: 07732.

What is the population of Highlands?

The population of Highlands, New Jersey is 4,646 with a median age of 47.0. 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 112 (100 = US average), median home $396,200, median household income $86,901, crime index 28 (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.