Highlands Authority

Highlands is a middle-income small town of 1,074 with home prices 2.4× the North Carolina median.

Highlands, North Carolina

Population in Highlands stands at 1,074 — placing it among the smaller communities of Jackson County, North Carolina. The median household income stands at $71,509.

Definition and scope

Highlands is a chartered municipality within Jackson County, North Carolina, North Carolina. Local services and ordinances are coordinated through county and state-level agencies. The city operates within Congressional District 11.

Who lives here

Highlands has approximately 1,074 residents. The median age is 62.7 years. Roughly 67% of housing units are owner-occupied. The median home value is $700,900.

Demographic composition (Census 2023 ACS5):

• White (non-Hispanic): 86.8%
• Black or African American: 5.2%
• Hispanic or Latino: 5.9%
• Asian: 1.5%

Economy and earnings

Median household income in Highlands is $71,509. Poverty rate stands at 7.9%. Unemployment rate at last release was 1.9%. Educational attainment: 57.8% of residents 25 and over hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

Public services and infrastructure

Available public services on file for Highlands:

• Public schools: 1
• Public libraries: 1
• Fire stations: 3
• Police stations: 3
• Hospitals: 2

Getting around

For air travel, residents typically use Macon County Airport. The closest U.S. courthouse for federal proceedings is Macon County Courthouse. For passenger rail, the nearest Amtrak station is Clemson, South Carolina.

Geography and climate

Highlands sits at an elevation of 3,852 feet above sea level. The USDA plant hardiness zone is 7b.

References

• North Carolina State Authority — state-level reference for North Carolina.
• U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates — population, income, demographic data.
• Authority Network America — federal- and network-level reference.