Highlands, NC

Census Place

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2024 Population
1,074
US Senator
Thom Tillis
Republican Party
US Senator
Ted Budd
Republican Party
2024 Median Age
62.7
7.36% 1-year increase
2024 Poverty Rate
7.9%
38.4% 1-year decrease
2024 Median Household Income
$71,509
12.2% 1-year growth
2024 Median Property Value
$700,900
5.19% 1-year growth
2024 Employed Population
449
17% 1-year decline

About

None of the households in Highlands, NC reported speaking a non-English language at home as their primary shared language. This does not consider the potential multi-lingual nature of households, but only the primary self-reported language spoken by all members of the household.

97.4% of the residents in Highlands, NC are U.S. citizens.

In 2024, the median property value in Highlands, NC was $700,900, and the homeownership rate was 67.2%.

Most people in Highlands, NC drove alone to work, and the average commute time was 14.6 minutes. The average car ownership in Highlands, NC was 2 cars per household.

United StatesNorth CarolinaJackson County, NCMacon County, NCCullowhee, NCJackson (South), Macon, Cherokee & Clay Counties PUMA, NC

Population & Diversity

Highlands, NC is home to a population of 1.07k people, from which 97.4% are citizens. As of 2024, 6.8% of Highlands, NC residents were born outside of the country (73 people).

In 2024, there were 16.6 times more White (Non-Hispanic) residents (932 people) in Highlands, NC than any other race or ethnicity. There were 56 Black or African American (Non-Hispanic) and 51 Other (Hispanic) residents, the second and third most common ethnic groups.

Population & Diversity

Citizenship

97.4%
2024 Citizenship
95.8%
2023 Citizenship

As of 2024, 97.4% of Highlands, NC residents were US citizens, which is higher than the national average of 93.2%. In 2023, the percentage of US citizens in Highlands, NC was 95.8%, meaning that the rate of citizenship has been increasing.

The following chart shows US citizenship percentages in Highlands, NC compared to that of it's neighboring and parent geographies.

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Diversity

Race and Ethnicity

The 3 largest ethnic groups in Highlands, NC
  1. White (Non-Hispanic)
    932 ± 211
  2. Black or African American (Non-Hispanic)
    56 ± 78
  3. Other (Hispanic)
    51 ± 60
5.87%
Hispanic Population
63 people

In 2024, there were 16.6 times more White (Non-Hispanic) residents (932 people) in Highlands, NC than any other race or ethnicity. There were 56 Black or African American (Non-Hispanic) and 51 Other (Hispanic) residents, the second and third most common ethnic groups.

5.87% of the people in Highlands, NC are hispanic (63 people).

The following chart shows the 8 races represented in Highlands, NC as a share of the total population.

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Global Diversity

The PUMS dataset is not available at the Place level, so we are showing data for North Carolina.
Most Common Origin
  1. Mexico
    224,963 ± 11,520 people
  2. India
    83,219 ± 7,055 people
  3. Honduras
    48,247 ± 5,380 people

In 2023, the most common birthplace for the foreign-born residents of North Carolina was Mexico, the natal country of 224,963 North Carolina residents, followed by India with 83,219 and Honduras with 48,247.

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Foreign-Born Population

6.8%
2024 Foreign-Born Population
73 people
9.56%
2023 Foreign-Born Population
122 people

As of 2024, 6.8% of Highlands, NC residents (73 people) were born outside of the United States, which is approximately the same as the national average of 14%. In 2023, the percentage of foreign-born citizens in Highlands, NC was 9.56%, meaning that the rate has been decreasing.

The following chart shows the percentage of foreign-born residents in Highlands, NC compared to that of it's neighboring and parent geographies.

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Military

Veterans

Most Common Service Period
  1. Vietnam
    30 ± 30
  2. Gulf War (2001-)
    4 ± 21
  3. Korea
    2 ± 15

Highlands, NC has a large population of military personnel who served in Vietnam, 7.5 times greater than any other conflict.

The chart shows the distribution of veterans by conflict in Highlands, NC.

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Economy

The economy of Highlands, NC employs 449 people. In 2024, the largest industries in Highlands, NC were Accommodation & Food Services (56 people), Retail Trade (55 people), and Manufacturing (54 people), and the highest paying industries were Real Estate & Rental & Leasing ($155,750), Finance & Insurance, & Real Estate & Rental & Leasing ($155,500), and Other Services Except Public Administration ($105,208).

Employment

Occupations

449
2024 Value
± 152
−17%
1 Year decline
± 52.8%

From 2023 to 2024, employment in Highlands, NC declined at a rate of −17%, from 541 employees to 449 employees.

The most common job groups, by number of people living in Highlands, NC, are Sales & Related Occupations (80 people), Food Preparation & Serving Related Occupations (74 people), and Management Occupations (60 people). This chart illustrates the share breakdown of the primary jobs held by residents of Highlands, NC.

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Unemployment Insurance Claims

Data is only available at the state level. Showing data for North Carolina.

This chart shows weekly unemployment insurance claims in North Carolina (not-seasonally adjusted) compared with the four states with the most similar impact.

The most recent data point uses Advance State Claims data, which can be revised in subsequent weeks.

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Industries

Employment by Industries

449
2024 Value
± 152
−17%
1 Year decline
± 52.8%

From 2023 to 2024, employment in Highlands, NC declined at a rate of −17%, from 541 employees to 449 employees.

The most common employment sectors for those who live in Highlands, NC, are Accommodation & Food Services (56 people), Retail Trade (55 people), and Manufacturing (54 people). This chart shows the share breakdown of the primary industries for residents of Highlands, NC, though some of these residents may live in Highlands, NC and work somewhere else. Census data is tagged to a residential address, not a work address.

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Median Earnings by Industry

$69,375
Median earning men ± $47,488
$61,667
Median earning women ± $25,732

The industries with the best median earnings for men in 2024 are Finance & Insurance, & Real Estate & Rental & Leasing ($155,500), Professional, Scientific, & Management, & Administrative & Waste Management Services ($49,167), and Retail Trade ($40,673).

The industries with the best median earnings for women in 2024 are Retail Trade ($133,750), Professional, Scientific, & Management, & Administrative & Waste Management Services ($71,250), and Educational Services, & Health Care & Social Assistance ($51,250).

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Employment by Industry Sector

Data is only available at the state level. Showing data for North Carolina.
Y-Axis
3.04%
Year-over-year growth
Employment change between February 2022 and February 2023

As of February 2023, there are 4.86M people employed in North Carolina. This represents a 3.04% increase in employment when compared to February 2022.

Right after the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, during April 2020, a general dip can be seen across industry sectors, resulting in an overall decline in employment by 10.9%.

The following chart shows monthly employment numbers for each industry sector in North Carolina.

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Housing & Living

The median property value in Highlands, NC was $700,900 in 2024, which is 2.11 times larger than the national average of $332,700. Between 2023 and 2024 the median property value increased from $666,300 to $700,900, a 5.19% increase. The homeownership rate in Highlands, NC is 67.2%, which is higher than the national average of 65.2%.

People in Highlands, NC have an average commute time of 14.6 minutes, and they drove alone to work. Car ownership in Highlands, NC is approximately the same as the national average, with an average of 2 cars per household.

Housing

Property

$700,900
Median Property Value 2024
±$106,442
$432
Median Property Taxes
±$104

The following chart display owner-occupied housing units distributed between a series of property tax buckets compared to the national averages for each bucket. In Highlands, NC the largest share of households pay taxes in the $3k+ range.

The chart underneath the paragraph shows the property taxes in Highlands, NC compared to it's parent and neighbor geographies.

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Rent vs Own

67.2%
Homeownership
2024
63%
Homeowners with Mortgage
2024

In 2024, 67.2% of the housing units in Highlands, NC were occupied by their owner. This percentage grew from the previous year's rate of 59%.

This chart shows the percentage of owner in Highlands, NC compared it's parent and neighboring geographies.

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Equity

Household Income

Please note that the buckets used in this visualization were not evenly distributed by ACS when publishing the data.
$71,509
Median Household Income
± $8,961
643
Number of Households
± 153

In 2024, the median household income of the 643 households in Highlands, NC grew to $71,509 from the previous year's value of $63,750.

The following chart displays the households in Highlands, NC distributed between a series of income buckets compared to the national averages for each bucket. The largest share of households have an income in the $60k - $75k range.

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Wage Distribution

The closest comparable wage GINI for Highlands, NC is from North Carolina.
0.467
2023 Wage GINI in North Carolina
0.47
2022 Wage GINI in North Carolina

In 2023, the income inequality in North Carolina was 0.467 according to the GINI calculation of the wage distribution. Income inequality had a 0.639% decline from 2022 to 2023, which means that wage distribution grew somewhat more even. The GINI for North Carolina was lower than than the national average of 0.476. In other words, wages are distributed more evenly in North Carolina in comparison to the national average.

This chart shows the number of workers in North Carolina across various wage buckets compared to the national average.

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Transportation

Commuter Transportation

Most Common Commute in 2024
  1. Drove Alone (43.6%)
  2. Walked (25.5%)
  3. Worked At Home (23.7%)

In 2024, 43.6% of workers in Highlands, NC drove alone to work, followed by those who walked to work (25.5%) and those who worked at home (23.7%).

The following chart shows the number of households using each mode of transportation over time, using a logarithmic scale on the y-axis to help better show variations in the smaller means of commuting.

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Commute Time

14.6 minutes
Average Travel Time

Using averages, employees in Highlands, NC have a shorter commute time (14.6 minutes) than the normal US worker (26.4 minutes). Additionally, 2.64% of the workforce in Highlands, NC have "super commutes" in excess of 90 minutes.

The chart below shows how the median household income in Highlands, NC compares to that of it's neighboring and parent geographies.

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Car Ownership

2 cars
Average Number

The following chart displays the households in Highlands, NC distributed between a series of car ownership buckets compared to the national averages for each bucket. The largest share of households in Highlands, NC have 2 cars.

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Poverty

Poverty & Diversity

7.9% of the population for whom poverty status is determined in Highlands, NC (83 out of 1.05k people) live below the poverty line, a number that is lower than the national average of 12.5%. The largest demographic living in poverty are Females 65 - 74, followed by Males 65 - 74 and then Males 75+.

The most common racial or ethnic group living below the poverty line in Highlands, NC is White, followed by Black and Other.

The Census Bureau uses a set of money income thresholds that vary by family size and composition to determine who classifies as impoverished. If a family's total income is less than the family's threshold than that family and every individual in it is considered to be living in poverty.

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Health

87.6% of the population of Highlands, NC has health coverage, with 29.1% on employee plans, 2.7% on Medicaid, 40.7% on Medicare, 14.2% on non-group plans, and 0.931% on military or VA plans.

Primary care physicians in North Carolina see 1,413 patients per year on average, which represents a 0% change from the previous year (1,413 patients). Compare this to dentists who see 1634 patients per year, and mental health providers who see 299 patients per year.

By gender, of the total number of insured persons, 50.4% were men and 49.6% were women.

Coverage

Health Care Diversity

In 2024, insured persons according to age ranges were distributed in 8.38% under 18 years, 12.8% between 18 and 34 years, 31.8% between 35 and 64 years, and 46.9% over 64 years.

By gender, of the total number of insured persons, 50.4% were men and 49.6% were women.

The following chart shows the number of people with health coverage by gender.

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Uninsured People

12.4%
Uninsured
29.1%
Employer Coverage
2.7%
Medicaid
40.7%
Medicare
14.2%
Non-Group
0.931%
Military or VA

Between 2023 and 2024, the percent of uninsured citizens in Highlands, NC declined by 25.1% from 16.5% to 12.4%.

The following chart shows how the percent of uninsured individuals in Highlands, NC changed over time compared with the percent of individuals enrolled in various types of health insurance.

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