Highlands, NC

Census Place

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2023 Population

1,276

11.9% 1-year growth

US Senator

Thom Tillis

Republican Party

US Senator

Ted Budd

Republican Party

2023 Median Age

58.4

1.02% 1-year decrease

2023 Poverty Rate

12.8%

9.15% 1-year decrease

2023 Median Household Income

$63,750

14.7% 1-year growth

2023 Median Property Value

$666,300

3.74% 1-year growth

2023 Employed Population

541

3.84% 1-year growth

About

In 2023, Highlands, NC had a population of 1.28k people with a median age of 58.4 and a median household income of $63,750. Between 2022 and 2023 the population of Highlands, NC grew from 1,140 to 1,276, a 11.9% increase and its median household income grew from $55,573 to $63,750, a 14.7% increase.

The 5 largest ethnic groups in Highlands, NC are White (Non-Hispanic) (85%), Other (Hispanic) (7.76%), Black or African American (Non-Hispanic) (3.13%), White (Hispanic) (1.96%), and Asian (Non-Hispanic) (1.18%).

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.

95.8% of the residents in Highlands, NC are U.S. citizens.

In 2023, the median property value in Highlands, NC was $666,300, and the homeownership rate was 59%.

Most people in Highlands, NC drove alone to work, and the average commute time was 13.8 minutes. The average car ownership in Highlands, NC was 2 cars per household.

United States North Carolina Jackson County, NC Macon County, NC Cullowhee, NC Jackson (South), Macon, Cherokee & Clay Counties PUMA, NC

Population & Diversity

Highlands, NC is home to a population of 1.28k people, from which 95.8% are citizens. As of 2023, 9.56% of Highlands, NC residents were born outside of the country (122 people).

In 2023, there were 11 times more White (Non-Hispanic) residents (1.09k people) in Highlands, NC than any other race or ethnicity. There were 99 Other (Hispanic) and 40 Black or African American (Non-Hispanic) residents, the second and third most common ethnic groups.

Population & Diversity

Citizenship

95.8%

2023 Citizenship

96.8%

2022 Citizenship

As of 2023, 95.8% of Highlands, NC residents were US citizens, which is higher than the national average of 93.4%. In 2022, the percentage of US citizens in Highlands, NC was 96.8%, meaning that the rate of citizenship has been decreasing.

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

Diversity

Race and Ethnicity

The 3 largest ethnic groups in Highlands, NC

White (Non-Hispanic)
1.09k ± 213
Other (Hispanic)
99 ± 88
Black or African American (Non-Hispanic)
40 ± 66

10.1%

Hispanic Population

129 people

10.1% of the people in Highlands, NC are hispanic (129 people).

The following chart shows the 7 races represented in Highlands, NC as a share of the total population.

Global Diversity

The PUMS dataset is not available at the Place level, so we are showing data for North Carolina.

Most Common Origin

Mexico
214,508 ± 11,254 people
India
79,868 ± 6,912 people
Honduras
39,759 ± 4,886 people

In 2022, the most common birthplace for the foreign-born residents of North Carolina was Mexico, the natal country of 214,508 North Carolina residents, followed by India with 79,868 and Honduras with 39,759.

Foreign-Born Population

9.56%

2023 Foreign-Born Population

122 people

7.98%

2022 Foreign-Born Population

91 people

As of 2023, 9.56% of Highlands, NC residents (122 people) were born outside of the United States, which is lower than the national average of 13.8%. In 2022, the percentage of foreign-born citizens in Highlands, NC was 7.98%, meaning that the rate has been increasing.

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

Military

Veterans

Most Common Service Period

Vietnam
38 ± 31
Gulf War (1990s)
17 ± 27
Gulf War (2001-)
3 ± 20

Highlands, NC has a large population of military personnel who served in Vietnam, 2.24 times greater than any other conflict.

Economy

The economy of Highlands, NC employs 541 people. The largest industries in Highlands, NC are Accommodation & Food Services (83 people), Retail Trade (82 people), and Professional, Scientific, & Technical Services (71 people), and the highest paying industries are Finance & Insurance, & Real Estate & Rental & Leasing ($151,000), Real Estate & Rental & Leasing ($151,000), and Other Services Except Public Administration ($72,500).

Males in North Carolina have an average income that is 1.31 times higher than the average income of females, which is $57,464. The income inequality in North Carolina (measured using the Gini index) is 0.47, which is lower than than the national average.

Employment

Occupations

541

2023 Value

± 151

3.84%

1 Year growth

± 39.1%

From 2022 to 2023, employment in Highlands, NC grew at a rate of 3.84%, from 521 employees to 541 employees.

The most common job groups, by number of people living in Highlands, NC, are Sales & Related Occupations (98 people), Management Occupations (90 people), and Food Preparation & Serving Related Occupations (89 people). This chart illustrates the share breakdown of the primary jobs held by residents of Highlands, NC.

Unemployment Insurance Claims

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

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

541

2023 Value

± 151

3.84%

1 Year growth

± 39.1%

From 2022 to 2023, employment in Highlands, NC grew at a rate of 3.84%, from 521 employees to 541 employees.

The most common employment sectors for those who live in Highlands, NC, are Accommodation & Food Services (83 people), Retail Trade (82 people), and Professional, Scientific, & Technical Services (71 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.

Median Earnings by Industry

$45,739

Median earning men ± $30,368

$28,382

Median earning women ± $21,400

The industries with the best median earnings for men in 2023 are Manufacturing ($68,714), Professional, Scientific, & Management, & Administrative & Waste Management Services ($65,208), and Construction ($47,159).

The industries with the best median earnings for women in 2023 are Retail Trade ($58,125), Educational Services, & Health Care & Social Assistance ($51,250), and Professional, Scientific, & Management, & Administrative & Waste Management Services ($43,438).

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.

Education

Completions

Awarded Degrees over Time

The graph shows the evolution of awarded degrees by degrees. Under the paragraphs, the average number of awarded degrees by university in each degree is shown.

Working Population

Educational Pyramid

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

Measure

In 2022, 0.944% of men over 25 years of age had not completed any academic degree (no schooling), while 0.805% of women were in the same situation.

This visualization shows the gender distribution of the population according to the academic level reached.

Educational Attainment

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

Race

The most common educational levels obtained by the working population in 2022 were High School or Equivalent (2.16M), Some college (1.84M), and Bachelors Degree (1.63M).

This visualization illustrates the percentage distribution of the population according to the highest educational level reached. You can filter the data by race by using the selector above.

Housing & Living

The median property value in Highlands, NC was $666,300 in 2023, which is 2.2 times larger than the national average of $303,400. Between 2022 and 2023 the median property value increased from $642,300 to $666,300, a 3.74% increase. The homeownership rate in Highlands, NC is 59%, which is approximately the same as the national average of 65%.

People in Highlands, NC have an average commute time of 13.8 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.

Median household income in Highlands, NC is $63,750. In 2023, the place with the highest median household income in Highlands, NC was Census Tract 9509 with a value of $79,423, followed by Census Tract 9705.02 and Census Tract 9705.01, with respective values of $67,574 and $65,662.

Housing

Property

$666,300

Median Property Value 2023

±$74,698

$427

Median Property Taxes

±$100

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.

Rent vs Own

59%

Homeownership

2023

69%

Homeowners with Mortgage

2023

In 2023, 59% of the housing units in Highlands, NC were occupied by their owner. This percentage grew from the previous year's rate of 58%.

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

Equity

Income by Location

Use the dropdown to filter by race/ethnicity.

Race/Ethnicity

Highest Median Household Income (Total)

Census Tract 9509
Census Tract 9705.02
Census Tract 9705.01

In 2023, the place with the highest Median Household Income (Total) in Highlands, NC was Census Tract 9509 with a value of $79,423, followed by Census Tract 9705.02 and Census Tract 9705.01, with respective values of $67,574 and $65,662.

The following map shows all of the places in Highlands, NC colored by their Median Household Income (Total).

Household Income

Please note that the buckets used in this visualization were not evenly distributed by ACS when publishing the data.

$63,750

Median Household Income

± $12,807

724

Number of Households

± 153

In 2023, the median household income of the 724 households in Highlands, NC grew to $63,750 from the previous year's value of $55,573.

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.

Wage Distribution

The closest comparable wage GINI for Highlands, NC is from North Carolina.

0.47

2022 Wage GINI in North Carolina

0.47

2021 Wage GINI in North Carolina

In 2022, the income inequality in North Carolina was 0.47 according to the GINI calculation of the wage distribution. Income inequality had a 0.0732% decline from 2021 to 2022, which means that wage distribution grew somewhat more even. The GINI for North Carolina was lower than than the national average of 0.478. 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.

Transportation

Commuter Transportation

Most Common Commute in 2023

Drove Alone (54%)
Walked (20.4%)
Worked At Home (19.4%)

In 2023, 54% of workers in Highlands, NC drove alone to work, followed by those who walked to work (20.4%) and those who worked at home (19.4%).

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.

Commute Time

13.8 minutes

Average Travel Time

Using averages, employees in Highlands, NC have a shorter commute time (13.8 minutes) than the normal US worker (26.6 minutes). Additionally, 2.18% 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.

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.

Poverty

Poverty & Diversity

12.8% of the population for whom poverty status is determined in Highlands, NC (161 out of 1.25k people) live below the poverty line, a number that is higher than the national average of 12.4%. The largest demographic living in poverty are Females 65 - 74, followed by Females 35 - 44 and then Females 18 - 24.

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

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.

Social Needs

Data only available at the state level.

Most prevalent states

California
35,798 individuals
New York
5,087 individuals
Florida
4,915 individuals

In 2017, California had the highest estimated number of chronically homeless individuals in the nation, at 35,798. New York has the second highest (5,087), followed by Florida (4,915).

The following map shows the estimated number of chronically homeless individuals by state over multiple years.

Health

83.5% of the population of Highlands, NC has health coverage, with 28.1% on employee plans, 7.45% on Medicaid, 33.9% on Medicare, 12.4% on non-group plans, and 1.57% on military or VA plans.

Primary care physicians in Macon County, NC see 1565 patients per year on average, which represents a 3.99% decrease from the previous year (1630 patients). Compare this to dentists who see 1878 patients per year, and mental health providers who see 437 patients per year.

Coverage

Patient to Clinician Ratios

Data is only available at the country level. Showing data for Macon County, NC.

1,565 to 1

Patient to Primary Care Physician Ratio in Macon County, NC

Primary care physicians in Macon County, NC see an average of 1,565 patients per year. This represents a 3.99% decrease from the previous year (1,630 patients).

The following chart shows how the number of patients seen by primary care physicians has been changing over time in Macon County, NC in comparison to its neighboring geographies.

Health Care Diversity

In 2023, insured persons according to age ranges were distributed in 13.9% under 18 years, 11.6% between 18 and 34 years, 35.7% between 35 and 64 years, and 38.7% over 64 years.

By gender, of the total number of insured persons, 49.8% were men and 50.2% were women.

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

Uninsured People

16.5%

Uninsured

28.1%

Employer Coverage

7.45%

Medicaid

33.9%

Medicare

12.4%

Non-Group

1.57%

Military or VA

Between 2022 and 2023, the percent of uninsured citizens in Highlands, NC declined by 19.4% from 20.5% to 16.5%.

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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