Highlands, North Carolina Population 2024

1,122
9501K1.1K1.1K1.1K1.2K2010201220142016201820202022202420262028YearPopulation

Highlands is a town located in Macon County North Carolina. Highlands has a 2024 population of 1,122. Highlands is currently growing at a rate of 1.08% annually and its population has increased by 4.47% since the most recent census, which recorded a population of 1,074 in 2020.

The average household income in Highlands is $86,287 with a poverty rate of 12.84%. The median age in Highlands is 58.4 years: 57.6 years for males, and 61.1 years for females.

Highlands Demographics

According to the most recent ACS, the racial composition of Highlands was:

  • White: 86.99%
  • Other race: 7.76%
  • Black or African American: 3.13%
  • Asian: 1.18%
  • Two or more races: 0.94%
  • Native American: 0%
  • Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander: 0%
State
North Carolina
County
Land Area (mi²)
6.2 sq mi
Density (mi²)
179.60/sq mi
Growth Since 2020
4.47% (48)
The current population of Highlands, North Carolina is 1,122 based on our projections of the latest US Census estimates (released May 2024). The last official US Census in 2020 recorded the population at 1,074.

Population by Race

Race
Population
Percentage (of total)
White1,11086.99%
Other race997.76%
Black or African American403.13%
Asian151.18%
Two or more races120.94%
Native American00%
Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander00%
86.99%7.76%Race

White

Other race

Black or African American

Asian

Two or more races

Native American

Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander

Highlands Population by Race

Highlands Population Pyramid 2024

0102030405060708090807060504030201000102030405060708090MaleFemale

Highlands Median Age

58.4

Total

57.6

Male

61.1

Female

Highlands Adults

There are 1,131 adults, (494 of whom are seniors) in Highlands.

Highlands Age Dependency

100.3

Age Dependency Ratio

77.6

Old Age Dependency Ratio

22.8

Child Dependency Ratio

Highlands Sex Ratio

Female66351.96%
Male61348.04%

Highlands Population by Age

Highlands Renter vs Owner Occupied by Household Type

Household Type
Count
Average Size
Owner
Renter
All7241.725941
Non Family3971.142.357.7
Married2882.486.513.5
Female393.0825.674.4
Male0000

2.45

Average Family Size

1.72

Average Household Size

59.0%

Rate of Home Ownership

39.78%5.39%54.83%Households by Type

Married

Male

Female

NonFamily

MarriedAllNon FamilyFemaleMale00.10.20.30.40.50.60.70.80.91

owner

renter

Highlands Households and Families

Less Than 9th Grade9th to 12th GradeHigh School GraduateSome CollegeAssociates DegreeBachelors DegreeGraduate Degree050100150

Male

Female

Education Attained
Count
Percentage
9th to 12th Grade323.06%
Associates Degree878.31%
Bachelors Degree32430.95%
Graduate Degree23122.06%
High School Graduate10810.32%
Less Than 9th Grade121.15%
Some College25324.16%
10.32%24.16%8.31%30.95%22.06%Over 25 Education

Less Than 9th Grade

9th to 12th Grade

High School Graduate

Some College

Associates Degree

Bachelors Degree

Graduate Degree

Highlands Educational Attainment by Sex (over 25)

Highlands Educational Attainment by Race

AsianWhiteBlack2+ RacesHispanicOther Race0%20%40%60%80%100%

High School Graduation Rate

Bachelors Rate

Race
Total
High School
Bachelors
White919902535
Hispanic724610
Other Race42221
Black39380
2+ Races1281
Asian101010

The highest rate of high school graduation is among asian people with a rate of 100%.

The highest rate of bachelors degrees is among asian people with a rate of 100%.

Highlands Educational Attainment by Race

OverallLess Than 9th GradeHigh School GraduateSome CollegeBachelors DegreeGraduate Degree$0$10,000$20,000$30,000$40,000$50,000$60,000

All

Male

Female

Name
Average
Male
Female
Bachelors Degree$37,083$0$29,191
Graduate Degree$0$0$2,499
High School Graduate$0$0$0
Less Than 9th Grade$0$41,806$0
Overall$37,461$45,511$28,382
Some College$45,486$45,486$56,250

$37,461

Average Earnings

$45,511

Average Male

$28,382

Average Female

Highlands Earnings by Educational Attainment

Highlands Language by Age

88.99%9.05%Languages

Only English

Spanish

Other Indo-European Languages

Asian and Pacific Island Languages

Other Languages

Highlands Language

88.99% of Highlands residents speak only English, while 11.01% speak other languages. The non-English language spoken by the largest group is Spanish, which is spoken by 9.05% of the population.

Highlands Language

Highlands Poverty by Race

WhiteBlackOtherHispanic0%2%4%6%8%10%12%14%16%

rate

Name
Total
In Poverty
Poverty Rate
White1,06815114.14%
Other9966.06%
Hispanic12964.65%
Black39410.26%

12.84%

Overall Poverty Rate

8.57%

Male Poverty Rate

16.69%

Female Poverty Rate

Poverty in Highlands

The race most likely to be in poverty in Highlands is White, with 14.14% below the poverty level.

The race least likely to be in poverty in Highlands is Hispanic, with 4.65% below the poverty level.

The poverty rate among those that worked full-time for the past 12 months was 9.16%. Among those working part-time, it was 15.63%, and for those that did not work, the poverty rate was 13.77%.

Highlands Poverty

Less Than 9th GradeHigh SchoolSome CollegeBachelors or Greater0%2%4%6%8%10%12%14%16%18%20%22%24%26%

rate

Rate
Poverty
High School25%
Some College14.41%
Bachelors or Greater7.93%
Less Than 9th Grade2.27%

Highlands Poverty Rate by Education

Male EmployedMale UnemployedFemale EmployedFemale Unemployed0%2%4%6%8%10%12%14%16%18%20%22%

rate

Rate
Poverty
Male Employed9.76%
Male Unemployed0%
Female Employed20.3%
Female Unemployed0%

Highlands Poverty Rate by Employment Status and Sex

Highlands Income by Household Type

Under10k10kTo15k15kTo25k25kTo35k35kTo50k50kTo75k75kTo100k100kTo150k150kTo200kOver200k051015202530

Households

Families

MarriedFamilies

NonFamilies

Name
Median
Mean
Families$86,563$108,105
Households$63,750$86,287
Married Families$99,167$-999,999,999
Non Families$40,688$68,192
HouseholdsFamiliesMarried FamiliesNon Families020,00040,00060,00080,000100,000

mean

median

Income by Household Type

Highlands Marital Status

OverallMalesFemales0%10%20%30%40%50%60%70%80%90%100%

Married

Widowed

Divorced

Separated

NeverMarried

Marriage Rates

52.7%

Overall Marriage Rate

53.3%

Male Marriage Rate

52.1%

Female Marriage Rate

Highlands Married by Age and Sex

35-4455-64Over 6545-5420-34020406080100

male

female

Highlands Marriage

The age group where males are most likely to be married is 55-64, while the female age group most likely to be married is 35-44.

Highlands Marital Status by Race

AsianWhiteWhiteNonHispanicHispanicTwoOrMoreRacesOtherRaceBlack0%10%20%30%40%50%60%70%80%90%100%

Married

Widowed

Divorced

Separated

NeverMarried

Highlands Marital Status

32.26%61.29%Veterans by War

Second Gulf War

First Gulf War

Vietnam

Korea

World War II

91

Number of Veterans

88

Male Veterans

3

Female Veterans

War
Veterans
Vietnam38
First Gulf War20
Second Gulf War3
Korea1
World War II0

Highlands Veterans by War

18 to 3435 to 5455 to 6465 to 7475+0510152025303540

count

Age Group
Veterans
55 to 6439
75+37
65 to 7415
18 to 340
35 to 540

Highlands Veterans by Age

White0102030405060708090100

count

Name
Veterans
% of Total
White918.97%

Highlands Veterans by Race

Highlands Veterans by Education

36.26%57.14%Veterans by Education

Less Than 9th Grade

High School Graduate

Some College

Bachelors or Greater

18.68%

Veteran Poverty Rate

45.05%

Veteran Disability Rate

Highlands Veterans by Education

16 - 1920 - 2425 - 2930 - 3435 - 4445 - 5455 - 5960 - 6465 - 7475+0102030405060708090100

LaborForceParticipation

48.4%

Labor Force Participation

46.6%

Employment Rate

3.7%

Unemployment Rate

Highlands Employment by Age

BlackOther RaceAsian2+ RacesHispanicWhite Non-HispanicWhite0102030405060708090100

LaborForceParticipation

Highlands Employment by Race

Less Than High SchoolHigh School GraduateSome CollegeBachelors or Greater0102030405060708090100

LaborForceParticipation

Highlands Employment by Education

Origin of Non-Citizens

16.98%83.02%Origin

Europe

Asia

Africa

Oceania

Latin America

North America

Non citizens include legal permanent residents (green card holders), international students, temporary workers, humanitarian migrants, and illegal immigrants.

Origin of Naturalized Citizens

39.13%20.29%28.99%11.59%Origin

Europe

Asia

Africa

Oceania

Latin America

North America

27.19%

Born in Highlands

90.44%

Native Born

9.56%

Foreign Born

4.15%

Non Citizen

5.41%

Naturalized

Place of Birth

90.44% of Highlands residents were born in the United States, with 27.19% having been born in North Carolina. 4.15% of residents are not US citizens. Of those not born in the United States, the largest percentage are from Latin America.

Highlands Place of Birth

Note: data after 2022 is projected based on recent change
Year
Population
Growth
Change
20291,182121.03%
20281,170121.04%
20271,158121.05%
20261,146121.06%
20251,134121.07%
20241,122121.08%
20231,110121.09%
20221,098121.1%
20211,086121.12%
20201,074969.82%
2019978121.24%
2018966161.68%
201795080.85%
201694270.75%
201593570.75%
201492830.32%
2013925-2-0.22%
2012927-3-0.32%
2011930-1-0.11%
201093100%

Highlands Population by Year