The Town FilesHighland Lakes, Alabama
Community in Shelby County · population 5,239 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $599,200
- Household income
- $169,361
- Jan low / Jul high
- 35° / 91°
- Snow a year
- 1 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 25
- Median age
- 47.2
Highland Lakes is a community of 5,239 people in Shelby County, Alabama. The median home is worth $599,200, above the typical Alabama town ($161,250). It ranks more of a college town than 100% of Alabama towns, better for families than 99% of Alabama towns, more upscale than 99% of Alabama towns.
How Highland Lakes ranks
Percentile among Alabama towns with at least 500 people on The Town Files lifestyle rankings. 50 is typical for the state; 90 means better than 90% of Alabama towns.
Homes and cost of living
The median home in Highland Lakes is worth $599,200, above the typical Alabama town ($161,250). Homes cost about 3.5 times the median household income of $169,361, which is more affordable than 23% of Alabama towns. Median rent is $1,201 a month. 96.6% of households own their home.
| Housing | Highland Lakes | Typical Alabama town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $599,200 | $161,250 |
| Median rent | $1,201 | $834 |
| Median household income | $169,361 | $56,250 |
| Home value ÷ income | 3.5× | 2.8× |
| Homeownership | 96.6% | 71.3% |
| Median year built | 2005 | 1981 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 2.7% | — |
Who lives in Highland Lakes
| People | Highland Lakes | Typical Alabama town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 47.2 | 39.9 |
| Age 65 and over | 19.8% | 18.1% |
| Under 18 | 18.9% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 73.5% | 17.3% |
| Below the poverty line | 4.1% | 16.7% |
| Veterans | 5.4% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 3.9% | — |
| Work from home | 22.9% | 5.1% |
| Average commute | 30.3 min | 26.1 min |
| Homes with broadband | 96.7% | 86.7% |
Weather in Highland Lakes
July highs average 91.0°F and January lows 34.9°F. About 56.6 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 0.7 inches of snow (typical Alabama town: 0.6 in). Expect about 65 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 47 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
25 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Highland Lakes since 1950, compared with 30 for the typical Alabama town. 6 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F4, struck on March 5, 1963 about 8.2 miles from the town center. Tornadoes within 10 miles have caused 2 deaths and 143 injuries since 1950. The most recent was on December 10, 2023.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 55 times; the largest was 3.00 inches on March 21, 1959.
Severe weather in Shelby County since 1996
Shelby County has been included in 26 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for fire, flood, drought.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| September 26, 2024 | Hurricane | EM-3618: Hurricane Helene |
| December 21, 2021 | Severe Storm | DR-4632: Severe Storms And Flooding |
| April 26, 2021 | Severe Storm | DR-4596: Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, And Tornadoes |
| September 14, 2020 | Hurricane | EM-3545: Hurricane Sally |
| March 29, 2020 | Biological | DR-4503: Covid-19 Pandemic |
Jobs and pay in Shelby County
Shelby County had 85,169 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $66,772 a year. Unemployment was 1.8% in 2023; in Highland Lakes itself the ACS puts it at 1.7%.
Towns near Highland Lakes
- Eagle Point, AL1.7 mi · 2,903 people · home $493,800
- Meadowbrook, AL3.3 mi · 9,688 people · home $423,700
- Brook Highland, AL3.5 mi · 7,406 people · home $427,400
- Chelsea, AL6.2 mi · 14,982 people · home $360,000
- Vestavia Hills, AL6.9 mi · 39,102 people · home $530,000
- Pelham, AL7.6 mi · 24,318 people · home $299,800
- Mountain Brook, AL8.2 mi · 22,461 people · home $916,300
- Hoover, AL9.4 mi · 92,606 people · home $412,200
Highland Lakes questions
Is Highland Lakes, Alabama a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Highland Lakes scores better for retirees than 96% of Alabama towns and quieter than 11%. 19.8% of residents are 65 or older (median age 47.2).
How much does a house cost in Highland Lakes?
The median owner-occupied home in Highland Lakes is valued at $599,200 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $169,361, so homes cost about 3.5 times income. Median rent is $1,201 a month.
What is the weather like in Highland Lakes?
July highs average 91.0°F and January lows 34.9°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 56.6 inches of precipitation a year and 0.7 inches of snow.
Does Highland Lakes get tornadoes?
25 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Highland Lakes since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F4 on March 5, 1963. The typical Alabama town has had 30.
- U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates (2020–2024)
- U.S. Census Bureau, 2020 Census and 2025 Gazetteer (2020 / 2025)
- NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals (1991–2020)
- NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database (1950–2026)
- FEMA OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations (this product uses the FEMA OpenFEMA API but is not endorsed by FEMA) (1953–2026)
- NCES Common Core of Data (2023–24)
- BLS Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages; USDA ERS county unemployment (BLS LAUS) (2000–2024)
- The Town Files lifestyle rankings, built from federal demographic, school, crime and housing data (2025)