The Town FilesHighland City, Florida
Community in Polk County · population 12,355 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $347,100
- Household income
- $90,947
- Jan low / Jul high
- 50° / 92°
- Snow a year
- 0 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 66
- Median age
- 39.2
Highland City is a community of 12,355 people in Polk County, Florida. The median home is worth $347,100, close to the typical Florida town ($331,600). It ranks easier by car than 84% of Florida towns, better for families than 83% of Florida towns, better transit than 73% of Florida towns.
How Highland City ranks
Percentile among Florida towns with at least 500 people on The Town Files lifestyle rankings. 50 is typical for the state; 90 means better than 90% of Florida towns.
Homes and cost of living
The median home in Highland City is worth $347,100, close to the typical Florida town ($331,600). Homes cost about 3.8 times the median household income of $90,947, which is more affordable than 73% of Florida towns. Median rent is $1,993 a month. 79.3% of households own their home.
| Housing | Highland City | Typical Florida town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $347,100 | $331,600 |
| Median rent | $1,993 | $1,569 |
| Median household income | $90,947 | $71,140 |
| Home value ÷ income | 3.8× | 4.5× |
| Homeownership | 79.3% | 73.5% |
| Median year built | 2000 | 1985 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 1.4% | — |
Who lives in Highland City
| People | Highland City | Typical Florida town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 39.2 | 42.8 |
| Age 65 and over | 14.6% | 20.2% |
| Under 18 | 27.0% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 33.1% | 28.8% |
| Below the poverty line | 5.9% | 11.3% |
| Veterans | 9.1% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 9.7% | — |
| Work from home | 12.3% | 13.5% |
| Average commute | 29.0 min | 27.5 min |
| Homes with broadband | 94.8% | 92.4% |
Weather in Highland City
July highs average 91.9°F and January lows 49.5°F. About 50.9 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 0.0 inches of snow (typical Florida town: 0.0 in). Expect about 121 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 2 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
66 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Highland City since 1950, compared with 35 for the typical Florida town. 3 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F2, struck on February 8, 1986 about 6.5 miles from the town center. The most recent was on August 4, 2024.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 45 times; the largest was 2.75 inches on March 30, 1996.
Severe weather in Polk County since 1996
Polk County has been included in 42 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for fire, tornado, freezing.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| October 11, 2024 | Hurricane | DR-4834: Hurricane Milton |
| October 7, 2024 | Hurricane | EM-3622: Hurricane Milton |
| August 10, 2024 | Tropical Storm | DR-4806: Hurricane Debby |
| August 3, 2024 | Tropical Storm | EM-3605: Tropical Storm Debby |
| August 31, 2023 | Hurricane | DR-4734: Hurricane Idalia |
Jobs and pay in Polk County
Polk County had 260,590 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $55,697 a year. Unemployment was 3.7% in 2023; in Highland City itself the ACS puts it at 2.6%.
Public schools in Highland City
1 public school with 415 students, about 14.8 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| HIGHLAND CITY ELEMENTARY SCHOOL | PK-5 | 415 | 14.8 |
Towns near Highland City
- Lakeland Highlands, FL4.4 mi · 12,187 people · home $385,000
- Crystal Lake, FL5.2 mi · 5,768 people · home $205,600
- Medulla, FL6.3 mi · 10,871 people · home $319,800
- Bartow, FL6.3 mi · 19,309 people · home $234,100
- Jan Phyl Village, FL6.3 mi · 5,927 people · home $258,600
- Fussels Corner, FL6.6 mi · 5,560 people · home $92,100
- Combee Settlement, FL6.9 mi · 5,911 people · home $195,900
- Eagle Lake, FL7.6 mi · 3,008 people · home $256,300
Highland City questions
Is Highland City, Florida a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Highland City scores better for retirees than 41% of Florida towns and quieter than 42%. 14.6% of residents are 65 or older (median age 39.2).
How much does a house cost in Highland City?
The median owner-occupied home in Highland City is valued at $347,100 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $90,947, so homes cost about 3.8 times income. Median rent is $1,993 a month.
What is the weather like in Highland City?
July highs average 91.9°F and January lows 49.5°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 50.9 inches of precipitation a year and 0.0 inches of snow.
Does Highland City get tornadoes?
66 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Highland City since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F2 on February 8, 1986. The typical Florida town has had 35.
- 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)