The Town FilesHighland, Kansas
City in Doniphan County · population 903 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $114,400
- Household income
- $72,083
- Jan low / Jul high
- 17° / 87°
- Snow a year
- 19 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 16
- Median age
- 20.7
Highland is a city of 903 people in Doniphan County, Kansas. The median home is worth $114,400, below the typical Kansas town ($128,200). It ranks better for first-time buyers than 100% of Kansas towns, better for young professionals than 100% of Kansas towns, more of a college town than 99% of Kansas towns.
How Highland ranks
Percentile among Kansas towns with at least 500 people on The Town Files lifestyle rankings. 50 is typical for the state; 90 means better than 90% of Kansas towns.
Homes and cost of living
The median home in Highland is worth $114,400, below the typical Kansas town ($128,200). Homes cost about 1.6 times the median household income of $72,083, which is more affordable than 81% of Kansas towns. Median rent is $617 a month. 72.3% of households own their home.
| Housing | Highland | Typical Kansas town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $114,400 | $128,200 |
| Median rent | $617 | $815 |
| Median household income | $72,083 | $63,857 |
| Home value ÷ income | 1.6× | 2.1× |
| Homeownership | 72.3% | 73.7% |
| Median year built | 1949 | 1964 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 4.7% | — |
Who lives in Highland
| People | Highland | Typical Kansas town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 20.7 | 38.5 |
| Age 65 and over | 22.4% | 19.0% |
| Under 18 | 6.6% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 37.6% | 24.0% |
| Below the poverty line | 8.4% | 10.6% |
| Veterans | 7.6% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 4.3% | — |
| Work from home | 9.0% | 6.4% |
| Average commute | 14.1 min | 19.6 min |
| Homes with broadband | 88.3% | 89.2% |
Weather in Highland
July highs average 86.7°F and January lows 17.0°F. About 36.8 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 19.0 inches of snow (typical Kansas town: 12.4 in). Expect about 29 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 121 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
16 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Highland since 1950, compared with 26 for the typical Kansas town. 2 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F3, struck on June 11, 1967 about 8.4 miles from the town center. The most recent was on April 27, 2024.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 37 times; the largest was 2.75 inches on May 21, 2011.
Severe weather in Doniphan County since 1996
Doniphan County has been included in 22 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for flood, tornado, hurricane.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| September 24, 2024 | Severe Storm | DR-4824: Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Tornadoes, And Flooding |
| February 17, 2022 | Severe Storm | DR-4640: Severe Storms And Straight Line Winds |
| March 29, 2020 | Biological | DR-4504: Covid-19 Pandemic |
| March 13, 2020 | Biological | EM-3481: Covid-19 |
| June 20, 2019 | Severe Storm | DR-4449: Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Tornadoes, Flooding,Landslides,And Mudslides |
Jobs and pay in Doniphan County
Doniphan County had 2,764 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $50,466 a year. Unemployment was 2.5% in 2023; in Highland itself the ACS puts it at 2.8%.
Public schools in Highland
1 public school with 172 students, about 14.3 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Doniphan West JR/SR High School | 7-12 | 172 | 14.3 |
Towns near Highland
- Troy, KS10.5 mi · 964 people · home $108,100
- Oregon, MO10.8 mi · 837 people · home $122,400
- Hiawatha, KS14.5 mi · 3,280 people · home $121,800
- Mound City, MO19.1 mi · 1,004 people · home $146,300
- Wathena, KS19.2 mi · 1,246 people · home $161,800
- Horton, KS19.6 mi · 1,523 people · home $79,600
- Elwood, KS21.1 mi · 1,125 people · home $88,000
- Atchison, KS21.7 mi · 10,885 people · home $129,700
Highland questions
Is Highland, Kansas a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Highland scores better for retirees than 94% of Kansas towns and quieter than 35%. 22.4% of residents are 65 or older (median age 20.7).
How much does a house cost in Highland?
The median owner-occupied home in Highland is valued at $114,400 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $72,083, so homes cost about 1.6 times income. Median rent is $617 a month.
What is the weather like in Highland?
July highs average 86.7°F and January lows 17.0°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 36.8 inches of precipitation a year and 19.0 inches of snow.
Does Highland get tornadoes?
16 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Highland since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F3 on June 11, 1967. The typical Kansas town has had 26.
- 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)