The Town FilesHighland, Michigan
Charter township in Oakland County · population 19,172 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $330,800
- Household income
- $96,574
- Jan low / Jul high
- 15° / 82°
- Snow a year
- 62 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 21
- Median age
- 43.6
Highland is a charter township of 19,172 people in Oakland County, Michigan. The median home is worth $330,800, above the typical Michigan town ($193,900). It ranks more upscale than 88% of Michigan towns, better for families than 87% of Michigan towns, more of a college town than 77% of Michigan towns.
How Highland ranks
Percentile among Michigan towns with at least 500 people on The Town Files lifestyle rankings. 50 is typical for the state; 90 means better than 90% of Michigan towns.
Homes and cost of living
The median home in Highland is worth $330,800, above the typical Michigan town ($193,900). Homes cost about 3.4 times the median household income of $96,574, which is more affordable than 22% of Michigan towns. Median rent is $1,048 a month. 89.9% of households own their home.
| Housing | Highland | Typical Michigan town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $330,800 | $193,900 |
| Median rent | $1,048 | $955 |
| Median household income | $96,574 | $69,792 |
| Home value ÷ income | 3.4× | 2.8× |
| Homeownership | 89.9% | 86.8% |
| Median year built | 1980 | 1975 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 1.7% | — |
Who lives in Highland
| People | Highland | Typical Michigan town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 43.6 | 43.7 |
| Age 65 and over | 20.7% | 20.7% |
| Under 18 | 21.8% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 33.4% | 21.5% |
| Below the poverty line | 8.3% | 10.4% |
| Veterans | 5.8% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 3.4% | — |
| Work from home | 15.7% | 9.1% |
| Average commute | 34.5 min | 25.6 min |
| Homes with broadband | 94.6% | 88.8% |
Weather in Highland
July highs average 82.3°F and January lows 14.7°F. About 34.1 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 62.3 inches of snow (typical Michigan town: 52.1 in). Expect about 7 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 149 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
21 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Highland since 1950, compared with 10 for the typical Michigan town. 11 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F4, struck on July 4, 1957 about 9.5 miles from the town center. The most recent was on November 10, 2024.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 38 times; the largest was 2.50 inches on July 27, 2014.
Severe weather in Oakland County since 1996
Oakland County has been included in 15 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for flood, other, hurricane.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| February 8, 2024 | Flood | DR-4757: Severe Storms, Tornadoes, And Flooding |
| July 15, 2021 | Severe Storm | DR-4607: Severe Storms, Flooding, And Tornadoes |
| March 27, 2020 | Biological | DR-4494: Covid-19 Pandemic |
| March 13, 2020 | Biological | EM-3455: Covid-19 |
| September 25, 2014 | Flood | DR-4195: Severe Storms And Flooding |
Jobs and pay in Oakland County
Oakland County had 723,862 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $77,917 a year. Unemployment was 2.9% in 2023; in Highland itself the ACS puts it at 4.3%.
Public schools in Highland
5 public schools with 2,413 students, about 16.6 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Milford High School | 7-12 | 1,242 | 20.7 |
| Heritage Elementary School | K-5 | 458 | 17.6 |
| Spring Mills Elementary School | K-5 | 417 | 18.1 |
| Highland Elementary School | PK-5 | 288 | 13.1 |
| Apollo Center | PK-12 | 8 | 0.6 |
Towns near Highland
- Milford, MI4.8 mi · 6,520 people · home $363,700
- White Lake, MI5.8 mi · 30,950 people · home $327,000
- Rose, MI5.9 mi · 6,188 people · home $345,100
- Hartland, MI6.1 mi · 15,256 people · home $378,300
- Milford, MI6.1 mi · 17,090 people · home $425,400
- Tyrone, MI8.4 mi · 11,986 people · home $370,600
- Commerce, MI8.5 mi · 43,058 people · home $365,700
- Brighton, MI8.6 mi · 19,144 people · home $422,400
Highland questions
Is Highland, Michigan a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Highland scores better for retirees than 61% of Michigan towns and quieter than 33%. 20.7% of residents are 65 or older (median age 43.6).
How much does a house cost in Highland?
The median owner-occupied home in Highland is valued at $330,800 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $96,574, so homes cost about 3.4 times income. Median rent is $1,048 a month.
What is the weather like in Highland?
July highs average 82.3°F and January lows 14.7°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 34.1 inches of precipitation a year and 62.3 inches of snow.
Does Highland get tornadoes?
21 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Highland since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F4 on July 4, 1957. The typical Michigan town has had 10.
- 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)