The Town FilesHighlands, New Jersey
Borough in Monmouth County · population 4,621 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $455,000
- Household income
- $91,913
- Jan low / Jul high
- 25° / 84°
- Snow a year
- 27 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 4
- Median age
- 46.8
Highlands is a borough of 4,621 people in Monmouth County, New Jersey. The median home is worth $455,000, close to the typical New Jersey town ($435,600). It ranks more seaside character than 100% of New Jersey towns, better for first-time buyers than 99% of New Jersey towns, hipper than 99% of New Jersey towns.
- #3 in The 25 Best Seaside Small Towns in New Jersey
- #4 in The 25 Hippest Small Towns in New Jersey
- #5 in The 25 Best Small Towns for First-Time Home Buyers in New Jersey
- #17 in 25 Small Towns in New Jersey With the Coolest Summers
- #25 in The 25 Most Walkable Small Towns in New Jersey
- #40 in The 50 Best Seaside Small Towns in America
How Highlands ranks
Percentile among New Jersey towns with at least 500 people on The Town Files lifestyle rankings. 50 is typical for the state; 90 means better than 90% of New Jersey towns.
Homes and cost of living
The median home in Highlands is worth $455,000, close to the typical New Jersey town ($435,600). Homes cost about 5.0 times the median household income of $91,913, which is more affordable than 19% of New Jersey towns. Median rent is $1,658 a month. 61.0% of households own their home.
| Housing | Highlands | Typical New Jersey town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $455,000 | $435,600 |
| Median rent | $1,658 | $1,774 |
| Median household income | $91,913 | $111,891 |
| Home value ÷ income | 5.0× | 3.8× |
| Homeownership | 61.0% | 80.8% |
| Median year built | 1975 | 1969 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 7.2% | — |
Who lives in Highlands
| People | Highlands | Typical New Jersey town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 46.8 | 42.7 |
| Age 65 and over | 24.2% | 18.3% |
| Under 18 | 13.2% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 51.5% | 44.1% |
| Below the poverty line | 10.1% | 5.7% |
| Veterans | 6.6% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 11.7% | — |
| Work from home | 18.5% | 16.3% |
| Average commute | 35.4 min | 30.4 min |
| Homes with broadband | 88.5% | 94.6% |
Weather in Highlands
July highs average 83.5°F and January lows 24.8°F. About 52.5 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 26.7 inches of snow (typical New Jersey town: 24.5 in). Expect about 13 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 94 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
4 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Highlands since 1950, compared with 9 for the typical New Jersey town. 1 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F2, struck on October 16, 1955 about 5.9 miles from the town center. The most recent was on August 19, 2020.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 14 times; the largest was 1.75 inches on June 29, 2019.
Severe weather in Monmouth County since 1996
Monmouth County has been included in 28 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for fire, flood, other.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| September 5, 2021 | Hurricane | DR-4614: Remnants Of Hurricane Ida |
| September 2, 2021 | Hurricane | EM-3573: Remnants Of Hurricane Ida |
| December 11, 2020 | Hurricane | DR-4574: Tropical Storm Isaias |
| March 25, 2020 | Biological | DR-4488: Covid-19 Pandemic |
| March 13, 2020 | Biological | EM-3451: Covid-19 |
Jobs and pay in Monmouth County
Monmouth County had 274,000 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $70,560 a year. Unemployment was 3.8% in 2023; in Highlands itself the ACS puts it at 7.5%.
Public schools in Highlands
3 public schools with 735 students, about 8.5 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Henry Hudson Regional School | 7-12 | 302 | 7.7 |
| Marine Academy of Science and Technology | 9-12 | 273 | 10.1 |
| Highlands Elementary School | PK-6 | 160 | 8.0 |
Towns near Highlands
- Atlantic Highlands, NJ1.7 mi · 4,414 people · home $628,100
- Rumson, NJ3.0 mi · 7,343 people · home $1,679,300
- Leonardo, NJ3.9 mi · 2,549 people · home $450,700
- Fair Haven, NJ4.0 mi · 6,269 people · home $992,200
- Middletown, NJ4.4 mi · 67,106 people · home $608,300
- Monmouth Beach, NJ4.7 mi · 3,174 people · home $995,000
- Little Silver, NJ5.2 mi · 6,131 people · home $955,900
- Fairview, NJ5.6 mi · 3,731 people · home $622,600
Highlands questions
Is Highlands, New Jersey a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Highlands scores better for retirees than 87% of New Jersey towns and quieter than 48%. 24.2% of residents are 65 or older (median age 46.8).
How much does a house cost in Highlands?
The median owner-occupied home in Highlands is valued at $455,000 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $91,913, so homes cost about 5.0 times income. Median rent is $1,658 a month.
What is the weather like in Highlands?
July highs average 83.5°F and January lows 24.8°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 52.5 inches of precipitation a year and 26.7 inches of snow.
Does Highlands get tornadoes?
4 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Highlands since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F2 on October 16, 1955. The typical New Jersey town has had 9.
- 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)