The Town FilesHighlands, North Carolina
Town in Macon County · population 1,072 (2020 Census) · spans 2 counties
- Median home
- $700,900
- Household income
- $71,509
- Jan low / Jul high
- 24° / 78°
- Snow a year
- 10 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 3
- Median age
- 62.7
Highlands is a town of 1,072 people in Macon County, North Carolina. The median home is worth $700,900, above the typical North Carolina town ($228,900). It ranks better for retirees than 99% of North Carolina towns, hipper than 99% of North Carolina towns, better for a vacation home than 94% of North Carolina towns.
How Highlands ranks
Percentile among North Carolina towns with at least 500 people on The Town Files lifestyle rankings. 50 is typical for the state; 90 means better than 90% of North Carolina towns.
Homes and cost of living
The median home in Highlands is worth $700,900, above the typical North Carolina town ($228,900). Homes cost about 9.8 times the median household income of $71,509, which is more affordable than 1% of North Carolina towns. Median rent is $650 a month. 67.2% of households own their home.
| Housing | Highlands | Typical North Carolina town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $700,900 | $228,900 |
| Median rent | $650 | $969 |
| Median household income | $71,509 | $60,458 |
| Home value ÷ income | 9.8× | 3.7× |
| Homeownership | 67.2% | 69.5% |
| Median year built | 1981 | 1984 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 64.9% | — |
Who lives in Highlands
| People | Highlands | Typical North Carolina town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 62.7 | 41.1 |
| Age 65 and over | 46.9% | 19.0% |
| Under 18 | 6.7% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 57.8% | 24.5% |
| Below the poverty line | 7.9% | 14.3% |
| Veterans | 7.5% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 6.8% | — |
| Work from home | 23.7% | 9.8% |
| Average commute | 14.6 min | 24.6 min |
| Homes with broadband | 91.8% | 89.5% |
Weather in Highlands
July highs average 77.7°F and January lows 23.9°F. About 88.3 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 10.2 inches of snow (typical North Carolina town: 2.2 in). Expect about 0 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 115 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
3 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Highlands since 1950, compared with 13 for the typical North Carolina town. The strongest, an EF1, struck on April 13, 2020 about 9.2 miles from the town center. The most recent was on April 13, 2020.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 25 times; the largest was 1.75 inches on April 10, 2025.
Severe weather in Macon County since 1996
Macon County has been included in 17 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for flood, hurricane, snowstorm.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| January 24, 2026 | Winter Storm | EM-3637: Severe Winter Storm |
| September 28, 2024 | Tropical Storm | DR-4827: Tropical Storm Helene |
| September 26, 2024 | Tropical Storm | EM-3617: Hurricane Helene |
| October 1, 2022 | Hurricane | EM-3586: Hurricane Ian |
| August 2, 2020 | Hurricane | EM-3534: Hurricane Isaias |
Jobs and pay in Macon County
Macon County had 12,334 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $46,461 a year. Unemployment was 3.2% in 2023; in Highlands itself the ACS puts it at 4.3%.
Public schools in Highlands
1 public school with 319 students, about 9.4 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Highlands School | K-12 | 319 | 9.4 |
Towns near Highlands
- Cashiers, NC6.8 mi · 657 people · home $346,200
- Franklin, NC13.5 mi · 4,175 people · home $195,000
- Mountain City, GA13.8 mi · 904 people · home $153,400
- Clayton, GA16.9 mi · 2,003 people · home $249,600
- Cullowhee, NC17.7 mi · 7,682 people · home $382,300
- Walhalla, SC21.2 mi · 4,072 people · home $171,900
- Rosman, NC22.2 mi · 701 people · home $213,200
- Sylva, NC22.3 mi · 2,578 people · home $201,200
Highlands questions
Is Highlands, North Carolina a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Highlands scores better for retirees than 99% of North Carolina towns and quieter than 91%. 46.9% of residents are 65 or older (median age 62.7).
How much does a house cost in Highlands?
The median owner-occupied home in Highlands is valued at $700,900 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $71,509, so homes cost about 9.8 times income. Median rent is $650 a month.
What is the weather like in Highlands?
July highs average 77.7°F and January lows 23.9°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 88.3 inches of precipitation a year and 10.2 inches of snow.
Does Highlands get tornadoes?
3 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Highlands since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was an EF1 on April 13, 2020. The typical North Carolina town has had 13.
- 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)