The Town FilesHighland, Pennsylvania
Township in Adams County · population 997 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $359,100
- Household income
- $108,958
- Jan low / Jul high
- 20° / 85°
- Snow a year
- 27 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 12
- Median age
- 55.9
Highland is a township of 997 people in Adams County, Pennsylvania. The median home is worth $359,100, above the typical Pennsylvania town ($214,250). It ranks better for families than 92% of Pennsylvania towns, more upscale than 74% of Pennsylvania towns, quieter than 71% of Pennsylvania towns.
How Highland ranks
Percentile among Pennsylvania towns with at least 500 people on The Town Files lifestyle rankings. 50 is typical for the state; 90 means better than 90% of Pennsylvania towns.
Homes and cost of living
The median home in Highland is worth $359,100, above the typical Pennsylvania town ($214,250). Homes cost about 3.3 times the median household income of $108,958, which is more affordable than 29% of Pennsylvania towns. Median rent is $1,219 a month. 88.5% of households own their home.
| Housing | Highland | Typical Pennsylvania town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $359,100 | $214,250 |
| Median rent | $1,219 | $996 |
| Median household income | $108,958 | $75,278 |
| Home value ÷ income | 3.3× | 2.8× |
| Homeownership | 88.5% | 81.5% |
| Median year built | 1979 | 1971 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 5.6% | — |
Who lives in Highland
| People | Highland | Typical Pennsylvania town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 55.9 | 44.2 |
| Age 65 and over | 24.2% | 21.1% |
| Under 18 | 14.3% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 35.3% | 23.8% |
| Below the poverty line | 3.5% | 8.5% |
| Veterans | 12.6% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 0.4% | — |
| Work from home | 16.1% | 10.6% |
| Average commute | 28.6 min | 25.9 min |
| Homes with broadband | 87.6% | 89.0% |
Weather in Highland
July highs average 85.1°F and January lows 19.9°F. About 46.4 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 27.0 inches of snow (typical Pennsylvania town: 31.8 in). Expect about 17 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 134 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
12 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Highland since 1950, compared with 10 for the typical Pennsylvania town. 4 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F3, struck on May 22, 1983 about 9.3 miles from the town center. The most recent was on August 30, 2005.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 10 times; the largest was 1.75 inches on June 23, 2008.
Severe weather in Adams County since 1996
Adams County has been included in 20 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for flood, hurricane, snowstorm.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| March 30, 2020 | Biological | DR-4506: Covid-19 Pandemic |
| March 13, 2020 | Biological | EM-3441: Covid-19 |
| March 23, 2016 | Snowstorm | DR-4267: Severe Winter Storm And Snowstorm |
| October 29, 2012 | Hurricane | EM-3356: Hurricane Sandy |
| September 12, 2011 | Flood | DR-4030: Tropical Storm Lee |
Jobs and pay in Adams County
Adams County had 33,195 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $54,542 a year. Unemployment was 2.6% in 2023; in Highland itself the ACS puts it at 0.8%.
Towns near Highland
- Fairfield, PA3.1 mi · 526 people · home $238,200
- Cumberland, PA4.2 mi · 7,033 people · home $293,200
- Freedom, PA4.6 mi · 825 people · home $440,500
- Hamiltonban, PA4.7 mi · 2,300 people · home $266,400
- Gettysburg, PA5.1 mi · 7,106 people · home $241,500
- Carroll Valley, PA5.7 mi · 3,940 people · home $300,500
- Liberty, PA5.8 mi · 1,376 people · home $356,600
- Franklin, PA6.0 mi · 4,676 people · home $252,600
Highland questions
Is Highland, Pennsylvania a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Highland scores better for retirees than 69% of Pennsylvania towns and quieter than 71%. 24.2% of residents are 65 or older (median age 55.9).
How much does a house cost in Highland?
The median owner-occupied home in Highland is valued at $359,100 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $108,958, so homes cost about 3.3 times income. Median rent is $1,219 a month.
What is the weather like in Highland?
July highs average 85.1°F and January lows 19.9°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 46.4 inches of precipitation a year and 27.0 inches of snow.
Does Highland get tornadoes?
12 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Highland since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F3 on May 22, 1983. The typical Pennsylvania 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)