The Town FilesHighland, Wisconsin
Town in Iowa County · population 724 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $338,500
- Household income
- $83,646
- Jan low / Jul high
- 9° / 81°
- Snow a year
- 41 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 17
- Median age
- 45.0
Highland is a town of 724 people in Iowa County, Wisconsin. The median home is worth $338,500, above the typical Wisconsin town ($256,000). It ranks better for cycling than 89% of Wisconsin towns, quieter than 87% of Wisconsin towns, better for first-time buyers than 81% of Wisconsin towns.
How Highland ranks
Percentile among Wisconsin towns with at least 500 people on The Town Files lifestyle rankings. 50 is typical for the state; 90 means better than 90% of Wisconsin towns.
Homes and cost of living
The median home in Highland is worth $338,500, above the typical Wisconsin town ($256,000). Homes cost about 4.0 times the median household income of $83,646, which is more affordable than 13% of Wisconsin towns. 90.3% of households own their home.
| Housing | Highland | Typical Wisconsin town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $338,500 | $256,000 |
| Median rent | — | $951 |
| Median household income | $83,646 | $82,217 |
| Home value ÷ income | 4.0× | 3.1× |
| Homeownership | 90.3% | 86.8% |
| Median year built | 1974 | 1978 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 10.2% | — |
Who lives in Highland
| People | Highland | Typical Wisconsin town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 45.0 | 45.1 |
| Age 65 and over | 17.7% | 21.0% |
| Under 18 | 21.6% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 20.7% | 23.8% |
| Below the poverty line | 7.9% | 7.2% |
| Veterans | 3.5% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 3.2% | — |
| Work from home | 9.8% | 10.9% |
| Average commute | 25.7 min | 24.6 min |
| Homes with broadband | 81.6% | 89.1% |
Weather in Highland
July highs average 81.4°F and January lows 8.9°F. About 39.6 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 41.2 inches of snow (typical Wisconsin town: 45.7 in). Expect about 6 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 160 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
17 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Highland since 1950, compared with 15 for the typical Wisconsin town. 7 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F4, struck on April 11, 1965 about 8.1 miles from the town center. The most recent was on June 17, 2026.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 23 times; the largest was 2.50 inches on August 7, 2021.
Severe weather in Iowa County since 1996
Iowa County has been included in 17 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for flood, drought, tornado.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| June 30, 2026 | Flood | DR-4923: Severe Storms, Tornadoes, And Flooding |
| April 4, 2020 | Biological | DR-4520: Covid-19 Pandemic |
| March 13, 2020 | Biological | EM-3454: Covid-19 |
| October 7, 2017 | Severe Storm | DR-4343: Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Flooding, Landslides, And Mud |
| August 8, 2013 | Severe Storm | DR-4141: Severe Storms, Flooding, And Mudslides |
Jobs and pay in Iowa County
Iowa County had 10,688 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $55,369 a year. Unemployment was 2.6% in 2023; in Highland itself the ACS puts it at 6.1%.
Towns near Highland
- Highland, WI1.9 mi · 874 people · home $153,500
- Montfort, WI7.5 mi · 705 people · home $158,000
- Avoca, WI9.0 mi · 553 people · home $115,400
- Muscoda, WI9.9 mi · 1,307 people · home $133,600
- Linden, WI10.3 mi · 504 people · home $167,500
- Muscoda, WI10.3 mi · 754 people · home $174,400
- Linden, WI10.7 mi · 755 people · home $249,000
- Lone Rock, WI11.5 mi · 829 people · home $115,900
Highland questions
Is Highland, Wisconsin a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Highland scores better for retirees than 61% of Wisconsin towns and quieter than 87%. 17.7% of residents are 65 or older (median age 45.0).
How much does a house cost in Highland?
The median owner-occupied home in Highland is valued at $338,500 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $83,646, so homes cost about 4.0 times income. Median rent is — a month.
What is the weather like in Highland?
July highs average 81.4°F and January lows 8.9°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 39.6 inches of precipitation a year and 41.2 inches of snow.
Does Highland get tornadoes?
17 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Highland since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F4 on April 11, 1965. The typical Wisconsin town has had 15.
- 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)