The Town FilesHighland, Illinois
City in Madison County · population 9,991 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $202,900
- Household income
- $82,551
- Jan low / Jul high
- 24° / 90°
- Snow a year
- 10 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 25
- Median age
- 41.8
Highland is a city of 9,991 people in Madison County, Illinois. The median home is worth $202,900, above the typical Illinois town ($156,600). It ranks better for cycling than 95% of Illinois towns, hipper than 88% of Illinois towns, more walkable than 73% of Illinois towns.
How Highland ranks
Percentile among Illinois towns with at least 500 people on The Town Files lifestyle rankings. 50 is typical for the state; 90 means better than 90% of Illinois towns.
Homes and cost of living
The median home in Highland is worth $202,900, above the typical Illinois town ($156,600). Homes cost about 2.5 times the median household income of $82,551, which is more affordable than 38% of Illinois towns. Median rent is $855 a month. 72.7% of households own their home.
| Housing | Highland | Typical Illinois town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $202,900 | $156,600 |
| Median rent | $855 | $960 |
| Median household income | $82,551 | $72,500 |
| Home value ÷ income | 2.5× | 2.2× |
| Homeownership | 72.7% | 76.6% |
| Median year built | 1979 | 1967 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.0% | — |
Who lives in Highland
| People | Highland | Typical Illinois town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 41.8 | 40.4 |
| Age 65 and over | 19.8% | 18.7% |
| Under 18 | 19.2% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 35.8% | 21.8% |
| Below the poverty line | 6.0% | 9.9% |
| Veterans | 8.8% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 3.3% | — |
| Work from home | 10.2% | 8.9% |
| Average commute | 27.3 min | 26.1 min |
| Homes with broadband | 95.4% | 90.4% |
Weather in Highland
July highs average 90.2°F and January lows 24.3°F. About 43.4 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 10.2 inches of snow (typical Illinois town: 24.2 in). Expect about 53 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 94 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
25 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Highland since 1950, compared with 27 for the typical Illinois town. 6 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F3, struck on July 28, 1976 about 4.2 miles from the town center. Tornadoes within 10 miles have caused 2 deaths and 26 injuries since 1950. The most recent was on April 27, 2026.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 32 times; the largest was 3.00 inches on April 2, 2006.
Severe weather in Madison County since 1996
Madison County has been included in 16 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for flood, tornado, hurricane.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| December 13, 2021 | Tornado | EM-3577: Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, And Tornadoes |
| March 26, 2020 | Biological | DR-4489: Covid-19 Pandemic |
| March 13, 2020 | Biological | EM-3435: Covid-19 |
| September 19, 2019 | Flood | DR-4461: Severe Storms And Flooding |
| June 24, 2008 | Severe Storm | DR-1771: Severe Storms And Flooding |
Jobs and pay in Madison County
Madison County had 105,166 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $57,153 a year. Unemployment was 4.1% in 2023; in Highland itself the ACS puts it at 1%.
Public schools in Highland
5 public schools with 2,605 students, about 14.2 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Highland High School | 9-12 | 847 | 15.7 |
| Highland Middle School | 6-8 | 611 | 14.9 |
| Highland Primary School | PK-2 | 581 | 12.9 |
| Highland Elementary School | 3-5 | 515 | 13.6 |
| Grantfork Upper Elementary Sch | 4-5 | 51 | 10.2 |
Towns near Highland
- Trenton, IL11.2 mi · 2,690 people · home $178,200
- Troy, IL11.6 mi · 10,960 people · home $268,000
- Lebanon, IL13.5 mi · 4,691 people · home $170,700
- Breese, IL13.9 mi · 4,641 people · home $229,600
- Maryville, IL15.4 mi · 8,221 people · home $261,800
- Glen Carbon, IL16.0 mi · 13,842 people · home $282,000
- New Baden, IL16.1 mi · 3,428 people · home $172,200
- Edwardsville, IL16.4 mi · 26,808 people · home $299,800
Highland questions
Is Highland, Illinois a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Highland scores better for retirees than 65% of Illinois towns and quieter than 32%. 19.8% of residents are 65 or older (median age 41.8).
How much does a house cost in Highland?
The median owner-occupied home in Highland is valued at $202,900 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $82,551, so homes cost about 2.5 times income. Median rent is $855 a month.
What is the weather like in Highland?
July highs average 90.2°F and January lows 24.3°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 43.4 inches of precipitation a year and 10.2 inches of snow.
Does Highland get tornadoes?
25 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Highland since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F3 on July 28, 1976. The typical Illinois town has had 27.
- 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)