The Town FilesHighwood, Illinois
City in Lake County · population 5,074 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $405,400
- Household income
- $107,875
- Jan low / Jul high
- 16° / 84°
- Snow a year
- 34 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 10
- Median age
- 41.0
Highwood is a city of 5,074 people in Lake County, Illinois. The median home is worth $405,400, above the typical Illinois town ($156,600). It ranks more vibrant than 100% of Illinois towns, more of a college town than 100% of Illinois towns, more walkable than 99% of Illinois towns.
How Highwood 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 Highwood is worth $405,400, above the typical Illinois town ($156,600). Homes cost about 3.8 times the median household income of $107,875, which is more affordable than 7% of Illinois towns. Median rent is $1,900 a month. 56.0% of households own their home.
| Housing | Highwood | Typical Illinois town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $405,400 | $156,600 |
| Median rent | $1,900 | $960 |
| Median household income | $107,875 | $72,500 |
| Home value ÷ income | 3.8× | 2.2× |
| Homeownership | 56.0% | 76.6% |
| Median year built | 1969 | 1967 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.9% | — |
Who lives in Highwood
| People | Highwood | Typical Illinois town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 41.0 | 40.4 |
| Age 65 and over | 21.5% | 18.7% |
| Under 18 | 21.7% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 39.1% | 21.8% |
| Below the poverty line | 16.0% | 9.9% |
| Veterans | 2.6% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 22.9% | — |
| Work from home | 15.2% | 8.9% |
| Average commute | 31.1 min | 26.1 min |
| Homes with broadband | 96.4% | 90.4% |
Weather in Highwood
July highs average 83.5°F and January lows 16.3°F. About 39.5 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 33.6 inches of snow (typical Illinois town: 24.2 in). Expect about 17 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 128 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
10 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Highwood since 1950, compared with 27 for the typical Illinois town. 3 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F4, struck on September 28, 1972 about 5.9 miles from the town center. Tornadoes within 10 miles have caused 3 deaths and 108 injuries since 1950. The most recent was on February 27, 2024.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 59 times; the largest was 2.75 inches on July 18, 1967.
Severe weather in Lake County since 1996
Lake County has been included in 17 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for flood, tornado, hurricane.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| March 26, 2020 | Biological | DR-4489: Covid-19 Pandemic |
| March 13, 2020 | Biological | EM-3435: Covid-19 |
| May 10, 2013 | Flood | DR-4116: Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, And Flooding |
| March 17, 2011 | Snowstorm | DR-1960: Severe Winter Storm And Snowstorm |
| June 24, 2008 | Severe Storm | DR-1771: Severe Storms And Flooding |
Jobs and pay in Lake County
Lake County had 329,354 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $91,042 a year. Unemployment was 5% in 2023; in Highwood itself the ACS puts it at 6%.
Public schools in Highwood
1 public school with 538 students, about 15.8 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Oak Terrace Elem School | PK-5 | 538 | 15.8 |
Towns near Highwood
- Highland Park, IL1.6 mi · 30,176 people · home $607,300
- Lake Forest, IL3.0 mi · 19,367 people · home $938,300
- Deerfield, IL3.4 mi · 19,196 people · home $623,400
- Riverwoods, IL4.8 mi · 3,790 people · home $800,700
- Lincolnshire, IL5.4 mi · 7,940 people · home $677,700
- Northbrook, IL5.5 mi · 35,222 people · home $652,300
- Glencoe, IL5.6 mi · 8,849 people · home $1,432,500
- Lake Bluff, IL5.7 mi · 5,616 people · home $776,700
Highwood questions
Is Highwood, Illinois a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Highwood scores better for retirees than 80% of Illinois towns and quieter than 0%. 21.5% of residents are 65 or older (median age 41.0).
How much does a house cost in Highwood?
The median owner-occupied home in Highwood is valued at $405,400 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $107,875, so homes cost about 3.8 times income. Median rent is $1,900 a month.
What is the weather like in Highwood?
July highs average 83.5°F and January lows 16.3°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 39.5 inches of precipitation a year and 33.6 inches of snow.
Does Highwood get tornadoes?
10 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Highwood since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F4 on September 28, 1972. 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)