The Town FilesHighland, Indiana
Town in Lake County · population 23,984 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $233,300
- Household income
- $78,062
- Jan low / Jul high
- 15° / 84°
- Snow a year
- 27 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 38
- Median age
- 44.6
Highland is a town of 23,984 people in Lake County, Indiana. The median home is worth $233,300, above the typical Indiana town ($150,400). It ranks more vibrant than 100% of Indiana towns, better for first-time buyers than 98% of Indiana towns, more walkable than 96% of Indiana towns.
How Highland ranks
Percentile among Indiana towns with at least 500 people on The Town Files lifestyle rankings. 50 is typical for the state; 90 means better than 90% of Indiana towns.
Homes and cost of living
The median home in Highland is worth $233,300, above the typical Indiana town ($150,400). Homes cost about 3.0 times the median household income of $78,062, which is more affordable than 25% of Indiana towns. Median rent is $1,230 a month. 78.4% of households own their home.
| Housing | Highland | Typical Indiana town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $233,300 | $150,400 |
| Median rent | $1,230 | $888 |
| Median household income | $78,062 | $61,953 |
| Home value ÷ income | 3.0× | 2.5× |
| Homeownership | 78.4% | 73.4% |
| Median year built | 1967 | 1966 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.4% | — |
Who lives in Highland
| People | Highland | Typical Indiana town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 44.6 | 38.9 |
| Age 65 and over | 21.5% | 17.1% |
| Under 18 | 18.9% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 29.6% | 17.4% |
| Below the poverty line | 11.6% | 11.6% |
| Veterans | 6.6% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 7.7% | — |
| Work from home | 8.5% | 6.2% |
| Average commute | 25.6 min | 24.7 min |
| Homes with broadband | 92.6% | 89.2% |
Weather in Highland
July highs average 83.9°F and January lows 15.2°F. About 42.1 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 26.6 inches of snow (typical Indiana town: 21.1 in). Expect about 16 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 126 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
38 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Highland since 1950, compared with 23 for the typical Indiana town. 7 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F3, struck on November 12, 1965 about 0.6 miles from the town center. The most recent was on July 27, 2026.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 70 times; the largest was 2.75 inches on July 13, 2015.
Severe weather in Lake County since 1996
Lake County has been included in 24 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for flood, hurricane, snowstorm.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| August 25, 2026 | Flood | DR-4933: Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Tornadoes, And Flooding |
| August 15, 2026 | Flood | EM-3651: Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Tornadoes, And Flooding |
| January 24, 2026 | Winter Storm | EM-3641: Severe Winter Storm |
| April 15, 2023 | Severe Storm | DR-4704: Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, And Tornadoes |
| April 3, 2020 | Biological | DR-4515: Covid-19 Pandemic |
Jobs and pay in Lake County
Lake County had 191,633 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $61,200 a year. Unemployment was 5% in 2023; in Highland itself the ACS puts it at 4.7%.
Public schools in Highland
6 public schools with 3,069 students, about 20.2 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Highland High School | 9-12 | 980 | 18.5 |
| Highland Middle School | 6-8 | 742 | 19.5 |
| Southridge Elementary School | K-5 | 407 | 23.9 |
| Judith Morton Johnston Elementary | PK-5 | 376 | 25.1 |
| Allen J Warren Elementary School | K-5 | 283 | 18.9 |
| Mildred Merkley Elementary School | K-5 | 281 | 20.1 |
Towns near Highland
- Griffith, IN2.2 mi · 16,528 people · home $210,100
- Munster, IN2.4 mi · 23,894 people · home $334,300
- Dyer, IN4.3 mi · 16,517 people · home $322,200
- Schererville, IN4.3 mi · 29,646 people · home $314,900
- Lansing, IL4.7 mi · 29,076 people · home $177,000
- Lynwood, IL5.1 mi · 9,116 people · home $218,000
- Hammond, IN5.3 mi · 77,879 people · home $159,900
- Calumet City, IL5.4 mi · 36,033 people · home $145,200
Highland questions
Is Highland, Indiana a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Highland scores better for retirees than 28% of Indiana towns and quieter than 10%. 21.5% of residents are 65 or older (median age 44.6).
How much does a house cost in Highland?
The median owner-occupied home in Highland is valued at $233,300 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $78,062, so homes cost about 3.0 times income. Median rent is $1,230 a month.
What is the weather like in Highland?
July highs average 83.9°F and January lows 15.2°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 42.1 inches of precipitation a year and 26.6 inches of snow.
Does Highland get tornadoes?
38 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Highland since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F3 on November 12, 1965. The typical Indiana town has had 23.
- 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)