The Town FilesHighland Lakes, New Jersey
Community in Sussex County · population 4,816 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $295,300
- Household income
- $109,000
- Jan low / Jul high
- 18° / 84°
- Snow a year
- 35 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 5
- Median age
- 53.4
Highland Lakes is a community of 4,816 people in Sussex County, New Jersey. The median home is worth $295,300, below the typical New Jersey town ($435,600). It ranks better for first-time buyers than 98% of New Jersey towns, better for a vacation home than 94% of New Jersey towns, better for families than 90% of New Jersey towns.
How Highland Lakes ranks
Percentile among New Jersey towns with at least 500 people on The Town Files lifestyle rankings. 50 is typical for the state; 90 means better than 90% of New Jersey towns.
Homes and cost of living
The median home in Highland Lakes is worth $295,300, below the typical New Jersey town ($435,600). Homes cost about 2.7 times the median household income of $109,000, which is more affordable than 92% of New Jersey towns. Median rent is $2,169 a month. 93.1% of households own their home.
| Housing | Highland Lakes | Typical New Jersey town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $295,300 | $435,600 |
| Median rent | $2,169 | $1,774 |
| Median household income | $109,000 | $111,891 |
| Home value ÷ income | 2.7× | 3.8× |
| Homeownership | 93.1% | 80.8% |
| Median year built | 1966 | 1969 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 15.0% | — |
Who lives in Highland Lakes
| People | Highland Lakes | Typical New Jersey town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 53.4 | 42.7 |
| Age 65 and over | 26.6% | 18.3% |
| Under 18 | 12.7% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 50.3% | 44.1% |
| Below the poverty line | 2.7% | 5.7% |
| Veterans | 6.2% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 13.1% | — |
| Work from home | 23.3% | 16.3% |
| Average commute | 44.0 min | 30.4 min |
| Homes with broadband | 91.5% | 94.6% |
Weather in Highland Lakes
July highs average 83.6°F and January lows 18.0°F. About 41.0 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 34.6 inches of snow (typical New Jersey town: 24.5 in). Expect about 12 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 135 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
5 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Highland Lakes since 1950, compared with 9 for the typical New Jersey town. The strongest, an F1, struck on September 11, 1997 about 5.2 miles from the town center. The most recent was on July 29, 2009.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 13 times; the largest was 2.50 inches on July 3, 2014.
Severe weather in Sussex County since 1996
Sussex County has been included in 28 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for fire, flood, other.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| September 5, 2021 | Hurricane | DR-4614: Remnants Of Hurricane Ida |
| September 2, 2021 | Hurricane | EM-3573: Remnants Of Hurricane Ida |
| April 28, 2021 | Snowstorm | DR-4597: Severe Winter Storm And Snowstorm |
| December 11, 2020 | Hurricane | DR-4574: Tropical Storm Isaias |
| March 25, 2020 | Biological | DR-4488: Covid-19 Pandemic |
Jobs and pay in Sussex County
Sussex County had 38,360 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $58,693 a year. Unemployment was 4.3% in 2023; in Highland Lakes itself the ACS puts it at 4.9%.
Towns near Highland Lakes
- Vernon, NJ2.2 mi · 22,358 people · home $331,000
- Upper Greenwood Lake, NJ4.5 mi · 3,687 people · home $376,700
- West Milford, NJ5.9 mi · 24,862 people · home $399,700
- Hardyston, NJ5.9 mi · 8,125 people · home $360,400
- Hamburg, NJ5.9 mi · 3,266 people · home $280,900
- Franklin, NJ7.8 mi · 4,912 people · home $272,600
- Warwick, NY8.1 mi · 6,652 people · home $438,100
- Warwick, NY8.1 mi · 32,027 people · home $458,800
Highland Lakes questions
Is Highland Lakes, New Jersey a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Highland Lakes scores better for retirees than 68% of New Jersey towns and quieter than 70%. 26.6% of residents are 65 or older (median age 53.4).
How much does a house cost in Highland Lakes?
The median owner-occupied home in Highland Lakes is valued at $295,300 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $109,000, so homes cost about 2.7 times income. Median rent is $2,169 a month.
What is the weather like in Highland Lakes?
July highs average 83.6°F and January lows 18.0°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 41.0 inches of precipitation a year and 34.6 inches of snow.
Does Highland Lakes get tornadoes?
5 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Highland Lakes since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F1 on September 11, 1997. The typical New Jersey town has had 9.
- 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)