The Town FilesHighland-on-the-Lake, New York
Community in Erie County · population 3,765 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $186,300
- Household income
- $87,800
- Jan low / Jul high
- 16° / 77°
- Snow a year
- 156 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 6
- Median age
- 50.6
Highland-on-the-Lake is a community of 3,765 people in Erie County, New York. The median home is worth $186,300, below the typical New York town ($217,700). It ranks more walkable than 79% of New York towns, more vibrant than 79% of New York towns.
How Highland-on-the-Lake ranks
Percentile among New York 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 York towns.
Homes and cost of living
The median home in Highland-on-the-Lake is worth $186,300, below the typical New York town ($217,700). Homes cost about 2.1 times the median household income of $87,800, which is more affordable than 80% of New York towns. Median rent is $1,000 a month. 81.3% of households own their home.
| Housing | Highland-on-the-Lake | Typical New York town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $186,300 | $217,700 |
| Median rent | $1,000 | $1,080 |
| Median household income | $87,800 | $80,740 |
| Home value ÷ income | 2.1× | 2.8× |
| Homeownership | 81.3% | 79.5% |
| Median year built | 1972 | 1965 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.0% | — |
Who lives in Highland-on-the-Lake
| People | Highland-on-the-Lake | Typical New York town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 50.6 | 43.5 |
| Age 65 and over | 23.5% | 20.4% |
| Under 18 | 10.2% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 18.5% | 30.4% |
| Below the poverty line | 15.9% | 9.3% |
| Veterans | 9.0% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 2.3% | — |
| Work from home | 6.7% | 11.1% |
| Average commute | 26.2 min | 26.0 min |
| Homes with broadband | 92.8% | 91.1% |
Weather in Highland-on-the-Lake
July highs average 77.3°F and January lows 15.8°F. About 53.3 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 156.0 inches of snow (typical New York town: 62.9 in). Expect about 1 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 144 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
6 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Highland-on-the-Lake since 1950, compared with 5 for the typical New York town. 3 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F3, struck on August 19, 1970 about 5.6 miles from the town center. The most recent was on July 10, 2024.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 10 times; the largest was 1.75 inches on May 31, 1985.
Severe weather in Erie County since 1996
Erie County has been included in 27 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for fire, other, hurricane.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| March 15, 2023 | Snowstorm | DR-4694: Severe Winter Storm And Snowstorm |
| December 26, 2022 | Winter Storm | EM-3590: Severe Winter Storm |
| November 20, 2022 | Winter Storm | EM-3589: Severe Winter Storm And Snowstorm |
| March 20, 2020 | Biological | DR-4480: Covid-19 Pandemic |
| March 13, 2020 | Biological | EM-3434: Covid-19 |
Jobs and pay in Erie County
Erie County had 466,138 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $66,971 a year. Unemployment was 3.8% in 2023; in Highland-on-the-Lake itself the ACS puts it at 2.8%.
Public schools in Highland-on-the-Lake
1 public school with 364 students, about 11.0 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| HIGHLAND ELEMENTARY SCHOOL | K-5 | 364 | 11.0 |
Towns near Highland-on-the-Lake
- Evans, NY3.4 mi · 15,308 people · home $176,500
- Wanakah, NY5.0 mi · 3,137 people · home $195,000
- Eden, NY5.3 mi · 3,346 people · home $237,200
- Eden, NY6.0 mi · 7,573 people · home $263,100
- Hamburg, NY6.9 mi · 60,085 people · home $251,100
- Lake Erie Beach, NY7.3 mi · 3,467 people · home $162,500
- Hamburg, NY7.6 mi · 9,696 people · home $248,600
- Blasdell, NY10.0 mi · 2,539 people · home $170,200
Highland-on-the-Lake questions
Is Highland-on-the-Lake, New York a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Highland-on-the-Lake scores better for retirees than 43% of New York towns and quieter than 54%. 23.5% of residents are 65 or older (median age 50.6).
How much does a house cost in Highland-on-the-Lake?
The median owner-occupied home in Highland-on-the-Lake is valued at $186,300 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $87,800, so homes cost about 2.1 times income. Median rent is $1,000 a month.
What is the weather like in Highland-on-the-Lake?
July highs average 77.3°F and January lows 15.8°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 53.3 inches of precipitation a year and 156.0 inches of snow.
Does Highland-on-the-Lake get tornadoes?
6 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Highland-on-the-Lake since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F3 on August 19, 1970. The typical New York town has had 5.
- 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)