The Town FilesHighland, New York
Community in Ulster County · population 6,385 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $415,900
- Household income
- $101,917
- Jan low / Jul high
- 19° / 83°
- Snow a year
- 53 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 6
- Median age
- 40.7
Highland is a community of 6,385 people in Ulster County, New York. The median home is worth $415,900, above the typical New York town ($217,700). It ranks better for cycling than 99% of New York towns, better for young professionals than 98% of New York towns, better for retirees than 97% of New York towns.
How Highland 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 is worth $415,900, above the typical New York town ($217,700). Homes cost about 4.1 times the median household income of $101,917, which is more affordable than 23% of New York towns. Median rent is $1,483 a month. 60.7% of households own their home.
| Housing | Highland | Typical New York town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $415,900 | $217,700 |
| Median rent | $1,483 | $1,080 |
| Median household income | $101,917 | $80,740 |
| Home value ÷ income | 4.1× | 2.8× |
| Homeownership | 60.7% | 79.5% |
| Median year built | 1979 | 1965 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 2.5% | — |
Who lives in Highland
| People | Highland | Typical New York town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 40.7 | 43.5 |
| Age 65 and over | 25.0% | 20.4% |
| Under 18 | 17.8% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 49.5% | 30.4% |
| Below the poverty line | 5.8% | 9.3% |
| Veterans | 6.3% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 8.2% | — |
| Work from home | 18.2% | 11.1% |
| Average commute | 28.0 min | 26.0 min |
| Homes with broadband | 96.4% | 91.1% |
Weather in Highland
July highs average 83.1°F and January lows 18.7°F. About 47.2 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 53.2 inches of snow (typical New York town: 62.9 in). Expect about 13 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 135 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
6 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Highland since 1950, compared with 5 for the typical New York town. 1 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F2, struck on May 18, 2000 about 6.6 miles from the town center. The most recent was on August 9, 2024.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 36 times; the largest was 1.75 inches on June 29, 2020.
Severe weather in Ulster County since 1996
Ulster County has been included in 37 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for fire, flood, other.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| September 5, 2021 | Hurricane | DR-4615: Remnants Of Hurricane Ida |
| September 2, 2021 | Hurricane | EM-3572: Remnants Of Hurricane Ida |
| August 22, 2021 | Hurricane | EM-3565: Hurricane Henri |
| March 20, 2020 | Biological | DR-4480: Covid-19 Pandemic |
| March 13, 2020 | Biological | EM-3434: Covid-19 |
Jobs and pay in Ulster County
Ulster County had 59,330 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $61,154 a year. Unemployment was 3.4% in 2023; in Highland itself the ACS puts it at 6.2%.
Public schools in Highland
4 public schools with 1,575 students, about 11.4 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| HIGHLAND ELEMENTARY SCHOOL | K-5 | 621 | 10.2 |
| HIGHLAND HIGH SCHOOL | 9-12 | 525 | 14.6 |
| HIGHLAND MIDDLE SCHOOL | 6-8 | 360 | 8.8 |
| HIGHLAND RESIDENTIAL CENTER | 7-12 | 69 | — |
Towns near Highland
- Marist College, NY1.5 mi · 2,894 people · home —
- Lloyd, NY1.8 mi · 11,133 people · home $390,200
- Fairview, NY2.7 mi · 5,475 people · home $283,500
- Poughkeepsie, NY2.9 mi · 31,577 people · home $283,700
- Arlington, NY3.7 mi · 3,010 people · home $315,300
- Haviland, NY4.5 mi · 4,174 people · home $319,500
- Poughkeepsie, NY4.6 mi · 45,471 people · home $354,900
- Spackenkill, NY5.3 mi · 4,223 people · home $440,500
Highland questions
Is Highland, New York a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Highland scores better for retirees than 97% of New York towns and quieter than 38%. 25.0% of residents are 65 or older (median age 40.7).
How much does a house cost in Highland?
The median owner-occupied home in Highland is valued at $415,900 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $101,917, so homes cost about 4.1 times income. Median rent is $1,483 a month.
What is the weather like in Highland?
July highs average 83.1°F and January lows 18.7°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 47.2 inches of precipitation a year and 53.2 inches of snow.
Does Highland get tornadoes?
6 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Highland since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F2 on May 18, 2000. 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)