The Town FilesHighlands, New York
Town in Orange County · population 12,939 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $337,700
- Household income
- $116,111
- Jan low / Jul high
- 21° / 85°
- Snow a year
- 36 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 6
- Median age
- 31.1
Highlands is a town of 12,939 people in Orange County, New York. The median home is worth $337,700, above the typical New York town ($217,700). It ranks better for young professionals than 99% of New York towns, better for cycling than 96% of New York towns, more of a college town than 92% of New York towns.
How Highlands 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 Highlands is worth $337,700, above the typical New York town ($217,700). Homes cost about 2.9 times the median household income of $116,111, which is more affordable than 49% of New York towns. Median rent is $2,640 a month. 43.1% of households own their home.
| Housing | Highlands | Typical New York town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $337,700 | $217,700 |
| Median rent | $2,640 | $1,080 |
| Median household income | $116,111 | $80,740 |
| Home value ÷ income | 2.9× | 2.8× |
| Homeownership | 43.1% | 79.5% |
| Median year built | 1957 | 1965 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 1.8% | — |
Who lives in Highlands
| People | Highlands | Typical New York town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 31.1 | 43.5 |
| Age 65 and over | 8.2% | 20.4% |
| Under 18 | 23.1% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 48.3% | 30.4% |
| Below the poverty line | 4.5% | 9.3% |
| Veterans | 19.3% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 10.1% | — |
| Work from home | 17.7% | 11.1% |
| Average commute | 18.7 min | 26.0 min |
| Homes with broadband | 95.0% | 91.1% |
Weather in Highlands
July highs average 85.2°F and January lows 20.7°F. About 51.5 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 35.7 inches of snow (typical New York town: 62.9 in). Expect about 18 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 110 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
6 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Highlands since 1950, compared with 5 for the typical New York town. 1 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F2, struck on July 29, 1971 about 6.7 miles from the town center. Tornadoes within 10 miles have caused 9 deaths and 20 injuries since 1950. The most recent was on October 2, 2018.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 33 times; the largest was 2.00 inches on July 21, 2010.
Severe weather in Orange County since 1996
Orange County has been included in 36 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for fire, flood, other.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| November 15, 2024 | Fire | FM-5547: Jennings Creek Fire |
| July 22, 2023 | Severe Storm | DR-4723: Severe Storms And Flooding |
| 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 |
Jobs and pay in Orange County
Orange County had 155,524 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $62,619 a year. Unemployment was 3.4% in 2023; in Highlands itself the ACS puts it at 4.2%.
Towns near Highlands
- West Point, NY1.0 mi · 7,341 people · home —
- Highland Falls, NY2.0 mi · 3,684 people · home $353,900
- Cornwall, NY4.2 mi · 12,884 people · home $444,800
- Cornwall-on-Hudson, NY4.4 mi · 3,075 people · home $471,200
- Firthcliffe, NY5.2 mi · 5,022 people · home $407,400
- Philipstown, NY5.3 mi · 9,831 people · home $615,000
- Woodbury, NY5.8 mi · 11,526 people · home $452,200
- Vails Gate, NY6.6 mi · 3,368 people · home $310,100
Highlands questions
Is Highlands, New York a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Highlands scores better for retirees than 28% of New York towns and quieter than 8%. 8.2% of residents are 65 or older (median age 31.1).
How much does a house cost in Highlands?
The median owner-occupied home in Highlands is valued at $337,700 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $116,111, so homes cost about 2.9 times income. Median rent is $2,640 a month.
What is the weather like in Highlands?
July highs average 85.2°F and January lows 20.7°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 51.5 inches of precipitation a year and 35.7 inches of snow.
Does Highlands get tornadoes?
6 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Highlands since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F2 on July 29, 1971. 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)