The Town FilesHighlands, Texas
Community in Harris County · population 8,612 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $214,400
- Household income
- $52,167
- Jan low / Jul high
- 41° / 92°
- Snow a year
- 0 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 65
- Median age
- 40.6
Highlands is a community of 8,612 people in Harris County, Texas. The median home is worth $214,400, above the typical Texas town ($184,100). It ranks better transit than 92% of Texas towns, more vibrant than 79% of Texas towns, more walkable than 76% of Texas towns.
How Highlands ranks
Percentile among Texas towns with at least 500 people on The Town Files lifestyle rankings. 50 is typical for the state; 90 means better than 90% of Texas towns.
Homes and cost of living
The median home in Highlands is worth $214,400, above the typical Texas town ($184,100). Homes cost about 4.1 times the median household income of $52,167, which is more affordable than 14% of Texas towns. Median rent is $1,223 a month. 80.4% of households own their home.
| Housing | Highlands | Typical Texas town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $214,400 | $184,100 |
| Median rent | $1,223 | $1,086 |
| Median household income | $52,167 | $65,842 |
| Home value ÷ income | 4.1× | 2.9× |
| Homeownership | 80.4% | 72.9% |
| Median year built | 1979 | 1985 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.0% | — |
Who lives in Highlands
| People | Highlands | Typical Texas town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 40.6 | 37.1 |
| Age 65 and over | 24.4% | 15.6% |
| Under 18 | 21.4% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 11.3% | 18.9% |
| Below the poverty line | 9.8% | 13.1% |
| Veterans | 9.9% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 16.7% | — |
| Work from home | 2.3% | 7.8% |
| Average commute | 30.7 min | 26.1 min |
| Homes with broadband | 91.6% | 89.2% |
Weather in Highlands
July highs average 91.5°F and January lows 41.4°F. About 64.7 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 0.0 inches of snow (typical Texas town: 0.2 in). Expect about 84 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 9 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
65 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Highlands since 1950, compared with 21 for the typical Texas town. 16 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F4, struck on November 21, 1992 about 4.7 miles from the town center. Tornadoes within 10 miles have caused 6 deaths and 155 injuries since 1950. The most recent was on January 24, 2023.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 18 times; the largest was 2.00 inches on May 9, 2019.
Severe weather in Harris County since 1996
Harris County has been included in 41 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for fire, flood, tornado.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| July 9, 2024 | Hurricane | DR-4798: Hurricane Beryl |
| May 17, 2024 | Flood | DR-4781: Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Tornadoes, And Flooding |
| February 19, 2021 | Severe Ice Storm | DR-4586: Severe Winter Storms |
| February 14, 2021 | Severe Ice Storm | EM-3554: Severe Winter Storm |
| August 24, 2020 | Hurricane | EM-3540: Tropical Storms Marco And Laura |
Jobs and pay in Harris County
Harris County had 2,445,972 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $88,554 a year. Unemployment was 4.3% in 2023; in Highlands itself the ACS puts it at 10.1%.
Public schools in Highlands
4 public schools with 2,232 students, about 14.3 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| HIGHLANDS J H | 6-8 | 924 | 14.4 |
| HIGHLANDS EL | 1-5 | 895 | 16.3 |
| HOPPER PRI | PK-K | 312 | 13.0 |
| POINT ALTERNATIVE CENTER | 6-12 | 101 | 7.8 |
Towns near Highlands
- Barrett, TX3.6 mi · 5,223 people · home $190,000
- Channelview, TX3.7 mi · 45,688 people · home $195,900
- Baytown, TX6.4 mi · 83,701 people · home $197,300
- Crosby, TX7.1 mi · 3,417 people · home $226,700
- Cloverleaf, TX7.3 mi · 24,100 people · home $169,600
- Deer Park, TX9.1 mi · 34,495 people · home $264,600
- La Porte, TX10.1 mi · 35,124 people · home $234,600
- Mont Belvieu, TX11.3 mi · 7,654 people · home $411,000
Highlands questions
Is Highlands, Texas a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Highlands scores better for retirees than 8% of Texas towns and quieter than 21%. 24.4% of residents are 65 or older (median age 40.6).
How much does a house cost in Highlands?
The median owner-occupied home in Highlands is valued at $214,400 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $52,167, so homes cost about 4.1 times income. Median rent is $1,223 a month.
What is the weather like in Highlands?
July highs average 91.5°F and January lows 41.4°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 64.7 inches of precipitation a year and 0.0 inches of snow.
Does Highlands get tornadoes?
65 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Highlands since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F4 on November 21, 1992. The typical Texas town has had 21.
- 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)