City profile · Alabama · Census ACS 2023

Highland Lake, AL

Population, income, housing, safety, climate and schools for Highland Lake - drawn straight from Census ACS, FBI UCR, NOAA, NCES, HUD and FEMA, refreshed on the 2024–2025 release cycle.

516
Residents
$65,625
Median income
$268,500
Median home
$1,266
Median rent (state)

Highland Lake - the verdict

Measured against every US city with at least 1,000 residents, Highland Lake lands in the 44th percentile for household income and the 99th percentile for safety. Source: Census ACS + FBI UCR.

44th
percentile, household income
59th
percentile, home value
42nd
percentile, median rent
99th
percentile, safety
📝 How we sourced this

Population, income, and housing-cost figures come from the U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey 5-year estimates (B-series tables). Crime data uses FBI UCR; climate uses NOAA Climate Normals; school counts come from NCES Common Core of Data; permits use the Census Building Permits Survey (BPS). See our methodology page for the full ETL pipeline and OMB / FIPS join keys.

Data Snapshot: Highland Lake, AL

Alabama's Highland Lake is a small town, with 516 residents per the latest Census Bureau ACS figures. Median household income here is $65,625 per year, below the median for U.S. cities on this measure, with a poverty rate of 6.8%. Home values in Highland Lake run a median of $268,500, and the median resident age is 60.0 years. 30.4% of adults here have a bachelor's degree or higher; 47.9% of working-age residents are in the labor force.

In 2024, 1 residential building permits were authorized in Highland Lake (Construction Slowdown), down 67% from five years earlier, per Census BPS data. Highland Lake reports a comparatively low crime rate: the FBI's Uniform Crime Reporting program logs 0.0 total incidents per 100,000 residents here, below the national average (agency reporting is voluntary, so this measures reporting activity, not a definitive danger score).

Living costs in Alabama run below the national norm: the state registers 88.8 on a 100-equals-national-average index (Well Below Average) per BEA Regional Price Parities 2024. HUD Fair Market Rent for a typical two-bedroom in this state is $1,266 per month. Statewide, average monthly utility bills in Alabama run around $245, per EIA 2023 residential energy data. On FEMA's National Risk Index, this area rates 68.5 out of 100 for natural-hazard exposure (Moderate).

Population

516 residents

Census ACS 2023 - Alabama

Median Household Income

$65,625 /yr

Poverty 6.8%

Cost of Living Index (state)

88.8 (US=100)

Well Below Average - BEA RPP 2024, Alabama average

How does Highland Lake compare to other US cities?

Here's how Highland Lake stacks up against the full field of US cities (population 1,000+), computed live from Census and FBI data.

Household income 44% higher than other cities
Home value 59% pricier than other cities
Median rent 42% pricier than other cities
Safety 99% safer than other cities

"Safer than" reflects total crime rate from FBI UCR; the others use Census ACS estimates.

National percentiles can mask local variation. Looking only at Alabama, Highland Lake ranks #3 of 222 Alabama cities by lowest crime rate - a narrower, more locally useful cut than the national comparison above.

How we calculate these percentiles & ranks

Each percentile compares Highland Lake against every qualifying US city; each in-state rank narrows that to Alabama only. Full formula and direction notes: methodology.

Alabama-relative analysis

Median Home Value is Highland Lake's strongest outlier among Alabama cities

Among the 517 Alabama cities PlainCities tracks with reported median home value data, Highland Lake ranks #41 - the 92nd percentile within the state. This is a different, narrower cut than the nationwide percentiles above: it compares Highland Lake only against its own state's cities, not the full US field.

Median Household Income
#158 of 530
70th percentile in Alabama
Median Gross Rent
#39 of 556
76th percentile in Alabama
Median Home Value
#41 of 517
92nd percentile in Alabama
Poverty Rate
#396 of 556
29th percentile in Alabama
Bachelor's Degree or Higher
#87 of 556
84th percentile in Alabama

Ranked by raw value (highest first); a higher rank is not automatically "better" for every measure, see each metric's own context above. This is a comparison within Alabama only, not a livability score. See the methodology for the source and calculation.

44thIncome percentile
99thSafety percentile

44th percentile nationally for median household income · 99th percentile for safety (lower crime rate). Source: Census ACS 2023 / FBI UCR 2023.

Highland Lake's profile vs. every US city

Income, affordability, and safety percentile

Highland Lake's percentile rank on 3 favorable-direction measures (income, affordability, safety) vs. every tracked US city -- higher on every axis is more favorable. Not a composite quality score, just the arithmetic mean of the axes shown. 3-axis radar comparing 1 series across Income, Affordability, Safety. IncomeAffordabilitySafety 64 Avg. percentile National median
Highland Lake's percentile rank on 3 favorable-direction measures (income, affordability, safety) vs. every tracked US city -- higher on every axis is more favorable. Not a composite quality score, just the arithmetic mean of the axes shown.

How Highland Lake's home value compares nationally

Median home value vs. every US city (population 1,000+)

$268,500 41st percentile more affordable than 41% of 15,600 US cities

$0–$25,000: 5 US cities (0%). Below this entry. $25,000–$50,000: 54 US cities (0%). Below this entry. $50,000–$75,000: 352 US cities (2%). Below this entry. $75,000–$100,000: 1,086 US cities (7%). Below this entry. $100,000–$125,000: 1,516 US cities (10%). Below this entry. $125,000–$150,000: 1,170 US cities (8%). Below this entry. $150,000–$175,000: 1,278 US cities (8%). Below this entry. $175,000–$200,000: 1,229 US cities (8%). Below this entry. $200,000–$225,000: 1,035 US cities (7%). Below this entry. $225,000–$250,000: 976 US cities (6%). Below this entry. $250,000–$275,000: 754 US cities (5%). This entry sits in this band. $275,000–$300,000: 712 US cities (5%). Above this entry. $300,000–$325,000: 521 US cities (3%). Above this entry. $325,000–$350,000: 526 US cities (3%). Above this entry. $350,000–$375,000: 465 US cities (3%). Above this entry. $375,000–$400,000: 393 US cities (3%). Above this entry. $400,000–$425,000: 317 US cities (2%). Above this entry. $425,000–$450,000: 300 US cities (2%). Above this entry. $450,000–$475,000: 307 US cities (2%). Above this entry. $475,000–$500,000: 250 US cities (2%). Above this entry. $500,000–$525,000: 160 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $525,000–$550,000: 156 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $550,000–$575,000: 172 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $575,000–$600,000: 172 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $600,000–$625,000: 163 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $625,000–$650,000: 167 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $650,000–$675,000: 135 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $675,000–$700,000: 101 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $700,000–$725,000: 95 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $725,000–$750,000: 71 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $750,000–$775,000: 65 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $775,000–$800,000: 70 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $800,000–$825,000: 57 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $825,000–$850,000: 67 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $850,000–$875,000: 60 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $875,000–$900,000: 58 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $900,000–$925,000: 47 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $925,000–$950,000: 37 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $950,000–$975,000: 31 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $975,000–$1,000,000: 470 US cities (3%). Above this entry. $1,000,000–$1,025,000: 0 US cities (0%). Above this entry. Highland Lake $0 $1,025,000 every US city, bucketed by value

Each bar is a $25K-wide band; taller bars hold more US cities. The dashed line + filled bar mark this entry. Hover or tap any bar for its full count, share, and where it sits relative to this entry.

Source U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year Estimates · 2023

Income distribution context

Household income distribution - Highland Lake, AL Highland Lake, AL's reported median household income shown against the U.S. national quintile-share pattern (not Highland Lake, AL-specific quintile data). The Lorenz curve traces the national cumulative income share against cumulative population share, perfect equality is the diagonal; observed inequality bows below. $ Household Income Distribution Highland Lake, AL median $65,625/yr, vs. U.S. national quintile pattern QUINTILE SHARE OF AGGREGATE INCOME Lowest 20% 3.4% Second 20% 9.2% Middle 20% 15.1% Fourth 20% 23.2% Top 20% 49.1% LORENZ CURVE cumulative income vs. population 100% 0% 100% pop. 0%
Highland Lake, AL's median household income (Census ACS 5-year estimate) plotted against the U.S. national income-quintile distribution pattern for context; the quintile shares and Lorenz curve are national figures, not computed specifically for Highland Lake, AL. Diagonal = perfect equality.

Key socioeconomic indicators

Bachelor's degree or higher (adults 25+) 30.4%

Census ACS S1501, educational attainment

Poverty rate (households below FPL) 6.8%

Census ACS S1701, poverty status

Labor force participation (adults 16+) 47.9%

Census ACS S2301, share of working-age residents in the labor force

Population
516
Median Income
$65,625
Median Home Value
$268,500
Median Age
60.0
Poverty Rate
6.8%
Labor force participation
47.9%
Bachelor's Degree+
30.4%

Safety & Crime

Total Crime Rate
0.0
per 100,000 residents
Violent Crime
0.0
per 100,000 residents
Property Crime
0.0
per 100,000 residents

Reflects incidents reported to the FBI's Uniform Crime Reporting program — agency participation is voluntary and reporting completeness varies by jurisdiction and year, so this reflects reporting activity, not a definitive danger score. Not adjusted for tourism, commuter, or daytime population.

Population Change

Annual U.S. Census Bureau Population Estimates Program (PEP) estimates, 2020–2025

See the fastest-growing cities →
410 residents420 residents430 residents440 residents 202020212022202320242025 413 residents 429 residents ▲ +3.9%
Highland Lake's Census PEP population estimates, 2020–2025.

Housing Supply

Census Bureau Building Permits Survey (BPS) - annual residential permits authorized

📉 Construction Slowdown
Total Permits (2024)
1
housing units authorized
Single-Family
1
detached homes
Multifamily
0
apartments & condos
Supply Intensity
1.9
permits per 1,000 residents

5-Year Permit Trend (2019–2024)

Year Total
2019 3
2020 3
2021 4
2022 3
2023 4
2024 1

Permit volume decreased 67% from 2019 to 2024.

Commute Patterns

How workers travel to work, Census ACS 2023

Drive Alone
80.1%
Carpool
11.3%
Public Transit
0.0%
Walk
0.0%
Work from Home
7.2%
Other
1.4%

Based on 221 workers 16 and over.

Monthly Utility Costs

State-average estimates for Alabama - EIA 2023 residential energy data

Electricity
$138
avg/month
Natural Gas
$62
avg/month
Water & Sewer
$45
avg/month
Total Utilities
$245
estimated/month

Estimates reflect Alabama state averages. Actual costs vary by home size, usage, and local rates. Source: U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) 2023.

Living Costs & Risk

Cost of living is a Alabama state average from BEA; rent and hazard risk are county-level figures from HUD and FEMA for the county Highland Lake sits in

Cost of Living Index
88.8
Well Below Average
US average = 100 · BEA RPP 2024
Typical 2-BR Rent
$1,266/mo
HUD Fair Market Rent
County-level FMR estimate
Natural Hazard Risk
68.5 / 100
Moderate
FEMA NRI composite score (county)

Similar Cities in Alabama

Grimes
515 people
Perdido
515 people
Arley
518 people
Hackneyville
519 people
Ranburne
524 people
Napier Field
505 people

Cities of a Similar Size Nationwide

Population-matched peers from other states, closest to Highland Lake's 516 residents (Census ACS 5-Year 2023).

Sulphur Springs, AR
516 people
Mud Lake, ID
516 people
Holland, IN
516 people
Agency, IA
516 people
Ellerslie, MD
516 people
Lakeview, MS
516 people

Cities with a Similar Household Income Nationwide

Median-household-income-matched peers from other states, closest to Highland Lake's $65,625 (Census ACS 5-Year 2023, table B19013).

Danville, AR
$65,625 median income
Searles Valley, CA
$65,625 median income
Saunemin, IL
$65,625 median income
Barbee, IN
$65,625 median income
Elizabethtown, IN
$65,625 median income
New Carlisle, IN
$65,625 median income

Race & Ethnicity Composition

Race and ethnicity - Highland Lake, AL Race categories sum to one hundred percent per Census methodology. Hispanic or Latino is shown separately as an ethnicity overlay; it cuts across all race categories per OMB Directive 15. Race & Ethnicity Composition Highland Lake, AL - Census ACS, OMB race + ethnicity categories RACE, sums to 100% 99.4% ETHNICITY, Hispanic or Latino (any race) 0.0% White 99.4% Black or African American 0.0% Asian 0.0% American Indian 0.0% Native Hawaiian 0.0% Some other race 0.0% Two or more races 0.6% Per OMB Directive 15: Hispanic/Latino ethnicity is reported separately from the race categories.
Race categories sum to 100%. Hispanic or Latino ethnicity is reported separately and cuts across race per Census/OMB methodology.

City-level race and ethnicity, Census ACS 5-year 2023 (tables B02001, B03001), OMB Directive 15 categories.

How Highland Lake compares to nearby Alabama cities

Population + median household income, sourced from Census Bureau ACS 5-year B01001 (population) and B19013 (median household income).

City Population Median Household Income
Highland Lake (this city) 516 $65,625
Grimes 515 $32,500
Perdido 515 $36,983
Arley 518 $48,036
Census ACS 5-year FIPS AL FBI UCR Census BPS 2024 OMB Bulletin 23-01

What do people ask about Highland Lake, AL?

What is the population of Highland Lake, AL? +

Highland Lake, AL has a population of 516 according to U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates.

What is the median household income in Highland Lake, AL? +

Median annual household income in Highland Lake runs $65,625, based on Census ACS 2023 data.

What is the cost of living in Highland Lake? +

BEA does not publish a city-level cost-of-living figure for Highland Lake; the closest available measure is the Alabama state average, a cost of living index of 88.8 (U.S. average = 100), rated "Well Below Average" based on BEA Regional Price Parities 2024 data. Costs within Alabama vary by metro area.

Is Highland Lake, AL safe? +

Highland Lake has a total crime rate of 0.0 per 100,000 residents, which is below the national average. This reflects incidents reported to the FBI UCR program, not a definitive safety score -- agency reporting is voluntary and completeness varies by jurisdiction.

What is the median home value in Highland Lake, AL? +

A typical home in Highland Lake is worth $268,500, according to Census ACS 2023 estimates.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year 2023, FBI UCR, Census BPS 2024, Census ACS B08301/B08136, U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) 2023, BEA Regional Price Parities 2024, HUD Fair Market Rents 2026, FEMA National Risk Index.

Read our methodology - how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.

Primary sources: Census ACS, FBI UCR, NOAA Climate Normals, NCES.

Citation & verification links Data sourced from the U.S. Census Bureau. See our methodology for details. Retrieved and formatted by PlainCities

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Every figure on PlainCities is rendered directly from Census ACS source data, no number is typed in by an editor. This page draws directly on Census ACS source data, no figure is typed in by an editor. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error.