City profile · California · Census ACS 2023

North Highlands, CA

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

47,900
Residents
$65,090
Median income
$344,900
Median home
$2,255
Median rent (state)

North Highlands - the verdict

Out of every US city with 1,000+ residents, North Highlands places in the 43rd percentile for household income. Source: Census ACS.

43rd
percentile, household income
71st
percentile, home value
89th
percentile, median rent
📝 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: North Highlands, CA

Census ACS 2023 estimates count 47,900 residents in North Highlands, a small city within California. Median household income here is $65,090 per year, below the median for U.S. cities on this measure, with a poverty rate of 15.6%. Home values in North Highlands run a median of $344,900, and the median resident age is 34.5 years. Educational attainment runs 14.9% of adults with a bachelor's degree or higher. Separately, 58.5% of working-age residents are in the labor force.

The city is served by 12 public schools according to NCES Common Core of Data.

California carries a cost-of-living premium: BEA Regional Price Parities 2024 puts California at 110.7 on a 100-equals-national-average scale (Well Above Average). A typical two-bedroom carries a HUD Fair Market Rent of $2,255 per month statewide. EIA 2023 residential energy data puts California's average monthly utility costs around $275 (state average). Natural-hazard exposure scores 98.1 out of 100 on FEMA's National Risk Index (Very High).

Population

47,900 residents

Census ACS 2023 - California

Median Household Income

$65,090 /yr

Poverty 15.6%

Cost of Living Index (state)

110.7 (US=100)

Well Above Average - BEA RPP 2024, California average

How does North Highlands compare to other US cities?

Where North Highlands sits among all US cities (population 1,000+) on each measure, computed live from Census and FBI data.

Household income 43% higher than other cities
Home value 71% pricier than other cities
Median rent 89% pricier than other cities

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

How we calculate these percentiles & ranks

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

California-relative analysis

Poverty Rate places North Highlands toward the top of California's cities

Among the 1,450 California cities PlainCities tracks with reported poverty rate data, North Highlands ranks #279 - the 81st percentile within the state. This is a different, narrower cut than the nationwide percentiles above: it compares North Highlands only against its own state's cities, not the full US field.

Median Household Income
#983 of 1,338
27th percentile in California
Median Gross Rent
#674 of 1,458
50th percentile in California
Median Home Value
#975 of 1,343
27th percentile in California
Poverty Rate
#279 of 1,450
81st percentile in California
Bachelor's Degree or Higher
#1,051 of 1,458
28th percentile in California

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 California only, not a livability score. See the methodology for the source and calculation.

43rdIncome percentile

43rd percentile nationally for median household income. Source: Census ACS 2023 / FBI UCR 2023.

How North Highlands's home value compares nationally

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

$344,900 29th percentile more affordable than 29% 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%). Below this entry. $275,000–$300,000: 712 US cities (5%). Below this entry. $300,000–$325,000: 521 US cities (3%). Below this entry. $325,000–$350,000: 526 US cities (3%). This entry sits in this band. $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. North Highlands $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 - North Highlands, CA North Highlands, CA's reported median household income shown against the U.S. national quintile-share pattern (not North Highlands, CA-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 North Highlands, CA median $65,090/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%
North Highlands, CA'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 North Highlands, CA. Diagonal = perfect equality.

Key socioeconomic indicators

Bachelor's degree or higher (adults 25+) 14.9%

Census ACS S1501, educational attainment

Poverty rate (households below FPL) 15.6%

Census ACS S1701, poverty status

Labor force participation (adults 16+) 58.5%

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

Population
47,900
Median Income
$65,090
Median Home Value
$344,900
Median Age
34.5
Poverty Rate
15.6%
Labor force participation
58.5%
Bachelor's Degree+
14.9%

Schools

Total Schools
12
Public schools in this city

Commute Patterns

How workers travel to work, Census ACS 2023

Drive Alone
71.7%
Carpool
11.7%
Public Transit
1.1%
Walk
0.9%
Work from Home
12.0%
Other
2.6%

Based on 20,937 workers 16 and over.

Monthly Utility Costs

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

Electricity
$150
avg/month
Natural Gas
$55
avg/month
Water & Sewer
$70
avg/month
Total Utilities
$275
estimated/month

Estimates reflect California 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 California state average from BEA; rent and hazard risk are county-level figures from HUD and FEMA for the county North Highlands sits in

Cost of Living Index
110.7
Well Above Average
US average = 100 · BEA RPP 2024
Typical 2-BR Rent
$2,255/mo
HUD Fair Market Rent
County-level FMR estimate
Natural Hazard Risk
98.1 / 100
Very High
FEMA NRI composite score (county)

Similar Cities in California

San Luis Obispo
48,039 people
Cerritos
48,340 people
Brea
47,337 people
Poway
48,515 people
Rancho Santa Margarita
47,257 people
Newark
47,145 people

Cities of a Similar Size Nationwide

Population-matched peers from other states, closest to North Highlands's 47,900 residents (Census ACS 5-Year 2023).

Ocoee, FL
47,885 people
Charleston, WV
47,918 people
Minot, ND
47,922 people
Roswell, NM
47,823 people
Prescott Valley, AZ
48,048 people
Wilson, NC
47,740 people

Cities with a Similar Household Income Nationwide

Median-household-income-matched peers from other states, closest to North Highlands's $65,090 (Census ACS 5-Year 2023, table B19013).

Buckley, MI
$65,089 median income
Powell, WY
$65,077 median income
Sheridan, IN
$65,104 median income
Westcliffe, CO
$65,074 median income
Walnut Hill, TN
$65,074 median income
Elkhart, TX
$65,071 median income

Race & Ethnicity Composition

Race and ethnicity - North Highlands, CA 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 North Highlands, CA - Census ACS, OMB race + ethnicity categories RACE, sums to 100% 53.8% 8.9% 7.0% 12.8% 16.4% ETHNICITY, Hispanic or Latino (any race) 32.6% White 53.8% Black or African American 8.9% Asian 7.0% American Indian 0.9% Native Hawaiian 0.2% Some other race 12.8% Two or more races 16.4% 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 North Highlands compares to nearby California cities

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

City Population Median Household Income
North Highlands (this city) 47,900 $65,090
San Luis Obispo 48,039 $66,711
Cerritos 48,340 $133,953
Brea 47,337 $124,837
Census ACS 5-year FIPS CA NCES CCD OMB Bulletin 23-01

What do people ask about North Highlands, CA?

What is the population of North Highlands, CA? +

The population of North Highlands, CA stands at 47,900 according to U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates.

What is the median household income in North Highlands, CA? +

In North Highlands, the typical household earns $65,090 per year, based on Census ACS 2023 data.

What is the cost of living in North Highlands? +

BEA does not publish a city-level cost-of-living figure for North Highlands; the closest available measure is the California state average, a cost of living index of 110.7 (U.S. average = 100), rated "Well Above Average" based on BEA Regional Price Parities 2024 data. Costs within California vary by metro area.

What is the median home value in North Highlands, CA? +

A typical home in North Highlands is worth $344,900, according to Census ACS 2023 estimates.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year 2023, NCES CCD, 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.