City profile · Colorado · Census ACS 2023

Highlands Ranch, CO

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

101,437
Residents
$155,847
Median income
$672,600
Median home
$2,089
Median rent (state)

Highlands Ranch - the verdict

Nationally, Highlands Ranch sits in the 95th percentile for household income among US cities with a population of 1,000 or more. Source: Census ACS.

95th
percentile, household income
92nd
percentile, home value
85th
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: Highlands Ranch, CO

Census ACS 2023 estimates count 101,437 residents in Highlands Ranch, a mid-sized U.S. city within Colorado. Highlands Ranch households earn a median of $155,847 annually, placing it in the top quartile of U.S. cities for household income, with a poverty rate of 1.4%. Highlands Ranch's housing stock carries a median value of $672,600, and the median resident age is 41.4 years. About 66.8% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher, while 68.5% of working-age residents are in the labor force.

The city is served by 26 public schools according to NCES Common Core of Data.

Colorado carries a cost-of-living premium: on BEA's 100-equals-national-average cost index, Colorado scores 103.1 (Above Average), per the 2024 Regional Price Parities release. A typical two-bedroom carries a HUD Fair Market Rent of $2,089 per month statewide. EIA 2023 residential energy data puts Colorado's average monthly utility costs around $202 (state average). The average commute for Highlands Ranch workers runs 17.6 minutes, with 63.7% driving alone and 29.5% working from home. FEMA's National Risk Index rates natural-hazard exposure at 88.7 out of 100 (Very High).

Population

101,437 residents

Census ACS 2023 - Colorado

Median Household Income

$155,847 /yr

Poverty 1.4%

Cost of Living Index (state)

103.1 (US=100)

Above Average - BEA RPP 2024, Colorado average

How does Highlands Ranch compare to other US cities?

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

Household income 95% higher than other cities
Home value 92% pricier than other cities
Median rent 85% 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

For each metric we count every US city with population 1,000+ and a non-null value, then compute what share of them fall below Highlands Ranch's value: round(cities-below ÷ total × 100). Safety is inverted (percentile = share of cities with a higher crime rate) so a higher number always means safer. The in-state rank narrows that same crime-rate comparison to only the cities PlainCities tracks in Colorado, breaking ties alphabetically. See the methodology page for the full source-to-figure lineage.

95thIncome percentile

95th percentile nationally for median household income. Source: Census ACS 2023 / FBI UCR 2023.

How Highlands Ranch's home value compares nationally

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

$672,600 8th percentile more affordable than 8% 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%). Below this entry. $350,000–$375,000: 465 US cities (3%). Below this entry. $375,000–$400,000: 393 US cities (3%). Below this entry. $400,000–$425,000: 317 US cities (2%). Below this entry. $425,000–$450,000: 300 US cities (2%). Below this entry. $450,000–$475,000: 307 US cities (2%). Below this entry. $475,000–$500,000: 250 US cities (2%). Below this entry. $500,000–$525,000: 160 US cities (1%). Below this entry. $525,000–$550,000: 156 US cities (1%). Below this entry. $550,000–$575,000: 172 US cities (1%). Below this entry. $575,000–$600,000: 172 US cities (1%). Below this entry. $600,000–$625,000: 163 US cities (1%). Below this entry. $625,000–$650,000: 167 US cities (1%). Below this entry. $650,000–$675,000: 135 US cities (1%). This entry sits in this band. $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. Highlands Ranch $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 - Highlands Ranch, CO Highlands Ranch, CO's reported median household income shown against the U.S. national quintile-share pattern (not Highlands Ranch, CO-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 Highlands Ranch, CO median $155,847/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%
Highlands Ranch, CO'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 Highlands Ranch, CO. Diagonal = perfect equality.

Key socioeconomic indicators

Bachelor's degree or higher (adults 25+) 66.8%

Census ACS S1501, educational attainment

Poverty rate (households below FPL) 1.4%

Census ACS S1701, poverty status

Labor force participation (adults 16+) 68.5%

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

Population
101,437
Median Income
$155,847
Median Home Value
$672,600
Median Age
41.4
Poverty Rate
1.4%
Labor force participation
68.5%
Bachelor's Degree+
66.8%

Schools

Total Schools
26
Public schools in this city

Commute Patterns

How workers travel to work, Census ACS 2023

Average Commute Time
17.6 minutes
Drive Alone
63.7%
Carpool
3.6%
Public Transit
1.2%
Walk
0.8%
Work from Home
29.5%
Other
1.2%

Based on 54,788 workers 16 and over.

Monthly Utility Costs

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

Electricity
$90
avg/month
Natural Gas
$62
avg/month
Water & Sewer
$50
avg/month
Total Utilities
$202
estimated/month

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

Cost of Living Index
103.1
Above Average
US average = 100 · BEA RPP 2024
Typical 2-BR Rent
$2,089/mo
HUD Fair Market Rent
County-level FMR estimate
Natural Hazard Risk
88.7 / 100
Very High
FEMA NRI composite score (county)

Similar Cities in Colorado

Longmont
98,958 people
Boulder
106,274 people
Centennial
107,386 people
Greeley
109,421 people
Pueblo
111,514 people
Westminster
115,546 people

Cities of a Similar Size Nationwide

Population-matched peers from other states, closest to Highlands Ranch's 101,437 residents (Census ACS 5-Year 2023).

Bend, OR
101,472 people
Quincy, MA
101,361 people
Davenport, IA
101,083 people
Fishers, IN
100,918 people
Lynn, MA
100,905 people
Chico, CA
102,032 people

Cities with a Similar Household Income Nationwide

Median-household-income-matched peers from other states, closest to Highlands Ranch's $155,847 (Census ACS 5-Year 2023, table B19013).

River Edge, NJ
$155,827 median income
Celina, TX
$155,875 median income
Turnerville, WY
$155,793 median income
Islip Terrace, NY
$155,741 median income
Melville, NY
$155,675 median income
North Merrick, NY
$156,023 median income

Race & Ethnicity Composition

Race and ethnicity - Highlands Ranch, CO 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 Highlands Ranch, CO - Census ACS, OMB race + ethnicity categories RACE, sums to 100% 83.0% 6.4% 7.5% ETHNICITY, Hispanic or Latino (any race) 9.1% White 83.0% Black or African American 1.0% Asian 6.4% American Indian 0.2% Native Hawaiian 0.0% Some other race 1.9% Two or more races 7.5% 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 Highlands Ranch compares to nearby Colorado cities

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

City Population Median Household Income
Highlands Ranch (this city) 101,437 $155,847
Longmont 98,958 $89,724
Boulder 106,274 $85,364
Centennial 107,386 $128,167
Census ACS 5-year FIPS CO NCES CCD OMB Bulletin 23-01

What do people ask about Highlands Ranch, CO?

What is the population of Highlands Ranch, CO? +

Highlands Ranch, CO counts 101,437 residents according to U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates.

What is the median household income in Highlands Ranch, CO? +

Highlands Ranch households earn a median of $155,847 annually, based on Census ACS 2023 data.

What is the cost of living in Highlands Ranch? +

BEA does not publish a city-level cost-of-living figure for Highlands Ranch; the closest available measure is the Colorado state average, a cost of living index of 103.1 (U.S. average = 100), rated "Above Average" based on BEA Regional Price Parities 2024 data. Costs within Colorado vary by metro area.

What is the median home value in Highlands Ranch, CO? +

Homes in Highlands Ranch carry a median value of $672,600, 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 Editorial

Verify with HUD →

Verify with FBI →

Verify with NOAA →

Verify with U.S. Census Bureau →

Verify with EPA →

Verify with FEMA →

Verify with BEA →

Verify with EIA →

Verify with NCES →

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.