Census-designated place · Florida
Highland City, Florida
Highland City, census-designated place, in Polk County, Florida. Highland City had 13,276 people in the ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates (±1,590). GEOID 1230225.
Residents, 2020-2024
13,276
±1,590 (90% margin)
2020 Census count: 12,355
Median household income
$90,947
±$8,125 (90% margin)
Florida: $74,568
Median home value
$347,100
±$16,070 (90% margin)
Florida: $359,000
Median gross rent
$1,993
±$338 (90% margin)
Florida: $1,669
Where is Highland City and what county is it in?
Highland City is a census-designated place: an unincorporated community the Census Bureau draws for counting, with no city government of its own, in Polk County, Florida. It covers 7.9 square miles of land, 1,567 residents per square mile in 2020.
Highland City is in the Lakeland-Winter Haven, FL metropolitan statistical area (Census Bureau delineation, July 2023).
Source: 2024 Gazetteer and 2020 place-by-county files, U.S. Census Bureau · Census reference files
How many people live in Highland City, and is it growing?
The 2020-2024 American Community Survey puts Highland City's population at 13,276 (±1,590). The 2020 Census counted 12,355 residents.
The Census Bureau publishes yearly population estimates for incorporated places only; Highland City is a census-designated place, so its figures come from the ACS and the 2020 Census.
| Measure | Highland City | Polk County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total population | 13,276 ±1,590 | 790,694 | +2,674 |
| Households | 4,614 ±422 | 289,425 | +987 |
| Average household size | 2.87 ±0.17 | 2.68 | no clear change |
| Housing units | 4,980 ±391 | 340,748 | +883 |
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026); Census PEP Vintage 2025 (SUB-EST2025, CO-EST2025); 2020 Census P.L. 94-171 · Check it at data.census.gov
Who lives in Highland City?
The median resident of Highland City is 39.2 years old; 27.0% are under 18 and 14.6% are 65 or older. The largest group is non-Hispanic white residents at 67.6%, then Hispanic or Latino residents (of any race) at 16.9%. 9.7% of residents were born outside the United States.
| Measure | Highland City | Polk County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 39.2 ±2.5 | 39.5 | no clear change |
| Under 18 years | 27.0% ±3.0 pts | 22.0% | – |
| 65 years and over | 14.6% ±2.4 pts | 19.5% | – |
| Male | 53.1% ±2.6 pts | 49.3% | – |
| Hispanic or Latino (any race) | 16.9% ±3.4 pts | 29.2% | no clear change |
| White alone, not Hispanic | 67.6% ±5.8 pts | 50.8% | no clear change |
| Black or African American alone, not Hispanic | 10.1% ±5.1 pts | 14.1% | no clear change |
| Asian alone, not Hispanic | 2.1% ±1.4 pts | 1.8% | – |
| American Indian and Alaska Native alone, not Hispanic | 0.0% ±0.1 pts | 0.1% | – |
| Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander alone, not Hispanic | 0.0% ±0.4 pts | 0.0% | – |
| Two or more races, not Hispanic | 3.0% ±1.2 pts | 3.4% | – |
| Some other race alone, not Hispanic | 0.3% ±0.3 pts | 0.7% | – |
| Born outside the United States | 9.7% ±2.7 pts | 12.6% | no clear change |
| Speak a language other than English at home (age 5+) | 16.2% ±3.9 pts | 27.8% | – |
| Civilian veterans (age 18+) | 9.1% ±2.9 pts | 7.2% | – |
| With a disability | 12.5% ±2.9 pts | 13.8% | – |
| No health insurance coverage | 8.9% ±3.4 pts | 12.4% | no clear change |
| High school graduate or higher (age 25+) | 90.6% ±3.3 pts | 87.9% | – |
| Bachelor's degree or higher (age 25+) | 33.1% ±4.1 pts | 23.5% | no clear change |
| Graduate or professional degree (age 25+) | 10.5% ±3.0 pts | 7.6% | – |
| Lived in the same house a year earlier | 85.1% ±4.1 pts | 86.3% | – |
| Moved from another state in the past year | 3.0% ±1.7 pts | 3.0% | – |
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) (Data Profiles DP02, DP05) · Check it at data.census.gov
What do households in Highland City earn?
Half of Highland City's 4,614 households earn less than $90,947 a year (±$8,125), against $65,978 in Polk County and $74,568 in Florida. In 2015-2019 it was $84,380 in 2024 dollars; the margins of error cannot tell the two periods apart. 5.9% of residents live below the poverty line.
| Measure | Highland City | Polk County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median household income | $90,947 ±$8,125 | $65,978 | no clear change |
| Mean household income | $114,598 ±$11,086 | $87,487 | – |
| Per capita income | $40,407 ±$4,029 | $33,249 | no clear change |
| People below the poverty line | 5.9% ±2.8 pts | 14.5% | no clear change |
| Children under 18 below the poverty line | 7.2% ±5.7 pts | 21.3% | – |
| Households receiving SNAP | 7.5% ±2.7 pts | 14.6% | – |
| Households with a computer | 97.8% ±1.5 pts | 96.1% | – |
| Households with a broadband subscription | 94.8% ±2.1 pts | 90.7% | – |
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) (Data Profile DP03) · Check it at data.census.gov
What does housing cost in Highland City?
Owners occupy 79.3% of Highland City's occupied homes and renters 20.7%. The median owner-occupied home is valued at $347,100 by its owner (±$16,070). The median renter pays $1,993 a month including utilities, and 32.2% of renters pay 35% or more of their income on rent.
| Measure | Highland City | Polk County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median home value (owner-occupied) | $347,100 ±$16,070 | $266,500 | +$141,205 |
| Median gross rent | $1,993 ±$338 | $1,363 | +$642 |
| Renters paying 35% or more of income on rent | 32.2% ±12.0 pts | 44.9% | no clear change |
| Median monthly owner costs, with a mortgage | $1,891 ±$115 | $1,716 | – |
| Owner-occupied homes | 79.3% ±4.4 pts | 70.5% | no clear change |
| Renter-occupied homes | 20.7% ±4.4 pts | 29.5% | – |
| Housing units | 4,980 ±391 | 340,748 | +883 |
| Homeowner vacancy rate | 1.6% ±1.7 pts | 1.5% | – |
| Rental vacancy rate | 3.2% ±5.5 pts | 5.1% | – |
| Single-family detached homes | 85.4% ±2.8 pts | 62.0% | – |
| Mobile homes | 6.2% ±2.7 pts | 19.6% | – |
| Built 2020 or later | 6.4% ±2.6 pts | 4.7% | – |
| Built 2010 to 2019 | 16.1% ±3.6 pts | 13.2% | – |
| Built 1939 or earlier | 1.8% ±1.8 pts | 2.6% | – |
| Households with no vehicle | 1.6% ±1.3 pts | 5.4% | – |
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) (Data Profile DP04) · Check it at data.census.gov
How do people in Highland City work and get to work?
76.0% of Highland City's workers drive alone and 12.3% work from home. The average trip to work takes 29.0 minutes. The unemployment rate in 2020-2024 averaged 2.6%.
| Measure | Highland City | Polk County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| In the labor force (age 16+) | 71.2% ±3.7 pts | 58.0% | – |
| Unemployment rate | 2.6% ±1.5 pts | 4.8% | −4.6 pts |
| Drove alone to work | 76.0% ±4.6 pts | 75.0% | – |
| Carpooled | 11.0% ±4.4 pts | 8.8% | – |
| Public transportation | 0.0% ±0.8 pts | 0.4% | – |
| Walked | 0.4% ±0.7 pts | 1.1% | – |
| Worked from home | 12.3% ±3.2 pts | 12.4% | +9.1 pts |
| Mean travel time to work | 29.0 min ±3.4 | 30.5 min | +4.2 min |
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) (Data Profile DP03) · Check it at data.census.gov
What census tracts are in Highland City?
3 census tracts lie mostly in Highland City, and 3 more reach into it (2020 census blocks). Their median household incomes run from $78,859 (Tract 118.32) to $126,536 (Tract 118.37).
| Tract | Residents, 2020-2024 | Median household income |
|---|---|---|
| Tract 118.32Polk County | 4,944 | $78,859 |
| Tract 118.37Polk County | 5,045 | $126,536 |
| Tract 118.38Polk County | 3,928 | $105,212 |
| Tract 148.03Polk County | 4,547 | $106,506 |
| Tract 118.34Polk County | 7,927 | $87,899 |
| Tract 148.04Polk County | 11,433 | $104,537 |
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026); 2020 block assignment files (tract share = share of the tract's census blocks in Highland City) · Census block assignment files
How does Highland City compare with other places in Florida?
Highland City ranks 202nd of 754 places in Florida with 1,000 or more residents and a reliable estimate, by median household income.
| Measure | Rank | Of |
|---|---|---|
| Population (ACS 2020-2024) | 289th | 766 |
| Residents per square mile | 452nd | 770 |
| Median household income | 202nd | 754 |
| Per capita income | 338th | 763 |
| Median home value | 362nd | 749 |
| Median gross rent | 145th | 710 |
| Poverty rate | 559th | 634 |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 334th | 733 |
| Median age | 523rd | 762 |
| Owner-occupied share | 272nd | 760 |
| Work from home | 405th | 596 |
| Travel time to work | 288th | 764 |
Highland City's figures with every place in Florida (CSV)
Every place in Florida, sortable · Compare Highland City with other places
Source: PlainCities ranks computed from the American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) and PEP Vintage 2025 · How ranks are computed
How reliable are the figures for Highland City?
11 of the 57 figures for Highland City on this page carry a coefficient of variation over 40% and are marked with a ring: they come from a small sample, so read them as rough.
The American Community Survey samples about one household in eight over five years, so every figure is an estimate with a 90% margin of error (shown under each value). A ring marks an estimate whose coefficient of variation is over 40%. A change is called only when the gap between the two periods is larger than their combined 90% margin (the square root of the sum of the two squared margins), the Census Bureau's test. How to read a margin of error.
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026): margins of error as published · ACS technical documentation
How these figures are made: methodology and release checks · reading a margin of error · every state · corrections
Not on this page: crime, weather and schools for Highland City are other agencies' records. Crime: the FBI's Crime Data Explorer · climate: NOAA's U.S. Climate Normals · schools: the National Center for Education Statistics' school search.