City profile · Illinois · Census ACS 2023

Highwood, IL

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

5,243
Residents
$101,862
Median income
$454,500
Median home
$1,781
Median rent (state)

Highwood - the verdict

Measured against every US city with at least 1,000 residents, Highwood lands in the 79th percentile for household income. Source: Census ACS.

79th
percentile, household income
82nd
percentile, home value
72nd
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: Highwood, IL

Highwood is a small town in Illinois, home to 5,243 residents per U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates. Highwood households earn a median of $101,862 annually, placing it in the top quartile of U.S. cities for household income, with a poverty rate of 12.7%. Typical homes in Highwood are valued around $454,500, and the median resident age is 35.9 years. 38.1% of adults here have a bachelor's degree or higher; 67.4% of working-age residents are in the labor force.

Housing supply pressure shows in Census Building Permit Survey data: 1 residential units were authorized in 2024 (Construction Slowdown), down 98% from five years earlier.

Illinois tracks close to the national cost-of-living baseline: the state registers 100.0 on a 100-equals-national-average index (Near Average) per BEA Regional Price Parities 2024. HUD Fair Market Rent for a typical two-bedroom in this state is $1,781 per month. EIA 2023 residential energy data puts Illinois's average monthly utility costs around $240 (state average). FEMA's National Risk Index rates natural-hazard exposure at 96.0 out of 100 (Very High).

Population

5,243 residents

Census ACS 2023 - Illinois

Median Household Income

$101,862 /yr

Poverty 12.7%

Cost of Living Index (state)

100.0 (US=100)

Near Average - BEA RPP 2024, Illinois average

How does Highwood compare to other US cities?

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

Household income 79% higher than other cities
Home value 82% pricier than other cities
Median rent 72% 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 Highwood against every qualifying US city; each in-state rank narrows that to Illinois only. Full formula and direction notes: methodology.

Illinois-relative analysis

Median Home Value is Highwood's strongest outlier among Illinois cities

Among the 1,315 Illinois cities PlainCities tracks with reported median home value data, Highwood ranks #52 - the 96th percentile within the state. This is a different, narrower cut than the nationwide percentiles above: it compares Highwood only against its own state's cities, not the full US field.

Median Household Income
#206 of 1,311
84th percentile in Illinois
Median Gross Rent
#17 of 1,336
77th percentile in Illinois
Median Home Value
#52 of 1,315
96th percentile in Illinois
Poverty Rate
#335 of 1,335
75th percentile in Illinois
Bachelor's Degree or Higher
#209 of 1,336
84th percentile in Illinois

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

79thIncome percentile

79th percentile nationally for median household income. Source: Census ACS 2023 / FBI UCR 2023.

How Highwood's home value compares nationally

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

$454,500 18th percentile more affordable than 18% 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%). This entry sits in this band. $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. Highwood $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 - Highwood, IL Highwood, IL's reported median household income shown against the U.S. national quintile-share pattern (not Highwood, IL-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 Highwood, IL median $101,862/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%
Highwood, IL'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 Highwood, IL. Diagonal = perfect equality.

Key socioeconomic indicators

Bachelor's degree or higher (adults 25+) 38.1%

Census ACS S1501, educational attainment

Poverty rate (households below FPL) 12.7%

Census ACS S1701, poverty status

Labor force participation (adults 16+) 67.4%

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

Population
5,243
Median Income
$101,862
Median Home Value
$454,500
Median Age
35.9
Poverty Rate
12.7%
Labor force participation
67.4%
Bachelor's Degree+
38.1%

Schools

Total Schools
1
Public schools in this city

Population Change

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

See the fastest-growing cities →
5,000 residents5,100 residents5,200 residents5,300 residents5,400 residents5,500 residents 202020212022202320242025 5,088 residents 5,323 residents ▲ +4.6%
Highwood'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
0.2
permits per 1,000 residents

5-Year Permit Trend (2019–2024)

Year Total
2019 45
2020 129
2021 0
2022 0
2023 0
2024 1

Permit volume decreased 98% from 2019 to 2024.

Commute Patterns

How workers travel to work, Census ACS 2023

Drive Alone
62.9%
Carpool
17.7%
Public Transit
4.6%
Walk
1.0%
Work from Home
13.8%

Based on 2,785 workers 16 and over.

Monthly Utility Costs

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

Electricity
$100
avg/month
Natural Gas
$90
avg/month
Water & Sewer
$50
avg/month
Total Utilities
$240
estimated/month

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

Cost of Living Index
100.0
Near Average
US average = 100 · BEA RPP 2024
Typical 2-BR Rent
$1,781/mo
HUD Fair Market Rent
County-level FMR estimate
Natural Hazard Risk
96.0 / 100
Very High
FEMA NRI composite score (county)

Similar Cities in Illinois

Berkeley
5,222 people
Pana
5,277 people
Colona
5,189 people
Grandwood Park
5,311 people
Posen
5,331 people
Coal City
5,145 people

Cities of a Similar Size Nationwide

Population-matched peers from other states, closest to Highwood's 5,243 residents (Census ACS 5-Year 2023).

Chester, SC
5,241 people
Gladstone, MI
5,240 people
Chardon, OH
5,246 people
Johnstown, OH
5,247 people
Lewisburg, PA
5,247 people
Schuylkill Haven, PA
5,247 people

Cities with a Similar Household Income Nationwide

Median-household-income-matched peers from other states, closest to Highwood's $101,862 (Census ACS 5-Year 2023, table B19013).

Farmington Hills, MI
$101,863 median income
Airmont, NY
$101,868 median income
Woodstown, NJ
$101,855 median income
South River, NJ
$101,853 median income
Valley Home, CA
$101,875 median income
Winterville, GA
$101,849 median income

Race & Ethnicity Composition

Race and ethnicity - Highwood, IL 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 Highwood, IL - Census ACS, OMB race + ethnicity categories RACE, sums to 100% 58.5% 29.0% 8.4% ETHNICITY, Hispanic or Latino (any race) 40.6% White 58.5% Black or African American 2.5% Asian 1.5% American Indian 0.0% Native Hawaiian 0.0% Some other race 29.0% Two or more races 8.4% 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 Highwood compares to nearby Illinois cities

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

City Population Median Household Income
Highwood (this city) 5,243 $101,862
Berkeley 5,222 $83,224
Pana 5,277 $45,083
Colona 5,189 $76,558
Census ACS 5-year FIPS IL NCES CCD Census BPS 2024 OMB Bulletin 23-01

What do people ask about Highwood, IL?

What is the population of Highwood, IL? +

Highwood, IL has a population of 5,243 according to U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates.

What is the median household income in Highwood, IL? +

In Highwood, the typical household earns $101,862 per year, based on Census ACS 2023 data.

What is the cost of living in Highwood? +

BEA does not publish a city-level cost-of-living figure for Highwood; the closest available measure is the Illinois state average, a cost of living index of 100.0 (U.S. average = 100), rated "Near Average" based on BEA Regional Price Parities 2024 data. Costs within Illinois vary by metro area.

What is the median home value in Highwood, IL? +

The median home value in Highwood is $454,500, according to Census ACS 2023 estimates.

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

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.