Census-designated place · New Jersey
Highland Lakes, New Jersey
Highland Lakes, census-designated place, in Sussex County, New Jersey. Highland Lakes had 4,816 residents in the 2020 Census, a full count; the ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates put it at 3,852 (±498). GEOID 3431410.
Residents, 2020 Census
4,816
Census count or controlled total
ACS 2020-2024 estimate: 3,852 ±498
Median household income
$109,000
±$28,478 (90% margin)
New Jersey: $103,556
Median home value
$295,300
±$23,274 (90% margin)
New Jersey: $454,400
Median gross rent
$2,169
±$960 (90% margin)
New Jersey: $1,720
Where is Highland Lakes and what county is it in?
Highland Lakes is a census-designated place: an unincorporated community the Census Bureau draws for counting, with no city government of its own, in Sussex County, New Jersey. It covers 4.3 square miles of land, 1,114 residents per square mile in 2020.
Highland Lakes is in the New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ metropolitan statistical area, which takes in 22 counties (Census Bureau delineation, July 2023).
Highland Lakes lies entirely within Vernon Township, a township with its own local government (2020 census blocks).
Source: 2024 Gazetteer and 2020 place-by-county files, U.S. Census Bureau · Census reference files
How many people live in Highland Lakes, and is it growing?
The 2020 Census counted 4,816 residents in Highland Lakes, a full count rather than a sample. The 2020-2024 American Community Survey, a sample, estimates 3,852 (±498).
The Census Bureau publishes yearly population estimates for incorporated places only; Highland Lakes is a census-designated place, so its figures come from the ACS and the 2020 Census.
| Measure | Highland Lakes | Sussex County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total population | 3,852 ±498 | 145,807 | −1,246 |
| Households | 1,750 ±222 | 57,767 | no clear change |
| Average household size | 2.20 ±0.16 | 2.50 | −0.51 |
| Housing units | 2,097 ±174 | 62,865 | −352 |
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 Lakes?
The median resident of Highland Lakes is 53.4 years old; 12.7% are under 18 and 26.6% are 65 or older. The largest group is non-Hispanic white residents at 88.5%, then Hispanic or Latino residents (of any race) at 7.4%. 13.1% of residents were born outside the United States.
| Measure | Highland Lakes | Sussex County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 53.4 ±4.6 | 43.8 | +12.8 |
| Under 18 years | 12.7% ±4.1 pts | 19.5% | – |
| 65 years and over | 26.6% ±5.5 pts | 19.0% | – |
| Male | 54.2% ±4.6 pts | 50.4% | – |
| Hispanic or Latino (any race) | 7.4% ±3.8 pts | 11.9% | no clear change |
| White alone, not Hispanic | 88.5% ±4.4 pts | 79.7% | no clear change |
| Black or African American alone, not Hispanic | 0.0% ±1.2 pts | 1.7% | – |
| Asian alone, not Hispanic | 0.6% ±0.7 pts | 2.0% | – |
| American Indian and Alaska Native alone, not Hispanic | 0.0% ±1.2 pts | 0.1% | – |
| Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander alone, not Hispanic | 0.0% ±1.2 pts | 0.0% | – |
| Two or more races, not Hispanic | 3.2% ±2.5 pts | 4.0% | – |
| Some other race alone, not Hispanic | 0.3% ±0.5 pts | 0.6% | – |
| Born outside the United States | 13.1% ±8.1 pts | 8.7% | no clear change |
| Speak a language other than English at home (age 5+) | 17.9% ±9.3 pts | 12.2% | – |
| Civilian veterans (age 18+) | 6.2% ±3.3 pts | 4.8% | – |
| With a disability | 13.4% ±4.2 pts | 11.7% | – |
| No health insurance coverage | 5.5% ±4.0 pts | 3.8% | – |
| High school graduate or higher (age 25+) | 98.6% ±1.5 pts | 95.4% | – |
| Bachelor's degree or higher (age 25+) | 50.3% ±7.6 pts | 40.3% | +14.7 pts |
| Graduate or professional degree (age 25+) | 17.0% ±5.7 pts | 14.5% | – |
| Lived in the same house a year earlier | 86.6% ±6.5 pts | 92.2% | – |
| Moved from another state in the past year | 3.0% ±1.8 pts | 1.5% | – |
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 Lakes earn?
Half of Highland Lakes's 1,750 households earn less than $109,000 a year (±$28,478), against $116,186 in Sussex County and $103,556 in New Jersey. In 2015-2019 it was $124,511 in 2024 dollars; the margins of error cannot tell the two periods apart.
| Measure | Highland Lakes | Sussex County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median household income | $109,000 ±$28,478 | $116,186 | no clear change |
| Mean household income | $164,031 ±$24,792 | $144,531 | – |
| Per capita income | $72,130 ±$9,346 | $57,252 | +$12,813 |
| People below the poverty line | 2.7% ±2.0 pts | 5.5% | – |
| Children under 18 below the poverty line | 0.2% ±0.5 pts | 7.3% | – |
| Households receiving SNAP | 0.0% ±2.5 pts | 3.1% | – |
| Households with a computer | 98.5% ±1.6 pts | 97.0% | – |
| Households with a broadband subscription | 91.5% ±5.9 pts | 94.5% | – |
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 Lakes?
Owners occupy 93.1% of Highland Lakes's occupied homes and renters 6.9%. The median owner-occupied home is valued at $295,300 by its owner (±$23,274). The median renter pays $2,169 a month including utilities.
| Measure | Highland Lakes | Sussex County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median home value (owner-occupied) | $295,300 ±$23,274 | $369,400 | no clear change |
| Median gross rent | $2,169 ±$960 | $1,585 | no clear change |
| Renters paying 35% or more of income on rent | 51.4% ±43.6 pts | 46.0% | – |
| Median monthly owner costs, with a mortgage | $2,007 ±$258 | $2,473 | – |
| Owner-occupied homes | 93.1% ±5.4 pts | 83.7% | no clear change |
| Renter-occupied homes | 6.9% ±5.4 pts | 16.3% | – |
| Housing units | 2,097 ±174 | 62,865 | −352 |
| Homeowner vacancy rate | 0.0% ±2.7 pts | 0.9% | – |
| Rental vacancy rate | 0.0% ±30.3 pts | 4.4% | – |
| Single-family detached homes | 93.9% ±3.5 pts | 78.0% | – |
| Mobile homes | 0.0% ±2.1 pts | 1.7% | – |
| Built 2020 or later | 0.9% ±1.5 pts | 0.7% | – |
| Built 2010 to 2019 | 0.0% ±2.1 pts | 2.1% | – |
| Built 1939 or earlier | 7.8% ±5.8 pts | 14.1% | – |
| Households with no vehicle | 2.3% ±2.5 pts | 3.3% | – |
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 Lakes work and get to work?
69.1% of Highland Lakes's workers drive alone and 23.3% work from home. The average trip to work takes 44.0 minutes. The unemployment rate in 2020-2024 averaged 4.9%.
| Measure | Highland Lakes | Sussex County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| In the labor force (age 16+) | 71.7% ±5.0 pts | 68.3% | – |
| Unemployment rate | 4.9% ±3.1 pts | 5.1% | no clear change |
| Drove alone to work | 69.1% ±8.3 pts | 76.3% | – |
| Carpooled | 5.5% ±2.9 pts | 6.2% | – |
| Public transportation | 1.3% ±1.5 pts | 0.9% | – |
| Walked | 0.8% ±1.2 pts | 0.8% | – |
| Worked from home | 23.3% ±7.9 pts | 14.9% | +12.8 pts |
| Mean travel time to work | 44.0 min ±5.6 | 36.3 min | no clear change |
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 Lakes?
1 census tract lies mostly in Highland Lakes, and 1 more reaches into it (2020 census blocks).
| Tract | Residents, 2020-2024 | Median household income |
|---|---|---|
| Tract 3715.02Sussex County | 4,657 | $107,639 |
| Tract 3715.03Sussex County | 2,930 | $104,444 |
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 Lakes) · Census block assignment files
How does Highland Lakes compare with other places in New Jersey?
Highland Lakes ranks 418th of 771 places in New Jersey with 1,000 or more residents and a reliable estimate, by median household income.
| Measure | Rank | Of |
|---|---|---|
| Population (ACS 2020-2024) | 545th | 787 |
| Residents per square mile | 552nd | 787 |
| Median household income | 418th | 771 |
| Per capita income | 178th | 785 |
| Median home value | 631st | 777 |
| Median gross rent | 155th | 701 |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 318th | 780 |
| Median age | 70th | 786 |
| Owner-occupied share | 102nd | 777 |
| Work from home | 186th | 695 |
| Travel time to work | 13th | 787 |
Highland Lakes's figures with every place in New Jersey (CSV)
Every place in New Jersey, sortable · Compare Highland Lakes 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 Lakes?
21 of the 57 figures for Highland Lakes 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 Lakes 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.