City profile · New Jersey · Census ACS 2023

Highland Lakes, NJ

Highland Lakes's Census ACS profile: residents, income, housing, and the joined public-record layers available for this place.

3,941
Residents
$129,500
Median income
$291,200
Median home
$2,132
Median rent (state)
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Side-by-side metrics and state or size-class ranks use the same Census and FBI fields shown on this profile. Results stay in the URL so you can bookmark or share them.

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Starting with Highland Lakes, NJ - add up to three more cities on the compare page.

See how it ranks

State rank, size-class rank, and four peer cities for Highland Lakes.

Place dossier plate

Sheet NJ-HIGHLAND-LAKES-NJ · Highland Lakes, NJ 3,941 pop · income 90th pct

POP-VILLAGE · INC-TOP · COL-ABOVE · SAFE-UNK · RANK-TOP · PHOTO-FINISH · HOME-MID · BOOK-UNK

  • POP-VILLAGE 3,941
  • INC-TOP $129,500
  • COL-ABOVE 108.8
  • SAFE-UNK Safety pending
  • RANK-TOP 90th
  • PHOTO-FINISH ≈ Fate
  • HOME-MID $291,200
  • BOOK-UNK Tracts pending

Nearest income peer: Fate, TX (+ $0 income $)

Instrument codes from this place’s ACS population and household income, BEA state COL, FBI safety, national income percentile, photo-finish peer city, home-value band, and matched Census-tract book - not a moving recommendation.

Income neighbourhood around Highland Lakes

Lowest/highest poles plus peers nearest Highland Lakes on median household income. Full ladder: /browse and /rankings.

median HH income

What this shows Neighbourhood peers only - not a full nationwide city board. Open a near peer when the gap is small; open the poles when the spread is wide.

Source U.S. Census Bureau · ACS 5-Year Estimates As of 2026-08-08

Compare beyond this state

Nationwide peers by population, income

Out-of-state nearest neighbors for Highland Lakes on ACS population and median household income . Link sets are deduped so each column is a distinct comparison path, not a forecast that peers share a labor market or climate.

Similar population

Nearest out-of-state cities by ACS population. This city: 3,941.

4 peers

Similar household income

Nearest out-of-state cities by ACS median household income. This city: $129,500. Population peers are excluded.

4 peers

Highland Lakes - the verdict

Nationally, Highland Lakes sits in the 90th percentile for household income among US cities with a population of 1,000 or more. Source: Census ACS.

90th
percentile, household income
64th
percentile, home value
94th
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: Highland Lakes, NJ

Census ACS 2023 estimates count 3,941 residents in Highland Lakes, a small town within New Jersey. Median household income here is $129,500 per year, placing it in the top quartile of U.S. cities for household income, with a poverty rate of 2.4%. Highland Lakes's housing stock carries a median value of $291,200, and the median resident age is 49.3 years. 50.7% of adults here have a bachelor's degree or higher; 70.0% of working-age residents are in the labor force.

New Jersey carries a cost-of-living premium: BEA Regional Price Parities 2024 puts New Jersey at 108.8 on a 100-equals-national-average scale (Well Above Average). A typical two-bedroom carries a HUD Fair Market Rent of $2,132 per month statewide. EIA 2023 residential energy data puts New Jersey's average monthly utility costs around $275 (state average). On FEMA's National Risk Index, this area rates 90.8 out of 100 for natural-hazard exposure (Very High).

A decision-led reading path

Useful questions to ask of Highland Lakes's data

How this reading path is ordered

This is not a composite city score. It is a city-specific route through the available public records, ordered for this profile so the page starts with questions the joined data can actually answer. The route here runs from comparison shortlist to work and mobility to housing and income; another city can have a different sequence or fewer supported layers because the source joins are not uniform.

For Highland Lakes, city-specific coverage includes commute-mode shares. No matched row is reported here for annual population history, matched public-school count, FBI reported-crime rates, within-city Census tract profiles, local building permits; the page leaves those layers out instead of substituting a statewide or national value.

1. Comparison shortlist

Which cities make useful reference points for Highland Lakes?

Use the in-state set to hold state policy and broad price conditions more nearly constant. Use the nationwide size set to ask whether cities with a similar resident count produce different housing, income, or commute outcomes. The income set is a third lens, deliberately separate from population matching.

Within New Jersey, the closest population matches are Lawrenceville (3,947 residents, $118,482 income); Oaklyn (3,934 residents, $81,514 income); Great Notch (3,898 residents, $151,705 income). Outside the state, the closest population matches in this dataset are Mitchell, IN (3,941 residents); Ely, NV (3,941 residents); Cherry Grove, OH (3,940 residents). A third, income-matched reference set of 6 out-of-state cities sits in the income neighbourhood chart near the Place Dossier plate. These are mechanical peer sets, not claims that the places share a labor market, climate, culture, or metro context.

Open a side-by-side comparison →

Question 2

What does the journey to work look like in Highland Lakes?

Driving alone is the largest reported mode at 64.8%. A reliable mean commute time is not available for this row, so the mode shares carry the comparison.

Mode share answers how workers usually travel; it does not measure congestion, reliability, distance to a particular job, or the quality of transit service. Remote work has a visible role in the local pattern. That can reduce commute exposure for some workers, but it says nothing about job availability or broadband quality; read it alongside income and housing rather than as a stand-alone lifestyle score.

Compare commute patterns →

3. Housing and income

How far does income reach against housing in Highland Lakes?

This is a citywide price-to-income reference, not a mortgage-affordability test; it does not include interest rates, taxes, insurance, household size, or an individual buyer's down payment. The ratio makes housing the clearest place to start this profile, but a low multiple can coexist with slow demand, older stock, or household-level hardship. Compare the home-value distribution and same-state peer table before treating it as an advantage.

The home-value-to-income reference is relatively compact: the ACS median home value is 2.2 times median household income. The ACS poverty estimate is 2.4%, which keeps the citywide median from describing every household.

Compare the housing trade-off →

Population

3,941 residents

Micro place (under 10k)

Median Household Income

$129,500 /yr

Top-decile income · poverty 2.4% (Low poverty)

Cost of Living Index (state)

108.8 (US=100)

High cost · BEA RPP 2024, New Jersey average

City profile score · Highland Lakes, NJ

67/100

4 published dimensions · ACS/FBI 2023

Comparative score against U.S. cities with population of 1,000 or more on Census ACS medians (income, poverty, bachelor's share, cost of living) and FBI UCR violent-crime rates when published. Higher means a stronger standing on those published figures, not a livability rating, not a recommendation to move, buy, or pick a "best" city. Missing inputs drop out and redistribute weight. How it is calculated.

Household income A+
$129,500

Median household income vs U.S. cities (pop ≥1,000); ACS.

Bachelor's+ share A-
50.7%

Adults with a bachelor's degree or higher; ACS.

Poverty rate A-
2.4%

Share of residents below the poverty line; lower scores better on this axis.

Cost of living F
108.8 index

BEA state Regional Price Parities index (100 ≈ national average); lower is stronger on this axis. Same value for every city in the state.

Violent crime N/A
N/A

No FBI UCR violent-crime rate for this place (coverage is incomplete).

Highland Lakes profile (scored ACS/FBI dimensions) 4-axis radar comparing 1 series across Household income, Bachelor's+ share, Poverty rate, Cost of living. Household incomeBachelor's+ sharePoverty rateCost of living 67 B-
Highland Lakes profile (scored ACS/FBI dimensions)
Read the chart values
  • Household income: 90/100 (A+) · $129,500
  • Bachelor's+ share: 84/100 (A-) · 50.7%
  • Poverty rate: 83/100 (A-) · 2.4%
  • Cost of living: 10/100 (F) · 108.8 index

How does Highland Lakes compare to other US cities?

Here's how Highland Lakes stacks up against the full field of US cities (population 1,000+), computed live from Census and FBI data.

Household income 90% higher than other cities
Home value 64% pricier than other cities
Median rent 94% 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 Highland Lakes against every qualifying US city; each in-state rank narrows that to New Jersey only. Full formula and direction notes: methodology.

New Jersey-relative analysis

Median Gross Rent places Highland Lakes near the bottom of New Jersey's cities

Among the 686 New Jersey cities PlainCities tracks with reported median gross rent data, Highland Lakes ranks #1 - the 0th percentile within the state. This is a different, narrower cut than the nationwide percentiles above: it compares Highland Lakes only against its own state's cities, not the full US field.

Median Household Income
#190 of 659
71st percentile in New Jersey
Median Gross Rent
#1 of 686
0th percentile in New Jersey
Median Home Value
#496 of 672
26th percentile in New Jersey
Poverty Rate
#387 of 680
42nd percentile in New Jersey
Bachelor's Degree or Higher
#254 of 686
63rd percentile in New Jersey
How in-state ranks are ordered

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

90thIncome percentile
Gauge source note

90th percentile nationally for median household income. Source: Census ACS 2023 / FBI UCR 2023.

How Highland Lakes's home value compares nationally

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

$291,200 36th percentile more affordable than 36% of 15,600 US cities

Show national distribution $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%). This entry sits in this band. $300,000–$325,000: 521 US cities (3%). Above this entry. $325,000–$350,000: 526 US cities (3%). Above this entry. $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. Highland Lakes $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

Highland Lakes's home-value-to-income ratio: 2.2×

ACS median home value divided by median household income.

Band
affordable
< 3.0×
National rank
#2,694 of 15,516
More affordable than 83% of tracked cities (pop. 1,000+)
Size class
#2,505 of 11,323
Micro cities (under 10,000)

At 2.2×, Highland Lakes sits in the affordable band: national rank #2,694 of 15,516 and #2,505 of 11,323micro cities (under 10,000). The multiple is comparatively compact among tracked cities, but a low ratio can still coexist with slow demand or household-level hardship.

How this ratio is calculated

Ratio = Census ACS 2023 median home value ÷ median household income for cities with both fields and population ≥ 1,000. Rank 1 = lowest ratio (most compact). Bands match the fleet affordability thresholds used on guides (<3.0 / 3.0–5.0 / >5.0). This is not a mortgage payment estimate and does not include rates, taxes, insurance, or down payment.

Income distribution context

$129,500 Highland Lakes, NJ median household income (Census ACS)

Show U.S. national quintile / Lorenz context Household income distribution - Highland Lakes, NJ Highland Lakes, NJ's median household income ($129,500) against the U.S. national quintile-share pattern. The Lorenz curve and quintile bars are national context, not Highland Lakes, NJ-specific shares. $ Household Income Distribution Highland Lakes, NJ median $129,500/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%
Highland Lakes, NJ median household income (Census ACS 5-year) with U.S. national quintile shares for context. Diagonal = equality; the curve is national, not computed for Highland Lakes, NJ.

Key socioeconomic indicators

Bachelor's degree or higher (adults 25+) 50.7%

Census ACS S1501, educational attainment

Poverty rate (households below FPL) 2.4%

Census ACS S1701, poverty status

Labor force participation (adults 16+) 70.0%

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

Population
3,941
Median Income
$129,500
Median Home Value
$291,200
Median Age
49.3
Poverty Rate
2.4%
Labor force participation
70.0%
Bachelor's Degree+
50.7%

Commute Patterns

Commute source

How workers travel to work, Census ACS 2023

Drive Alone
64.8%
Carpool
8.2%
Public Transit
2.1%
Walk
0.9%
Work from Home
24.1%

Based on 2,349 workers 16 and over.

Monthly Utility Costs

New Jersey statewide monthly utility average (EIA 2023): $275

EIA 2023 residential energy data puts average monthly utilities across New Jersey at $275 (electricity about $120 , water and sewer about $60 ).

These are New Jersey statewide averages, not a meter reading for Highland Lakes. Actual bills vary by home size, usage, and local rates. Source: U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) 2023.

Living Costs & Risk

New Jersey's BEA cost-of-living index is 108.8 (Well Above Average; US average = 100, RPP 2024). HUD Fair Market Rent for a typical two-bedroom in the county around Highland Lakes is $2,132/mo. FEMA's National Risk Index, averaged to New Jersey statewide on PlainCities, rates natural-hazard exposure at 90.8 / 100 (Very High).

Cost/risk geography note

Cost of living is a New Jersey statewide BEA average; rent is a county-level HUD Fair Market Rent for the county Highland Lakes sits in; the FEMA hazard score shown here is a statewide average of county NRI inputs, not a parcel-level reading.

How Highland Lakes compares to similar-size New Jersey cities

Same-state peer method

Closest same-state population matches, not geographic neighbors. Population + median household income come from Census Bureau ACS 5-year B01001 and B19013.

City Population Median Household Income
Highland Lakes (this city) 3,941 $129,500
Lawrenceville 3,947 $118,482
Oaklyn 3,934 $81,514
Great Notch 3,898 $151,705
Primary sources on this page

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

Citation & verification links Data sourced from the U.S. Census Bureau. See our methodology for details. Retrieved and formatted by PlainCities

Primary sources: Census ACS, FBI UCR, NOAA Climate Normals, NCES. Joins use OMB Bulletin 23-01 / FIPS keys.

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Estimate caveats

ACS and UCR figures are citywide estimates with vintage lags; they do not replace a local visit, school visit, or insurance quote.

Editorial standards, provenance, and how to cite this page

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.

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