Census-designated place · New York
Highland-on-the-Lake, New York
Highland-on-the-Lake, census-designated place, in Erie County, New York. Highland-on-the-Lake had 3,765 residents in the 2020 Census, a full count; the ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates put it at 3,584 (±613). GEOID 3634528.
Residents, 2020 Census
3,765
Census count or controlled total
ACS 2020-2024 estimate: 3,584 ±613
Median household income
$87,800
±$8,555 (90% margin)
New York: $85,974
Median home value
$186,300
±$12,267 (90% margin)
New York: $423,800
Median gross rent
$1,000
±$257 (90% margin)
New York: $1,621
Where is Highland-on-the-Lake and what county is it in?
Highland-on-the-Lake is a census-designated place: an unincorporated community the Census Bureau draws for counting, with no city government of its own, in Erie County, New York. It covers 2.0 square miles of land, 1,846 residents per square mile in 2020.
Highland-on-the-Lake is in the Buffalo-Cheektowaga, NY metropolitan statistical area, which takes in 2 counties (Census Bureau delineation, July 2023).
Highland-on-the-Lake lies entirely within the Town of Evans, a town 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-on-the-Lake, and is it growing?
The 2020 Census counted 3,765 residents in Highland-on-the-Lake, a full count rather than a sample. The 2020-2024 American Community Survey, a sample, estimates 3,584 (±613).
The Census Bureau publishes yearly population estimates for incorporated places only; Highland-on-the-Lake is a census-designated place, so its figures come from the ACS and the 2020 Census.
| Measure | Highland-on-the-Lake | Erie County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total population | 3,584 ±613 | 950,622 | – |
| Households | 1,476 ±174 | 409,665 | – |
| Average household size | 2.38 ±0.38 | 2.26 | – |
| Housing units | 1,563 ±171 | 441,214 | – |
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-on-the-Lake?
The median resident of Highland-on-the-Lake is 50.6 years old; 10.2% are under 18 and 23.5% are 65 or older. The largest group is non-Hispanic white residents at 92.0%, then non-Hispanic residents of two or more races at 3.6%.
| Measure | Highland-on-the-Lake | Erie County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 50.6 ±8.1 | 40.4 | – |
| Under 18 years | 10.2% ±3.6 pts | 20.1% | – |
| 65 years and over | 23.5% ±6.4 pts | 19.3% | – |
| Male | 55.6% ±6.3 pts | 48.7% | – |
| Hispanic or Latino (any race) | 1.9% ±1.8 pts | 6.4% | – |
| White alone, not Hispanic | 92.0% ±4.6 pts | 72.3% | – |
| Black or African American alone, not Hispanic | 1.7% ±1.1 pts | 12.1% | – |
| Asian alone, not Hispanic | 0.0% ±1.2 pts | 4.9% | – |
| American Indian and Alaska Native alone, not Hispanic | 0.7% ±1.1 pts | 0.3% | – |
| Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander alone, not Hispanic | 0.0% ±1.2 pts | 0.0% | – |
| Two or more races, not Hispanic | 3.6% ±3.7 pts | 3.5% | – |
| Some other race alone, not Hispanic | 0.0% ±1.2 pts | 0.4% | – |
| Born outside the United States | 2.3% ±1.8 pts | 7.5% | – |
| Speak a language other than English at home (age 5+) | 3.0% ±2.2 pts | 11.3% | – |
| Civilian veterans (age 18+) | 9.0% ±4.1 pts | 5.7% | – |
| With a disability | 15.5% ±4.6 pts | 13.8% | – |
| No health insurance coverage | 4.2% ±2.9 pts | 2.9% | – |
| High school graduate or higher (age 25+) | 94.6% ±2.5 pts | 92.5% | – |
| Bachelor's degree or higher (age 25+) | 18.5% ±5.6 pts | 38.0% | – |
| Graduate or professional degree (age 25+) | 7.2% ±3.9 pts | 17.1% | – |
| Lived in the same house a year earlier | 94.9% ±3.4 pts | 89.4% | – |
| Moved from another state in the past year | 0.5% ±0.8 pts | 1.1% | – |
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-on-the-Lake earn?
Half of Highland-on-the-Lake's 1,476 households earn less than $87,800 a year (±$8,555), against $72,839 in Erie County and $85,974 in New York.
| Measure | Highland-on-the-Lake | Erie County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median household income | $87,800 ±$8,555 | $72,839 | – |
| Mean household income | $100,811 ±$11,563 | $97,738 | – |
| Per capita income | $42,134 ±$7,147 | $42,777 | – |
| People below the poverty line | 15.9% ±11.8 pts | 13.9% | – |
| Children under 18 below the poverty line | 0.0% ±10.9 pts | 18.5% | – |
| Households receiving SNAP | 5.9% ±3.2 pts | 15.5% | – |
| Households with a computer | 95.1% ±2.9 pts | 94.1% | – |
| Households with a broadband subscription | 92.8% ±4.1 pts | 90.2% | – |
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-on-the-Lake?
Owners occupy 81.3% of Highland-on-the-Lake's occupied homes and renters 18.7%. The median owner-occupied home is valued at $186,300 by its owner (±$12,267). The median renter pays $1,000 a month including utilities.
| Measure | Highland-on-the-Lake | Erie County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median home value (owner-occupied) | $186,300 ±$12,267 | $233,800 | – |
| Median gross rent | $1,000 ±$257 | $1,090 | – |
| Renters paying 35% or more of income on rent | 40.7% ±27.2 pts | 41.3% | – |
| Median monthly owner costs, with a mortgage | $1,527 ±$172 | $1,619 | – |
| Owner-occupied homes | 81.3% ±6.7 pts | 65.8% | – |
| Renter-occupied homes | 18.7% ±6.7 pts | 34.2% | – |
| Housing units | 1,563 ±171 | 441,214 | – |
| Homeowner vacancy rate | 0.0% ±3.5 pts | 0.6% | – |
| Rental vacancy rate | 0.0% ±14.2 pts | 3.8% | – |
| Single-family detached homes | 78.0% ±6.7 pts | 58.9% | – |
| Mobile homes | 1.3% ±1.8 pts | 1.5% | – |
| Built 2020 or later | 0.0% ±2.7 pts | 0.6% | – |
| Built 2010 to 2019 | 4.3% ±3.5 pts | 4.4% | – |
| Built 1939 or earlier | 9.6% ±3.7 pts | 29.4% | – |
| Households with no vehicle | 2.4% ±2.4 pts | 11.5% | – |
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-on-the-Lake work and get to work?
84.8% of Highland-on-the-Lake's workers drive alone. The average trip to work takes 26.2 minutes.
| Measure | Highland-on-the-Lake | Erie County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| In the labor force (age 16+) | 52.2% ±8.8 pts | 62.4% | – |
| Unemployment rate | 2.8% ±2.5 pts | 4.9% | – |
| Drove alone to work | 84.8% ±7.3 pts | 72.4% | – |
| Carpooled | 6.8% ±5.5 pts | 7.8% | – |
| Public transportation | 0.3% ±0.9 pts | 2.8% | – |
| Walked | 0.7% ±1.1 pts | 2.3% | – |
| Worked from home | 6.7% ±5.0 pts | 12.9% | – |
| Mean travel time to work | 26.2 min ±3.4 | 21.3 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-on-the-Lake?
1 census tract lies mostly in Highland-on-the-Lake, and 1 more reaches into it (2020 census blocks).
| Tract | Residents, 2020-2024 | Median household income |
|---|---|---|
| Tract 154.01Erie County | 2,573 | $87,572 |
| Tract 154.02Erie County | 4,477 | $65,897 |
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-on-the-Lake) · Census block assignment files
How does Highland-on-the-Lake compare with other places in New York?
Highland-on-the-Lake ranks 711th of 1,623 places in New York with 1,000 or more residents and a reliable estimate, by median household income.
| Measure | Rank | Of |
|---|---|---|
| Population (ACS 2020-2024) | 831st | 1,657 |
| Residents per square mile | 456th | 1,657 |
| Median household income | 711th | 1,623 |
| Per capita income | 871st | 1,653 |
| Median home value | 1,027th | 1,637 |
| Median gross rent | 913th | 1,515 |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 1,417th | 1,640 |
| Median age | 235th | 1,654 |
| Owner-occupied share | 717th | 1,639 |
| Travel time to work | 799th | 1,652 |
Highland-on-the-Lake's figures with every place in New York (CSV)
Every place in New York, sortable · Compare Highland-on-the-Lake 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-on-the-Lake?
24 of the 57 figures for Highland-on-the-Lake 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-on-the-Lake 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.