County · Virginia
Highland County, Virginia
Highland County, Virginia. Highland County had 2,318 residents in 2025 by the Census Bureau's estimate, up 3.8% since 2020, faster than Virginia (+2.9%). It holds 2 places (1 city, village or borough and 1 census-designated) and 1 census tract. GEOID 51091.
Residents, July 2025 estimate
2,318
Census Bureau estimate (no margin published)
2020 Census count: 2,232 · ACS 2020-2024: 2,296
Median household income
$65,625
±$11,958 (90% margin)
Virginia: $93,170
Median home value
$200,000
±$40,223 (90% margin)
Virginia: $383,700
Median gross rent
$856
±$213 (90% margin)
Virginia: $1,579
How many people live in Highland County, and is it growing?
The 2020 Census counted 2,232 residents in Highland County. The Census Bureau estimates 2,318 for July 1, 2025, up 3.8% since 2020, faster than Virginia (+2.9%). The 2020-2024 American Community Survey puts the population at 2,296 over 415 square miles of land.
| Measure | Highland County | Virginia | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total population | 2,296 | 8,705,170 | +92 |
| Households | 1,003±115 | 3,365,732 | no clear change |
| Average household size | 2.29±0.27 | 2.52 | no clear change |
| Housing units | 1,864±113 | 3,684,756 | no clear change |
Highland County's population since 2000
From 2,536 in 2000 to 2,318 in 2025: down 8.6%. The 2000, 2010 and 2020 figures are census counts. The 2005 figure is the Census Bureau's intercensal estimate, revised to fit the 2000 and 2010 counts and drawn on 2010 boundaries; 2015 and 2025 are July 1 estimates made from the census before them.
Source: The 2000, 2010 and 2020 Census counts and the Census Bureau's population estimates (intercensal 2000-2010, Vintage 2020, Vintage 2025) · Census population estimates
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026); PEP Vintage 2025 (CO-EST2025); 2020 Census · Check it at data.census.gov
What cities and towns are in Highland County?
Highland County holds 2 places: 1 city, village or borough (an incorporated place) and 1 census-designated place. The largest is Monterey with 162 residents (2025 estimate). Places that cross a county line are listed with the share of their 2020 residents who live in this county.
| MontereyGEOID 5152680 | 165 | $60,849 |
|---|---|---|
| McDowellGEOID 5148184 | 94 | not published |
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026); 2020 place-by-county parts · Check it at data.census.gov
Who lives in Highland County?
The median resident of Highland County is 56.5 years old; 14.5% are under 18 and 34.8% are 65 or older. The largest group is non-Hispanic white residents at 94.9%, then non-Hispanic residents of two or more races at 2.7%.
| Measure | Highland County | Virginia | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 56.5±5.1 | 39.0 | no clear change |
| Under 18 years | 14.5%±3.6 pts | 21.7% | – |
| 65 years and over | 34.8%±5.9 pts | 16.7% | – |
| Hispanic or Latino (any race) | 0.0%±1.7 pts | 11.0% | – |
| White alone, not Hispanic | 94.9%±3.3 pts | 58.4% | −4.4 pts |
| Black or African American alone, not Hispanic | 0.0%±1.7 pts | 18.3% | – |
| Asian alone, not Hispanic | 2.4%±2.3 pts | 6.9% | – |
| American Indian and Alaska Native alone, not Hispanic | 0.0%±1.7 pts | 0.1% | – |
| Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander alone, not Hispanic | 0.0%±1.7 pts | 0.1% | – |
| Two or more races, not Hispanic | 2.7%±2.4 pts | 4.7% | – |
| Some other race alone, not Hispanic | 0.0%±1.7 pts | 0.6% | – |
| Born outside the United States | 1.4%±1.2 pts | 13.1% | – |
| Speak a language other than English at home (age 5+) | 1.7%±1.6 pts | 17.4% | – |
| Civilian veterans (age 18+) | 7.8%±2.5 pts | 9.4% | – |
| With a disability | 19.5%±4.5 pts | 12.5% | – |
| No health insurance coverage | 3.9%±1.9 pts | 6.9% | −6.9 pts |
| High school graduate or higher (age 25+) | 88.8%±3.9 pts | 91.6% | – |
| Bachelor's degree or higher (age 25+) | 30.8%±6.3 pts | 42.2% | +8.3 pts |
| Graduate or professional degree (age 25+) | 10.2%±3.1 pts | 18.5% | – |
| Moved from another state in the past year | 2.7%±1.4 pts | 3.1% | – |
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 County earn?
Half of Highland County's 1,003 households earn less than $65,625 a year (±$11,958), against $93,170 in Virginia. In 2015-2019 it was $59,796 in 2024 dollars; the margins of error cannot tell the two periods apart. 9.5% of residents live below the poverty line.
| Measure | Highland County | Virginia | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median household income | $65,625±$11,958 | $93,170 | no clear change |
| Mean household income | $76,499±$9,087 | $128,260 | – |
| Per capita income | $34,453±$3,079 | $50,666 | no clear change |
| People below the poverty line | 9.5%±3.8 pts | 9.9% | no clear change |
| Children under 18 below the poverty line | 8.4%±7.5 pts | 12.3% | – |
| Households receiving SNAP | 8.1%±4.2 pts | 9.1% | – |
| Households with a broadband subscription | 77.0%±8.3 pts | 91.0% | – |
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 County?
Owners occupy 88.9% of Highland County's occupied homes and renters 11.1%. The median owner-occupied home is valued at $200,000 by its owner (±$40,223). The median renter pays $856 a month including utilities.
| Measure | Highland County | Virginia | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median home value (owner-occupied) | $200,000±$40,223 | $383,700 | no clear change |
| Median gross rent | $856±$213 | $1,579 | no clear change |
| Renters paying 35% or more of income on rent | 46.8%±35.0 pts | 39.4% | – |
| Median monthly owner costs, with a mortgage | $1,331±$88 | $2,127 | – |
| Owner-occupied homes | 88.9%±5.2 pts | 67.3% | no clear change |
| Housing units | 1,864±113 | 3,684,756 | no clear change |
| Homeowner vacancy rate | 0.0%±4.2 pts | 0.8% | – |
| Rental vacancy rate | 19.0%±20.4 pts | 4.8% | – |
| Single-family detached homes | 81.3%±4.9 pts | 61.3% | – |
| Mobile homes | 15.3%±4.3 pts | 4.3% | – |
| Built 2020 or later | 1.1%±1.8 pts | 1.7% | – |
| Built 1939 or earlier | 35.4%±6.8 pts | 7.0% | – |
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 many new homes is Highland County building?
Builders took permits for 11 new housing units across Highland County in 2025 (11 single-family), 4.7 per 1,000 residents.
Source: Building Permits Survey, annual county files 2019-2025, U.S. Census Bureau · Census Building Permits Survey
How do people in Highland County get to work?
69.5% of Highland County's workers drive alone and 21.1% work from home. The average trip to work takes 27.4 minutes. The unemployment rate in 2020-2024 averaged 11.9%.
| Measure | Highland County | Virginia | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| In the labor force (age 16+) | 52.3%±7.1 pts | 65.4% | – |
| Unemployment rate | 11.9%±6.0 pts | 4.3% | – |
| Drove alone to work | 69.5%±7.6 pts | 67.6% | – |
| Carpooled | 6.2%±3.6 pts | 8.0% | – |
| Public transportation | 0.0%±4.4 pts | 2.3% | – |
| Walked | 2.9%±2.5 pts | 2.1% | – |
| Worked from home | 21.1%±7.2 pts | 18.3% | – |
| Mean travel time to work | 27.4 min±5.5 | 27.3 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 are Highland County's census tracts?
Highland County is a single census tract.
| Tract 970151091970100 | 2,296 | $65,625 |
|---|
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) · Check it at data.census.gov
How does Highland County compare with Virginia's other counties?
| Measure | Rank |
|---|---|
| Population | 133rd of 133 |
| Growth 2020-2025 | 41st of 133 |
| Residents per square mile | 133rd of 133 |
| Median household income | 75th of 133 |
| Median home value | 94th of 133 |
| Median gross rent | 99th of 133 |
| Poverty rate | 86th of 133 |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 52nd of 133 |
| Median age | 3rd of 133 |
Source: PlainCities ranks 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 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 County 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.