ARMap-doton-Highland, 2005
Highland’s story
148 years in pictures
Census counts: 986 in 2000, 982 in 2020. The archive holds 1 old photo or paper going back to 2005 and 2 maps from 1962 on.
- 1878Highland is settled
HighlandAR
A town of 1,060, settled in 1878. Public schools that outperform most of Arkansas.
Population
1,060
2025 Census estimate · +8.1% since 2020
Median home value
$104K
Census ACS
Household income
$49K
median
Median age
41.4
years
Jobs based here
403
Balanced
Is Highland a good place to live?
Highland’s best subject grade is an A for schools; its weakest is a D− for incomes. CDC estimates put its residents' health behind 92% of the country. Among 124 Arkansas towns, just 2 have a higher share of households owning their home than Highland. FEMA rates its natural-hazard risk higher than 77% of U.S. communities, with inland flooding at the top. Highland has fewer than 2,500 residents, so it gets subject grades but no overall grade.
What makes Highland stand out
Where Highland beats most towns, and one thing worth knowing.
Small town
1,060 people, and everyone knows the way
In a town this size, neighbors are the best guide. Ask them anything.
Nearby towns
Cherokee VillageHardyHighland
How Highland grades
Each subject compared with towns across the country (schools within Arkansas), ordered by how far Highland is from typical.
Jobs & income$49K median household incomeD−Open →HealthBaxter Health Fulton County Hospital 18 miles awayDOpen →SchoolsAOpen →Hazard riskinland flooding tops the listDOpen →Cost of livingTypical home $104K, 2.3 years of the county’s $45K median household incomeB+Open →SafetyB−Open →WalkabilityEPA walkability 6.3 of 20; 3.7% of households have no car; 2.7% of workers walk, bike or ride transitB−Open →
Character Graded, but not part of the overall grade.
Outdoors2 miles of trailsDOpen →HistoryDOpen →Civic life3.7 community nonprofits per 1,000 residentsB+Open →
Described, not graded Taste, not quality: snow or an older crowd is neither good nor bad.
ClimateCold winters, 90° summer afternoons, 7″ of snow–Open →Who lives hereMedian age 41.4; 11% of adults have a four-year degree–Open →
How TownRatings grades towns →
Getting set up
The full setup list →Moving to Highland: who provides what
Who provides power, water and the rest in Highland, and how to reach them.
PowerEntergy Arkansas13.4¢/kWh · EIA 2025HIFLD · EIA
WaterHighland Water AssociationNo health-based violations in 5 years · EPAEPA
Internet3 providers85% of addresses get 100/20 MbpsFCC
Trash & dumpNot on file yetWe don’t have Highland’s trash rules yet
Register to voteIn personArkansas has no online registration; you can register in person until 30 days before Election Day or by mail (postmarked 30 days before).vote.govWho runs elections hereSharp County ClerkSharp County; contacts on the Handbook page.FVAP, Aug 2021
ZIP code7254272542 100%Census 2020
EPA SDWIS (Oct 9, 2026) · HIFLD + EIA-861 2025 · Census 2020 ZCTAs · NCES 2024–25 · registration: vote.gov, updated Nov 18, 2024.
The data
Ordered by what stands out in Highland.
HealthD
Highland earns a D for health
19% of adults report frequent physical distress in Highland, above both Arkansas’ towns (16%) and U.S. towns (14%). 46% of adults have high blood pressure in Highland. Highland beats the Arkansas average on 1 of 32 CDC measures and trails it on 10.
8%healthier than U.S. townsDHealth Grade
| Highland | Arkansas towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Frequent physical distress (CDC PLACES) | 19% | 16% | 14% |
| High blood pressure (CDC PLACES) | 46% | 41% | 35% |
| Get no exercise (CDC PLACES) | 36% | 34% | 25% |
| Diabetes (CDC PLACES) | 16% | 13% | 12% |
32 measures vs. Arkansas
1 better21 too close to call10 worse
| What stands out | Highland | AR |
|---|---|---|
| More adults treating high blood pressure | 80.9% | 76.9% |
| More adults with COPD | 11.9% | 8.6% |
Baxter Health Fulton County Hospital
18 mi away · emergency room
3 of 3
care shortages: primary care, dental, mental health
CDC PLACES 2025 · modeled estimates for adults · CMS · HRSA
SchoolsA
Highland’s public schools outperform 91% of Arkansas districts
Its public schools are run by the Highland School District. Two of its 3 schools are below, each with why it’s listed. The largest public high school is Highland High School, with 476 students.
91%of AR districts it outscoresASchool Grade
| School | Level | Students | Letter |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cherokee Elementary SchoolLargest public elementary schoolGrades PK–4 | Grades PK–4 | 581 | A− |
| Highland High SchoolLargest public high schoolGrades 9–12 | Grades 9–12 | 476 | B |
NCES · EDFacts · graded within AR on state tests and graduation
Natural hazardsHazard risk grade D
Inland flooding leads a high hazard risk in Highland
77risk score of 100
FEMA risk score
Inland floodingIce stormsTornadoes
5
federal disasters paid out here
FEMA National Risk Index · OpenFEMA
Climate
In Highland, expect four seasons and hot summers
Highland has chilly winters and warm summers, with plenty of rain. Highland’s July high is 90°F, below the Arkansas town median (92°F) but above the median of U.S. towns (85°F).
7″snow a winter
Typical low → high °F
Winter28–48°
Spring46–69°
Summer66–88°
Fall47–71°
Oct 31
typical first frost
Apr 4
typical last frost
+1.0°
vs. the 20th-century average
NOAA U.S. Climate Normals, 1991–2020
Work & commuteJobs & income grade D−
Highland has 1.5 jobs for every working resident, and 390 people commute in
Most working residents leave Highland for work: only 5% work in town. 21% of Highland residents live below the poverty line. Since 2013, Highland has added 110 jobs, to 403 in 2023.
5%work in town
| Highland | Arkansas towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Below the poverty line | 21% | 18% | 9.6% |
| Working residents who work in town | 4.7% | 22% | 8% |
| Median household income | $49,000 | $55,000 | $80,000 |
| Work from home | 6.9% | 6.2% | 11% |
Where working residents work
In Highland5%
Ash Flat18%
Hardy11%
Batesville6%
Cherokee Village5%
24 mi
median commute distance
403
jobs based in Highland
Balanced
jobs vs. working residents
B−
Walkability grade: more walkable than 49% of U.S. towns
Census LEHD 2023 · ACS
SafetyB−
Highland reports less crime per resident than 54% of U.S. towns
The violent crime rate in Highland is 3.8 per 1,000 residents.
54%of U.S. towns report more crimeB−Safety Grade
| Highland | Arkansas towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Violent crimes per 1,000 (2025) | 3.8 per 1,000 residents | 3.6 | 1.6 |
| Property crimes per 1,000 (2025) | 7.5 per 1,000 residents | 13.6 | 9.9 |
Violent crime per 1,000 residents
Highland3.8
Arkansas5.4
U.S.3.3
Property crime per 1,000 residents
Highland7.5
Arkansas16.7
U.S.15.5
54th
percentile among U.S. towns we grade
4
violent crimes reported in 2025
8
property crimes reported in 2025
FBI crime data, 2025 · crimes reported to police
HousingCost of living grade B+
The median home in Highland sells for about $229K
Highland’s median rent is $817 a month.
$229Kmedian sale price
1
homes sold in May
Census ACS, 2020–24 · Zillow Home Value Index · Redfin Data Center
0%conserved
0%
conserved · 1 of 5,606 acres
1.8 mi
of trails · 0.2 per sq mi
| Biggest places to walk | Trails | Acres |
|---|---|---|
| 1. Highland City Park | — | 1 |
Trails & parks © OpenStreetMap contributors · Conserved land: USGS PAD-US
Keep exploring
Everything we know about Highland
19pages on Highland
The big questions
Out and about
The story
Day to day
After high school
Colleges nearby
None within 15 miles of Highland; the nearest are
Ozarka CollegeCommunity college · Public · Melbourne25.8 mi$3,820 in-state tuitionArkansas State UniversityUniversity or college · Public · Jonesboro55.4 mi$8,090 in-state tuition
About 3 of every 100 Highland residents are enrolled in college, against 5 across Arkansas.
About Highland
City in Arkansas, United States
Highland is a city in Sharp County, Arkansas, United States. The city was incorporated in 1998 and is located in Sharp County. It is the fourth largest city in Sharp County with an estimated population of 1,047 in 2024.
From Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0 · facts via Wikidata (CC0)
- Area
- 8.9 sq mi
- Elevation
- 610 ft
- Area code
- 870
Questions about Highland
Short answers, built from the data on this page.
Is Highland, AR a good place to live?
Public schools that outperform most of Arkansas.
Is Highland, AR expensive?
Not for the area. The typical home is worth about $104,000, 53% below the Arkansas typical home. Cost of living, which also weighs rents, property taxes and how many households pay 30% or more of their income for housing, grades B+.