50% of adults 25 and older hold a bachelor’s degree or more in Highland, above both the New York town median (32%) and the median of U.S. towns (29%). The biggest park or preserve is Franny Reese State Park, at 147 acres. We don’t grade Highland yet; the figures below are still real.

A growing town

Highland has grown 13% from 2010 to 2020

5,647 counted in 2010 and 6,385 in 2020.

5,6472010

6,3852020

U.S. Census 2010 & 2020 counts

Downtown, 2007

Highland’s story

161 years in pictures

Census counts: 5,060 in 2000, 6,385 in 2020. The archive holds 6 old photos and papers going back to 2007 and 6 maps from 1893 on.

1865Highland is settled

Explore the history →

Nearby attractions

United States Military Academy and 45 more within 40 miles

Museums, parks, gardens and other places to visit around Highland. Close and well known come first.

All 142 attractions →

Big draw23 mi MuseumUnited States Military Academy

3 mi National Historic SiteHome of Franklin D. Roosevelt National Historic Site102K visitors a year

5 mi National Historic SiteVanderbilt Mansion National Historic Site295K visitors a year 4 mi MuseumFranklin D. Roosevelt Presidential Library and Museum

23 mi Stadium & arenaMichie Stadium

30 mi LakeCandlewood Lake

Sources: National Park Service · ski areas © OpenSkiMap / OpenStreetMap contributors · Wikidata · Wikipedia readership · photos via Wikimedia Commons

Photo credits

United States Military Academy: USMA Public Affairs Office, Public domain · Home of Franklin D. Roosevelt National Historic Site: Crunch, CC BY-SA 4.0 · Vanderbilt Mansion National Historic Site: Daderot, Public domain · Michie Stadium: John Pellino, Public domain · Candlewood Lake: Carol M. Highsmith, Public domain

Getting set up

Moving to Highland: who provides what

Highland is unincorporated, so Ulster County and regional agencies provide most services.

PowerCentral Hudson Gas & Elec27.7¢/kWh · EIA 2025HIFLD · EIA

WaterHighland Water District1 health-based violation in 5 years · EPAEPA

Internet3 providers96% of addresses get 100/20 MbpsFCC

Trash & county servicesUlster CountyUlster County provides services here

SchoolsHighland Central School DistrictWhich school depends on your addressNCES

Register to voteOnlineIn New York you can register online until 10 days before Election Day, in person until 10 days before Election Day, or by mail (postmarked 15 days before and received 10 days before).vote.gov

Who runs elections hereUlster County Board of ElectionsUlster County; contacts on the Handbook page.FVAP, Sep 2025

ZIP code1252812528 100%Census 2020

EPA SDWIS (Oct 9, 2026) · HIFLD + EIA-861 2025 · Census 2020 ZCTAs · NCES 2024–25 · registration: vote.gov, updated Aug 3, 2026.

The data

Ordered by what stands out in Highland.

Work & commute

With 0.5 jobs for every working resident, most of Highland’s workers commute out

Between 2013 and 2023, jobs in Highland dropped by 218, to 1,474. Just 6% of the town’s working residents have a job in town. The share of residents in Highland who live below the poverty line: 5.8%. The top destinations are New York (13%), Lloyd (11%) and Poughkeepsie (11%).

6%work in town

	Highland	New York towns	U.S. towns
Median household income	$102,000	$82,000	$80,000
Average trip to work	28 minutes	25 minutes	25 minutes
Below the poverty line	5.8%	9.5%	9.6%
Working residents who work in town	6.4%	10%	8%

Where working residents work

In Highland6%

New York13%

Lloyd11%

Poughkeepsie11%

Poughkeepsie7%

14 mi

median commute distance

1,474

jobs based in Highland

A commuter town

jobs vs. working residents

Full pageHighland’s work & commute pageOpen the page

The jobs here1,474 jobs based here · A commuter town Where people work6% work in Highland Commute times28 minutes · The average commute How far they goHalf commute less than 14 miles

Census LEHD 2023 · ACS

Climate

Expect snowy winters and pleasant summers in Highland

Highland’s midsummer high stands at 84°F.

58″snow a winter

Typical low → high °F

Winter21–38°

Spring38–60°

Summer60–82°

Fall43–63°

Oct 21

typical first frost

Apr 21

typical last frost

+2.0°

vs. the 20th-century average

Full pageHighland’s climate pageOpen the page

A year of weatherJuly highs 84°, January lows 18°Rain & snow58″ of snow a winter · 45 inches of rain and snow a year Heating & coolingMostly a heating bill Then and now+2.0° vs. the 20th century · Warmer than the 20th-century average

NOAA U.S. Climate Normals, 1991–2020

Natural hazards

The biggest natural risk in Highland is inland flooding, at a low overall level

Of the losses FEMA expects in Highland, 63% come from inland flooding and 12% from tornadoes. Expected storm and flood damage is lower than in two thirds of U.S. communities. Paid flood insurance claims locally since 2005: 11.

33risk score of 100

FEMA risk score

Inland floodingTornadoesHurricanes

paid flood claims since 2005

Full pageHighland’s hazards pageOpen the page

What it facesLow risk Flood claims11 paid flood claims · Since 2005 Past disasters29 disaster declarations · Declared for the county Get ready3.6 events a year, on average · Ready for inland flooding

FEMA flood insurance claims · FEMA National Risk Index · OpenFEMA

Who lives here

Highland skews older than New York

People 65 and older are 25% of residents (18% statewide). Highland’s age of the median resident is 40.7 years.

40.7median age · NY 39.8

	Highland	New York towns	U.S. towns
Aged 65 or older	25%	20%	18%
Under 18	18%	20%	22%
Median age	40.7 years	43 years	40.5 years

HighlandNew YorkUnited States

NYU.S.

Ages · share of residents

16%

Education · adults 25 and older

No diploma3%

High school21%

Some college16%

Associate’s10%

Bachelor’s31%

Graduate19%

Women and men · all residents

57% women, 43% men

About 75 men for every 100 women (the survey’s margin: ±4.7 points). Across New York, 51.2% of residents are women.

Ages and education in Highland
	Highland	NY	U.S.
Under 10	13.3%	11%	11.6%
10 to 17	4.5%	9.5%	10.3%
18 to 24	6.4%	8.9%	9.1%
25 to 34	15.4%	14.2%	13.7%
35 to 44	14.5%	13%	13.2%
45 to 54	9.2%	12.2%	12.2%
55 to 64	11.6%	13.3%	12.7%
65 to 74	15.6%	10.3%	10.2%
75 and older	9.4%	7.6%	7%
No diploma	2.5%	12%	10.4%
High school	21.3%	24.3%	26%
Some college	16.3%	14.6%	19.1%
Associate’s	10.4%	8.8%	8.8%
Bachelor’s	31%	22.4%	21.6%
Graduate	18.5%	17.9%	14.1%

Full pageHighland by the numbersOpen the page

Ages40.7 median age · 25% are 65 or older Schooling50% have a four-year degree Homes61% own their home · Homeowners Income$102K a year · Median household income

U.S. Census Bureau · ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates

Housing

The typical home in Highland is valued at about $436K

For households in Highland, the share who are owner-occupiers is 61%. Values rose 4.2% in the 12 months to September 2026. The going rate for rent for Highland comes to $1,483 a month.

$436KZillow home value

	Highland	New York towns	U.S. towns
Households that own their home	61%	75%	73%
Median rent	$1,483 a month	$1,101 a month	$1,185 a month

Typical home value

Highland$436K

New York$525K

+4.2%

value change, 1 year

Full pageHighland’s housing & cost-of-living pageOpen the page

Prices over the yearsUp 4.2% in a year Years of income to buyA typical home costs 4.3 years of income Rents$1,483 a month · Median rent Vs. the neighbors3 bordering towns

Census ACS, 2020–24 · Zillow Home Value Index · Redfin Data Center

Health

How healthy Highland is

In Highland, 14% of adults say their health is fair or poor. CDC measures, 32 in all: Highland beats New York on 11 and trails on 2. Two figures for adults locally: 18% have been diagnosed with depression, 28% have obesity.

	Highland	New York towns	U.S. towns
Frequent mental distress (CDC PLACES)	14%	16%	17%
Depression (CDC PLACES)	18%	21%	23%
Obesity (CDC PLACES)	28%	33%	35%
Smoke cigarettes (CDC PLACES)	9.5%	13%	14%

32 measures vs. New York

11 better19 too close to call2 worse

What stands out	Highland	NY
Fewer older adults who have lost all their teeth	5.7%	12.8%
Fewer adults facing food insecurity	10%	17.2%
More adults who have had cancer	10%	7.7%

Vassar Brothers Medical Center

2.4 mi away · emergency room

1 of 3

care shortages: primary care

Full pageHighland’s health reportOpen the page

Everyday habitsFewer adults who get no exercise Hospitals & doctors nearby2.4 miles to an ER · Vassar Brothers Medical Center How adults are doingFewer adults in fair or poor health Every CDC estimateBetter than NY on 11 of 32

CDC PLACES 2025 · modeled estimates for adults · CMS · HRSA

Outdoors

Highland keeps 6.9% of its land conserved

Trails run 0.9 miles in 6 parks and preserves. For Highland, the density of trails is 0.2 miles per square mile.

6.9%conserved

	Highland	New York towns	U.S. towns
Miles of trail per square mile	0.2 miles per square mile	0.4	0.4
Conserved land	6.9%	5.2%	4.3%

6.9%

conserved · 268 of 3,884 acres

0.9 mi

of trails · 0.1 per sq mi

Biggest places to walk	Trails	Acres
1. Franny Reese State Park	0.4 mi	147
2. Scenic Hudson	—	60
3. Town of Lloyd	0.2 mi	41

Full pageHighland’s outdoors pageOpen the page

Trail map0.9 miles of trail, mapped Pick a walk0.4 miles of trail · Franny Reese State Park Conserved land6.9% conserved · 268 acres protected Questions“Where can I hike in Highland?”

Keep exploring

Everything we know about Highland

17pages on Highland

The big questions

HealthBetter than NY on 11 of 32 CDC measures Cost of living$436K typical home · up 4.2% in a year Work & commute$102K median household income · 1,474 jobs here Natural hazardsFEMA risk higher than 33% of U.S. communities · inland flooding

Out and about

Outdoors1 mi of trails · 7% conserved land PlacesAttractions142 nearby · Home of Franklin D. Roosevelt National Historic Site 3 mi LibraryHighland Public Library CollegesMarist University is 1.5 mi away

The story

HistorySettled 1865 Famous people3 born in Highland Climate84° summer highs · 58″ of snow

Day to day

NewsWeatherHandbookZIP code 12528 Town SquareNeighbors

After high school

Colleges nearby

7 within 15 miles of the center of Highland

Marist UniversityUniversity or college · Private nonprofit · Poughkeepsie1.5 mi$47,750 tuition Dutchess Community CollegeCommunity college · Public · Poughkeepsie3 mi$5,670 in-state tuition State University of New York at New PaltzUniversity or college · Public · New Paltz6.2 mi$8,572 in-state tuition

About 3 of every 100 Highland residents are enrolled in college, against 7 across New York.

Prices by family income, graduation and earnings →

A commuter town

94% of working residents leave Highland for work

Where Highland’s working residents go each day. Line width shows the share.

1,474jobs based in Highland

6%of working residents work in town

14 mimedian commute distance

Census LEHD 2023

Famous people from Highland

3 notable people were born in Highland.

See all 3 →

Harcourt J. PrattAmerican politician · 1866–1934

Karley SciortinoAmerican writer, television host, and producer · born 1985

Scott MacFarlaneAmerican journalist

About Highland

Census-designated place in New York, United States

Highland is a hamlet (and census-designated place) in Ulster County, New York, United States. The population was 6,385 at the 2020 census. It is part of the New York City Combined Statistical area. Highland is a community in the town of Lloyd, on U.S. Route 9W. Routes 44 and 55 run through it as well. It is the town at the western end of the Mid-Hudson Bridge across from Poughkeepsie. Highland is at the western end of the Walkway over the Hudson. From there, the Hudson Valley Rail Trail extends westward through the Town of Lloyd on to New Paltz, forming part of the Empire State Trail. Highland also contains Franny Reese State Park and Highland Landing Park.

From Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0 · facts via Wikidata (CC0)