Highland’s average trip to work is 42 minutes, against 22 minutes in Wisconsin’s towns and 25 minutes across U.S. towns. Among 363 Wisconsin towns, just 3 have a higher share of households owning their home than Highland. 72% of the land in Highland is conserved, against 3.8% in Wisconsin’s towns and 4.3% across U.S. towns. The biggest place to walk is Brule River State Forest, 10,565 acres with 33.7 miles of trail. Highland has fewer than 1,000 residents, too few for fair grades; the figures below are still real.

Small town

348 people, and everyone knows the way

In a town this size, neighbors are the best guide. Ask them anything.

Nearby towns

Lake Nebagamon · 6 mi Bennett · 9 mi Hughes · 10 mi Solon Springs · 10 mi Solon Springs · 11 mi Brule · 11 mi

BarnesLake NebagamonBennettHughesSolon SpringsBruleGordonHighland

Getting set up

Moving to Highland: who provides what

Who provides power, water and the rest in Highland, and how to reach them.

The full setup list →

PowerEast Central Energy17.2¢/kWh · EIA 2025HIFLD · EIA

WaterMiddle River Health and Rehab Center water system1 health-based violation in 5 years · EPAEPA

InternetProviders and speedsData pending · D4

Trash & dumpJFK Transfer StationDrop-offTown site

SchoolsMaple School DistrictWhich school depends on your addressNCES

Register to voteOnlineIn Wisconsin you can register online until 20 days before Election Day, in person up to and including Election Day, or by mail (postmarked 20 days before).vote.gov

Who runs elections hereTown of Highland ClerkThe town itself; contacts on the Handbook page.FVAP, Jun 2023

ZIP codes54849, 54873, 5482054849 53% · 54873 42% · 54820 4%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.

Outdoors

Conserved land covers nearly a third of Highland

61 miles of trail in 3 parks and preserves. The trail density in Highland is 0.8 miles per square mile.

71.6%conserved

71.6%

conserved · 35,510 of 49,594 acres

61 mi

of trails · 0.8 per sq mi

Biggest places to walk	Trails	Acres
1. Brule River State Forest	33.7 mi	10,565
2. Douglas County Forest	—	2,842
3. Bayfield County Forest	—	15

Full pageHighland’s outdoors pageOpen the page

Trail map61 miles of trail, mapped Pick a walk33.7 miles of trail · Brule River State Forest Conserved land71.6% conserved · 35,510 acres protected Questions“Where can I hike in Highland?”

Trails & parks © OpenStreetMap contributors · Conserved land: USGS PAD-US

Natural hazards

Highland faces a low natural-hazard risk, led by cold waves

Expected storm and flood damage is lower than in 79% of U.S. communities.

21risk score of 100

FEMA risk score

Cold wavesInland flooding

Full pageHighland’s hazards pageOpen the page

What it facesLow risk Flood claims0 paid flood claims · No paid flood claims on record Past disasters8 disaster declarations · Declared for the county Get ready11 events a year, on average · Ready for cold waves

FEMA National Risk Index · OpenFEMA

Work & commute

With 0.1 jobs for every working resident, most of Highland’s workers commute out

Most working residents leave Highland for work: only 0% work in town. 12% of residents live below the poverty line in Highland. The top destinations are Superior (17%), Duluth (14%) and Solon Springs (7%).

0%work in town

	Highland	Wisconsin towns	U.S. towns
Below the poverty line	12%	6.4%	9.6%
Median household income	$75,000	$87,000	$80,000

Where working residents work

In Highland0%

Superior17%

Duluth14%

Solon Springs7%

Solon Springs5%

30 mi

median commute distance

jobs based in Highland

A commuter town

jobs vs. working residents

Full pageHighland’s work & commute pageOpen the page

The jobs here11 jobs based here · A commuter town Where people work0% work in Highland Commute times42 minutes · The average commute How far they goHalf commute less than 30 miles

Census LEHD 2023 · ACS

Who lives here

Older than Wisconsin overall

People 65 and older are 28% of residents (19% statewide); adults 18 to 34 are 15% of residents (22% statewide). Highland’s median age is 48.8 years. 30% of adults 25 and older have a bachelor’s degree or more, vs 33% across Wisconsin.

48.8median age · WI 40.2

	Highland	Wisconsin towns	U.S. towns
Aged 65 or older	28%	20%	18%
Median age	48.8 years	42.1 years	40.5 years
Under 18	19%	21%	22%

HighlandWisconsinUnited States

WIU.S.

Ages · share of residents

17%

Education · adults 25 and older

No diploma3%

High school34%

Some college16%

Associate’s17%

Bachelor’s21%

Graduate9%

Women and men · all residents

52% women, 48% men

That’s an even split within the survey’s margin of ±7.2 points. Across Wisconsin, 49.9% of residents are women.

Ages and education in Highland
	Highland	WI	U.S.
Under 10	11.2%	11.2%	11.6%
10 to 17	7.5%	10.2%	10.3%
18 to 24	8.8%	9.3%	9.1%
25 to 34	6.6%	12.6%	13.7%
35 to 44	8.6%	12.7%	13.2%
45 to 54	12.8%	11.8%	12.2%
55 to 64	17%	13.8%	12.7%
65 to 74	14.3%	11.2%	10.2%
75 and older	13.2%	7.3%	7%
No diploma	3%	6.4%	10.4%
High school	34%	29.4%	26%
Some college	15.5%	19.5%	19.1%
Associate’s	17.3%	11.3%	8.8%
Bachelor’s	20.7%	22%	21.6%
Graduate	9.4%	11.4%	14.1%

Full pageHighland by the numbersOpen the page

Ages48.8 median age · 28% are 65 or older Schooling30% have a four-year degree Homes99% own their home · Homeowners Income$75K a year · Median household income

U.S. Census Bureau · ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates · in a town of 300, single groups can be off by several points

Climate

In Highland, expect snowy winters and pleasant summers

Highland has cold, snowy winters and pleasant summers. July afternoons reach 79°, January nights drop to 2° and about 60 inches of snow falls in a winter.

60″snow a winter

Typical low → high °F

Winter5–24°

Spring28–51°

Summer53–76°

Fall34–53°

Sep 26

typical first frost

May 24

typical last frost

+1.7°

vs. the 20th-century average

Full pageHighland’s climate pageOpen the page

A year of weatherJuly highs 79°, January lows 2°Rain & snow60″ of snow a winter · 32 inches of rain and snow a year Heating & coolingMostly a heating bill Then and now+1.7° vs. the 20th century · Warmer than the 20th-century average

NOAA U.S. Climate Normals, 1991–2020

Health

More of Highland’s adults have high blood pressure than in the typical Wisconsin or U.S. town

40% of Highland adults have high blood pressure. Highland beats the Wisconsin average on 7 of 32 CDC measures and trails it on 8. 41% of Highland adults have obesity.