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COUNTY

Highland County

Virginia · 2,318 residents (2025 est.) · 415.163 sq mi
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Notable rankings
#19Highest homeownership rateof 3,14488.9%#39Oldest by median ageof 3,14456.5#113Most work-from-homeof 3,14421.1%
The short version

Highland County has lower-than-average household income, with a median household income of $65,625. Population has declined 9% since 2000. Median home value has more than doubled since 2000, reaching $200,000. With a median age of 56.5, the population is older than the US median of 38.9. Households here earn about 30% less than the Virginia median.

At a glance
Lower income
below the US median
US median: $82,259
Older
median age 56.5
US median: 38.9
Average education
31% hold a bachelor's degree
US average: 36%
Stable housing
home values roughly flat, inflation adjusted
US median home: $376,019
Section 01

Population & growth

Total population
2,296
−9%since 2000
from 2,536 in 2000
1990 – 2025
Population density
6 / sq mi
−4%since 2009
from 6 / sq mi in 2009
US average: 281
Median age
56.5
+23%since 2000
from 46.0 in 2000
US average: 38.9

PEP 2025 EST:2,318 residents (Census Bureau Vintage 2025, released March 2026)

Population, 1990 – 2024
2K2K2K3K3K1990201020202024Highland County
20242K
1990201020202024
Age distribution, 2024
Under 53%(68)
US avg: 5.6%
5 to 96.1%(139)
US avg: 6%
10 to 143.3%(75)
US avg: 6.4%
15 to 192.3%(53)
US avg: 6.6%
20 to 249.3%(213)
US avg: 6.5%
25 to 348.3%(190)
US avg: 13.7%
35 to 447.1%(162)
US avg: 13.2%
45 to 549.7%(223)
US avg: 12.2%
55 to 6416.3%(375)
US avg: 12.7%
65 to 7419.3%(444)
US avg: 10.2%
75 to 8410.2%(235)
US avg: 5.1%
85 and over5.2%(119)
US avg: 1.9%
BAR + DOT: THIS PLACE · TICK: US AVERAGE
Section 02

Income & economy

Median household income
$65,625
+21%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $29,732 in 2000
US average: $82,259
1990 – 2024
Per capita income
$34,453
+116%since 2000
from $15,976 in 2000
US average: $44,673
Households earning $100K+
42.2%
+18.5 ptssince 2009
from 23.7% in 2009
US average: 53.3%
Poverty rate
9.5%
−3.0 ptssince 2000
from 12.6% in 2000
US average: 12.5%
Income inequality (Gini)
0.371
−10%since 2010
from 0.413 in 2010
US average: 0.476
Workforce by industry, 2024
Wholesale trade16.2%
US avg: 6.9%
Agriculture, forestry, fishing7.8%
US avg: 1.6%
Construction6.9%
US avg: 1.2%
Information6.1%
US avg: 10.8%
Finance & insurance4.5%
US avg: 5.9%
Other services3.9%
US avg: 6.7%
Arts, entertainment, food3.8%
US avg: 1.9%
Education & health services2.4%
US avg: 0.9%
Public administration2.2%
US avg: 4.8%
Professional, scientific, technical2.1%
US avg: 5.1%
Retail trade1.6%
US avg: 9.9%
Transportation & warehousing1.3%
US avg: 2.2%
Manufacturing0.9%
US avg: 0.4%
BAR + DOT: THIS PLACE · TICK: US AVERAGE
Section 03

Housing

Median home value
$200,000
+25%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $88,000 in 2000
US average: $376,019
1990 – 2024
Median gross rent
$856
+39%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $339 in 2000
US average: $1,442
Owner-occupied
88.9%
+5.1 ptssince 2000
from 83.8% in 2000
11.1% rent
Vacancy rate
46.2%
+3.1 ptssince 2009
from 43.1% in 2009
US average: 10.0%
Owner cost-burdened
14.9%
−5.4 ptssince 2009
from 20.4% in 2009
US average: 22.9%
Renter cost-burdened
30.6%
+4.9 ptssince 2009
from 25.7% in 2009
US average: 47.4%
Afford Score
3.0
−19%since 2009
from 3.8 in 2009
2009 – 2024
Our index: median home value divided by median household income. Lower is more affordable.
Gentrification Score
44
Our index, 0 to 100. Higher means faster recent growth in incomes, home values, and college degrees.
RELATED:See current rent listings in Highland County on RentDataNow
Section 04

Race & ethnicity

2000
White, non-Hispanic98.9%(2,507)
Black0%(1)
Hispanic / Latino0.5%(13)
Asian0.1%(3)
Other0%
2024
White, non-Hispanic94.9%(2,179)
Black0%(0)
Hispanic / Latino0%(0)
Asian2.4%(55)
Other2.7%(62)
Diversity Score
12
+144%since 2009
from 5 in 2009
2009 – 2024
Our index, 0 to 100. Higher means a more even mix of racial and ethnic groups.
Section 04 · Origins

Detailed origins & ancestry

Asian origin
Filipino2.1%(49)
Korean0.3%(6)
Ancestry
German25%(573)
English21.3%(489)
Irish11.1%(256)
American9.8%(226)
Scottish2.1%(49)
Italian1.6%(36)
Dutch1.5%(35)
French1.2%(27)
Norwegian1%(24)
Scotch-Irish0.7%(15)
Czech0.5%(11)
Welsh0.3%(7)
+ 7 more ancestry groups with data
Polish0.2%(5)
Slovak0.2%(5)
Hungarian0.2%(4)
Russian0.2%(4)
Ukrainian0.2%(4)
British0.1%(2)
Swiss0.1%(2)
RANKED:Largest German population · Largest English population · Largest Irish population · Largest American population · Largest Filipino population
Section 05

Education

Bachelor's degree or higher
30.8%
+17.6 ptssince 2000
from 13.2% in 2000
US average: 35.6%
High school or higher
88.8%
+16.0 ptssince 2000
from 72.8% in 2000
US average: 89.6%
Graduate degree
10.2%
+4.4 ptssince 2000
from 5.8% in 2000
US average: 14.0%
Section 06

Commute & transportation

Average commute
27.4 min
+18%since 2000
from 23.3 min in 2000
US average: 26.5
Drive alone to work
69.5%
−4.2 ptssince 2009
from 73.8% in 2009
US average: 68.9%
Carpooled to work
6.2%
+0.2 ptssince 2009
from 5.9% in 2009
US average: 8.5%
Public transit
0.0%
−1.2 ptssince 2009
from 1.2% in 2009
US average: 3.2%
Worked from home
21.1%
+8.7 ptssince 2009
from 12.4% in 2009
US average: 15.0%
Walked to work
2.9%
−3.5 ptssince 2009
from 6.4% in 2009
US average: 2.4%
Biked to work
0.0%
Unchangedsince 2009
from 0.0% in 2009
US average: 0.4%
No vehicle available
5.1%
+2.4 ptssince 2009
from 2.7% in 2009
US average: 8.3%
Section 07

Work & employment

Unemployment rate
11.9%
+11.0 ptssince 2011
from 0.9% in 2011
US average: 5.2%
Labor force participation
52.3%
−0.3 ptssince 2011
from 52.6% in 2011
US average: 63.5%
Self-employed
24.2%
+8.8 ptssince 2009
from 15.4% in 2009
US average: 13.1%
Management & professional
41.6%
−15.8 ptssince 2009
from 57.4% in 2009
US average: 42.5%
Section 08

People & community

Male
45.2%
−3.7 ptssince 2009
from 48.9% in 2009
Female
54.8%
+3.7 ptssince 2009
from 51.1% in 2009
Foreign born
1.4%
+1.1 ptssince 2009
from 0.3% in 2009
US average: 14.1%
Veterans
7.8%
−42.4 ptssince 2009
from 50.2% in 2009
US average: 6.2%
With a disability
19.5%
+4.7 ptssince 2012
from 14.8% in 2012
US average: 13.3%
Uninsured
3.9%
−75.7 ptssince 2013
from 79.6% in 2013
US average: 8.4%
Broadband at home
77.0%
+11.7 ptssince 2017
from 65.3% in 2017
US average: 91.0%
English only at home
98.3%
−1.0 ptssince 2016
from 99.3% in 2016
US average: 77.7%
Spanish at home
0.4%
+0.1 ptssince 2016
from 0.3% in 2016
US average: 13.6%
Marital status
Men 15+
Never married20.4%(183)
Married62.3%(559)
Widowed2.5%(22)
Divorced14.8%(133)
Women 15+
Never married19.2%(215)
Married50.6%(565)
Widowed19.5%(218)
Divorced10.7%(119)
SHARE WITHIN EACH SEX · POPULATION 15 AND OVER · 2024
Drill deeper

Places similar to Highland County

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Pop 2,466
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Pop 2,470
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Pop 2,458
Rawlins County
Pop 2,431
Places similar to Highland County
Head to head

Compare Highland County to nearby counties

HIGHLAND COUNTY VS
Bath County
Income$56,184−14%
Home value$206,700+3%
Population4,076+76%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
HIGHLAND COUNTY VS
Pocahontas County
Income$42,119−36%
Home value$152,400−24%
Population7,602+228%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
HIGHLAND COUNTY VS
Pendleton County
Income$64,931−1%
Home value$183,800−8%
Population5,826+151%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
HIGHLAND COUNTY VS
Augusta County
Income$82,049+25%
Home value$306,100+53%
Population78,940+3306%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
Frequently asked

How many people live in Highland County, Virginia?

Highland County, Virginia has about 2,296 residents according to the 2024 American Community Survey.

What is the median household income in Highland County, Virginia?

The typical household in Highland County, Virginia earns about $65,625 a year. Half of households make more than that, and half make less.

Is Highland County, Virginia expensive?

In Highland County, Virginia, the median home is worth about $200,000, and the typical rent is about $856 a month.

How educated are people in Highland County, Virginia?

About 30.8% of adults age 25 and over in Highland County, Virginia hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

What is the poverty rate in Highland County, Virginia?

About 9.5% of people in Highland County, Virginia live below the federal poverty line.

Has Highland County, Virginia grown since 1990?

Yes, Highland County, Virginia has shrunk since 1990. The population has lost about 339 residents, a change of about -13 percent over that period.

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Explore from here

1 census tract
Census Tract 9701
6 ZIP codes
ZIP 24465ZIP 24487ZIP 24413ZIP 24458ZIP 24433ZIP 24442
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DATA: US CENSUS BUREAU ACS 5-YEAR + DECENNIAL CENSUS · UPDATED 2024

How we source and harmonize this data →

Highland County, Virginia: demographics, income & housing data · CensusEasy