United States › Virginia › Highland County COUNTY
Highland County Virginia · 2,318 residents (2025 est.) · 415 sq mi
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The short version
Highland County is home to 2,296 people in Virginia. At a median age of 56.5, this is an older place than the country as a whole. Owners hold 89% of the housing stock. There are 6 people per square mile. 1% of residents were born outside the United States. Households here earn about 30% less than in Virginia as a whole.
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 from 2,536 in 2000
2,318 in 2025 (Census Bureau estimate)
from 6 / sq mi in 2009
US average: 281
from 46.0 in 2000
US average: 38.9
Population, 1990 – 2024
2K 2K 2K 3K 3K 1990 2000 2010 2020 2024 Highland County Age distribution, 2024
BAR + DOT: THIS PLACE · TICK: US AVERAGE
Section 02
Income & economy $65,625
+21%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $29,732 in 2000
US average: $82,259
from $15,976 in 2000
US average: $44,673
Households earning $100K+
from 23.7% in 2009
US average: 53.3%
from 12.6% in 2000
US average: 12.5%
from 0.413 in 2010
US average: 0.476
Workforce by industry, 2024
Agriculture, forestry, fishing 7.8%
Arts, entertainment, food 3.8%
Education & health services 2.4%
Public administration 2.2%
Professional, scientific, technical 2.1%
Transportation & warehousing 1.3%
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$200,000
+25%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $88,000 in 2000
US average: $376,019
$856
+39%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $339 in 2000
US average: $1,442
from 83.8% in 2000
11.1% rent
from 43.1% in 2009
US average: 10.0%
2.29 people
+10%since 2009
from 2.09 people in 2009
US average: 2.54
from 20.4% in 2009
US average: 22.9%
from 25.7% in 2009
US average: 47.4%
from 3.8 in 2009
Years of local income it takes to buy a local home, on a scale of about 0 to 15. Lower is more affordable.
Our index, 0 to 100. Higher means faster recent growth in incomes, home values, and college degrees.
Section 04
Race & ethnicity 2000
White, non-Hispanic 98.9%(2,507)
Hispanic / Latino 0.5%(13)
2024
White, non-Hispanic 94.9%(2,179)
from 5 in 2009
Our index, 0 to 100. Higher means a more even mix of racial and ethnic groups.
Section 04 · Origins
Detailed origins & ancestry Ancestry
+ 7 more ancestry groups with data from 13.2% in 2000
US average: 35.6%
High school or higher
from 72.8% in 2000
US average: 89.6%
from 5.8% in 2000
US average: 14.0%
Section 06
Commute & transportation from 23.3 min in 2000
US average: 26.5
from 73.8% in 2009
US average: 68.9%
from 5.9% in 2009
US average: 8.5%
from 1.2% in 2009
US average: 3.2%
from 12.4% in 2009
US average: 15.0%
from 6.4% in 2009
US average: 2.4%
from 0.0% in 2009
US average: 0.4%
from 2.7% in 2009
US average: 8.3%
Section 07
Work & employment from 0.9% in 2011
US average: 5.2%
from 52.6% in 2011
US average: 63.5%
Women 20-64 in the labor force
from 61.5% in 2020
US average: 74.6%
from 15.4% in 2009
US average: 13.1%
from 24.9% in 2009
US average: 42.5%
Section 08
People & community from 0.3% in 2009
US average: 14.1%
from 12.2% in 2009
US average: 6.2%
from 14.8% in 2012
US average: 13.3%
from 20.4% in 2013
US average: 8.4%
from 65.3% in 2017
US average: 91.0%
Computer in household
from 79.4% in 2020
US average: 95.5%
from 91.8% in 2020
US average: 87.7%
from 99.3% in 2016
US average: 77.7%
from 0.3% in 2016
US average: 13.6%
Marital status
SHARE WITHIN EACH SEX · POPULATION 15 AND OVER · 2024
Section 09
Health coverage from 20.4% in 2013
US average: 8.4%
from 36.2% in 2020
US average: 54.8%
Direct-purchase
from 21.1% in 2020
US average: 13.8%
from 43.6% in 2020
US average: 18.4%
from 15.7% in 2020
US average: 20.9%
VA health care
from 5.4% in 2020
US average: 2.2%
Any private
from 56.8% in 2020
US average: 67.1%
Any public
from 57.8% in 2020
US average: 36.7%
Shares are "alone or in combination": a person with both Medicare and Medicaid counts in each, so categories overlap and do not sum to 100%.
Section 09 · Service history
Veterans Veterans by period of service, 2024
Gulf War (2001 or later) 26.8%(41)
Share of the 153 veterans here. A veteran who served across eras counts in each, so shares can total more than 100%. Peacetime-only service is included in the total but not shown as an era.
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Drill deeper
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%
Population 4,076 +76%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
HIGHLAND COUNTY VS
Pocahontas County
Income $42,119 −36%
Home value $152,400 −24%
Population 7,602 +228%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
HIGHLAND COUNTY VS
Pendleton County
Income $64,931 −1%
Home value $183,800 −8%
Population 5,826 +151%
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HIGHLAND COUNTY VS
Augusta County
Income $82,049 +25%
Home value $306,100 +53%
Population 78,940 +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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