CensusEasy
COUNTY · 2020 ACS

Highland County

Virginia · 2,232 residents · 415.163 sq mi
Time machine
COMPARE TO
Compare
The short version

Highland County has lower-than-average household income, with a median household income of $51,831. Population has declined 12% since 2000. Median home value has more than doubled since 2000, reaching $161,000. With a median age of 58.4, the population is older than the US median of 38.8. Households here earn about 32% less than the Virginia median.

At a glance
Lower income
below the US median
US median: $66,278
Older
median age 58.4
US median: 38.8
Average education
31% hold a bachelor's degree
US average: 33%
Stable housing
home values roughly flat, inflation adjusted
US median home: $265,253
Section 01

Population & growth

Total population
2,232
−12%since 2000
from 2,536 in 2000
1990 – 2025
Median age
58.4
+27%since 2000
from 46.0 in 2000
US average: 38.8
Population, 1990 – 2024
2K2K2K3K3K1990201020202024Highland County
20242K
1990201020202024
Age distribution, 2020
Under 54.7%(105)
US avg: 5.6%
5 to 94.3%(95)
US avg: 6.1%
10 to 143.2%(71)
US avg: 6.5%
15 to 194.1%(91)
US avg: 6.6%
20 to 243%(66)
US avg: 6.7%
25 to 348.8%(197)
US avg: 13.5%
35 to 447.1%(158)
US avg: 12.7%
45 to 549.6%(215)
US avg: 12.3%
55 to 6420.6%(460)
US avg: 13.1%
65 to 7420.5%(458)
US avg: 10%
75 to 8411%(245)
US avg: 4.9%
85 and over3.2%(71)
US avg: 1.9%
BAR + DOT: THIS PLACE · TICK: US AVERAGE
Section 02

Income & economy

Median household income
$51,831
+16%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $29,732 in 2000
US average: $66,278
1990 – 2024
Per capita income
$30,911
+93%since 2000
from $15,976 in 2000
US average: $35,364
Households earning $100K+
31.4%
+7.7 ptssince 2009
from 23.7% in 2009
US average: 43.9%
Poverty rate
10.2%
−2.4 ptssince 2000
from 12.6% in 2000
US average: 12.8%
Workforce by industry, 2020
Wholesale trade10.5%
US avg: 6.7%
Information8.2%
US avg: 11.1%
Finance & insurance8.2%
US avg: 5.5%
Agriculture, forestry, fishing7.1%
US avg: 1.7%
Construction7.1%
US avg: 1.2%
Professional, scientific, technical6.3%
US avg: 4.7%
Arts, entertainment, food6.3%
US avg: 2%
Retail trade5.1%
US avg: 10%
Other services4.9%
US avg: 6.6%
Public administration2.3%
US avg: 4.7%
Education & health services1.8%
US avg: 0.8%
Transportation & warehousing1%
US avg: 2.5%
Manufacturing0%
US avg: 0.5%
BAR + DOT: THIS PLACE · TICK: US AVERAGE
Section 03

Housing

Median home value
$161,000
+22%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $88,000 in 2000
US average: $265,253
1990 – 2024
Median gross rent
$669
+31%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $339 in 2000
US average: $1,124
Owner-occupied
83.1%
−0.8 ptssince 2000
from 83.8% in 2000
16.9% rent
Afford Score
3.1
−17%since 2009
from 3.8 in 2009
2009 – 2024
Our index: median home value divided by median household income. Lower is more affordable.
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%
2020
White, non-Hispanic95.5%(2,132)
Black0.1%(2)
Hispanic / Latino1.6%(35)
Asian0.3%(6)
Other0.5%(10)

No data for the years selected.

Section 04 · Origins

Detailed origins & ancestry

Asian origin
Filipino3.3%(73)
Korean0.3%(7)
Ancestry
German19.1%(421)
English18.7%(411)
American11.9%(263)
Irish10.9%(239)
Scottish3.5%(76)
French2.1%(46)
Welsh1.3%(29)
Dutch1%(22)
Norwegian1%(22)
Italian0.6%(14)
Polish0.5%(12)
+ 6 more ancestry groups with data
Swiss0.5%(11)
Swedish0.4%(8)
Russian0.3%(7)
Slovak0.3%(7)
Canadian0.2%(4)
British0.1%(3)
RANKED:Largest German population · Largest English population · Largest American population · Largest Irish population · Largest Scotch-Irish population
Section 05

Education

Bachelor's degree or higher
30.7%
+17.5 ptssince 2000
from 13.2% in 2000
US average: 32.9%
High school or higher
89.9%
+17.1 ptssince 2000
from 72.8% in 2000
US average: 88.5%
Graduate degree
11.1%
+5.3 ptssince 2000
from 5.8% in 2000
US average: 12.7%
Section 06

Commute & transportation

Average commute
28.5 min
+22%since 2000
from 23.3 min in 2000
US average: 26.9
Drive alone to work
72.0%
−1.8 ptssince 2009
from 73.8% in 2009
US average: 75.1%
No vehicle available
4.0%
+1.2 ptssince 2009
from 2.7% in 2009
US average: 8.4%
Section 07

Work & employment

Unemployment rate
11.4%
+10.5 ptssince 2011
from 0.9% in 2011
US average: 5.4%
Labor force participation
45.2%
−7.4 ptssince 2011
from 52.6% in 2011
US average: 63.4%
Management & professional
36.0%
−21.4 ptssince 2009
from 57.4% in 2009
US average: 39.3%
Section 08

People & community

Male
43.1%
−5.8 ptssince 2009
from 48.9% in 2009
Female
56.9%
+5.8 ptssince 2009
from 51.1% in 2009
Foreign born
2.0%
+1.7 ptssince 2009
from 0.3% in 2009
US average: 13.5%
Uninsured
7.9%
−71.7 ptssince 2013
from 79.6% in 2013
US average: 8.8%
Marital status (2024)
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

Dolores County
Pop 2,466
Morton County
Pop 2,470
Elk County
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+8%
Home value$206,700+28%
Population4,076+76%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
HIGHLAND COUNTY VS
Pocahontas County
Income$42,119−19%
Home value$152,400−5%
Population7,602+228%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
HIGHLAND COUNTY VS
Pendleton County
Income$64,931+25%
Home value$183,800+14%
Population5,826+151%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
HIGHLAND COUNTY VS
Augusta County
Income$82,049+58%
Home value$306,100+90%
Population78,940+3306%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
Frequently asked

How many people live in Highland County, Virginia?

Highland County, Virginia has about 2,232 residents according to the 2020 American Community Survey.

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

The typical household in Highland County, Virginia earns about $51,831 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 $161,000, and the typical rent is about $669 a month.

How educated are people in Highland County, Virginia?

About 30.7% 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 10.2% 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 403 residents, a change of about -15 percent over that period.

Keep going

Explore from here

1 census tract
Census Tract 9701
6 ZIP codes
ZIP 24465ZIP 24487ZIP 24413ZIP 24458ZIP 24433ZIP 24442
Up the hierarchy
All counties in Virginia
Rankings
Highest income countiesLowest poverty counties

DATA: US CENSUS BUREAU ACS 5-YEAR + DECENNIAL CENSUS · UPDATED 2024

How we source and harmonize this data →