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Advertise here →Highlands, NC · Houses & Market Data
Highlands, North Carolina houses and real estate market data.
Houses in Highlands, NC (Macon County) — Census median home value $666,300, county listing prices up about 2.6% over the past year. Market data for Highlands houses and the broader area.
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Highlands, NC is in Macon County, North Carolina — this guide covers houses in Highlands and the whole local market: resale homes, condos, land, and new construction. The most recent Census estimate puts the population at 1,276, with a median household income of $63,750. Census data puts the median value of houses in Highlands at $666,300.
Info from government sites and builders may have provided source info.
Market overview
Highlands housing market
Highlands is in Macon County, North Carolina. Manifest Census and county price-trend data provide baseline context for houses in Highlands and the surrounding county market.
Median home value (Census ACS)
$666,300
Population (Census ACS)
1,276
Median household income
$63,750
County price trend (2025)
2.61% YoY
Population, income, and median home value from the project batch manifest (Census ACS 2023 5-year). County price trend from FHFA county HPI when present in the manifest row.
At a glance
Highlands market snapshot
Population
1,276
County
Macon County
Median Household Income
$63,750
Median Home Value (city)
$666,300
Median Gross Rent
$905/mo
Price Trend (YoY)
+2.6%
Market data compiled from public sources; deemed reliable but not guaranteed; verify independently. See About
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What makes Highlands different
Home Value, By Source
The Census Bureau's American Community Survey (2023 5-year estimate) puts Highlands's median home value — across all owner-occupied homes, not just recent sales — at $666,300.
County Price Trend
Macon County's FHFA house price index shows a 2.61% annual change in 2025.
Population & Income
Highlands has an estimated population of 1,276 and a median household income of $63,750, per the Census Bureau's American Community Survey (2023 5-year estimate).
Affordability Snapshot
Highlands's Census-reported median home value works out to about 10.5x the area's median household income, and median gross rent runs roughly 17% of that same income on an annualized basis. Housing economists commonly flag a price-to-income ratio above 4x as historically elevated -- useful context, not a personal affordability verdict.
Nearby
Places around Highlands
County guide: Macon County — cities, market context, and local resources for the county that includes Highlands.
USAHouses.com also helps visitors looking in nearby Macon County and other North Carolina communities. Some locations may not yet have dedicated pages, but many licensed professionals in this region assist surrounding communities.
Nearby communities include Cashiers, Glenville, Forest Hills, Cullowhee, Webster, Dillsboro, Sylva, Whittier, Cherokee.
Cashiers market data
Nearby city · ~6.8 mi
Glenville market data
Nearby city · ~9.1 mi
Forest Hills market data
Nearby city · ~16.7 mi
Cullowhee market data
Nearby city · ~17.7 mi
Webster market data
Nearby city · ~20.5 mi
Dillsboro market data
Nearby city · ~22.1 mi
Sylva market data
Nearby city · ~22.2 mi
Whittier market data
Nearby city · ~27.8 mi
Cherokee market data
Nearby city · ~30.4 mi
More North Carolina cities with market guides: Winston-Salem, Fayetteville, Cary, Wilmington, High Point, Concord, Asheville, Greenville.
Winston-Salem market data
Same-state city guide
Fayetteville market data
Same-state city guide
Cary market data
Same-state city guide
Wilmington market data
Same-state city guide
High Point market data
Same-state city guide
Concord market data
Same-state city guide
Asheville market data
Same-state city guide
Greenville market data
Same-state city guide
Adjacent-county Census places with USAHouses.com pages: Franklin (~13.5 mi), Rosman (~22.3 mi), Bryson City (~29.4 mi), Brevard (~29.7 mi), Waynesville (~31.9 mi), Maggie Valley (~33.5 mi), Lake Junaluska (~35.3 mi), Clyde (~36.8 mi), West Canton (~38.4 mi), Canton (~38.9 mi).
New construction: New homes near Highlands (Charlotte) · New homes near Highlands (Greensboro) · North Carolina new construction.
Census & home facts
Highlands data from published sources
Population (ACS 2023)
1,276
Median home value (ACS 2023)
$666,300
Median household income (ACS 2023)
$63,750
Median gross rent (ACS 2023)
$905
County FHFA annual change (2025)
6.18%
Census place type
town
County
Jackson County
Land area (Census Gazetteer 2024)
6.25 sq mi
Census GEOID
3731360
Census ACS, FHFA, and FRED figures are labeled with the year present in existing CSVs. Subject to change / confirm locally.
NewUSAHouses.com communities
Closest verified new-home communities near Highlands
Availability and pricing are controlled by the builder and may change; confirm with the builder.
Windsor Estates ↗
Ryan Homes · Walhalla, South Carolina · ~18.5 mi · from $369,990
Airy Springs ↗
Dream Finders Homes · Walhalla, South Carolina · ~24.4 mi · from $275,900
Coopers Mill ↗
Ryan Homes · Westminster, South Carolina · ~26.7 mi · from $209,990
Heirloom Farms ↗
D.R. Horton · Westminster, South Carolina · ~28.4 mi · from $298,990
Concord Place ↗
Century Complete · Pickens, South Carolina · ~28.9 mi
Local life
Life in Highlands
Schools
Macon County Schools — 12 schools, 4,450 students enrolled, per the U.S. Department of Education's Common Core of Data. Macon addresses may be served by Macon County Schools, but attendance zones vary by street — confirm assigned schools with the district before making a move.
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Common questions
Highlands FAQ
What are houses worth in Highlands, NC?
The Census Bureau's American Community Survey puts the median value of houses in Highlands at $666,300.
How much do houses cost in Highlands, NC?
For owner-occupied houses in Highlands, Census ACS data shows a median value of $666,300. Active listing prices in Macon County may differ — see the market snapshot above.
What types of houses are in Highlands, NC?
Highlands houses include resale single-family homes, condos, mobile homes, and small multi-unit buildings, plus new construction in surrounding Macon County communities where builders are active. The housing-stock section below uses Census ACS structure counts when available for this city.
What is the population of Highlands, NC?
The U.S. Census Bureau's American Community Survey (2023 5-year estimate) puts Highlands's population at approximately 1,276.
What's the median rent in Highlands, NC?
The Census ACS estimates median gross rent in Highlands at approximately $905 per month.
What is the median household income in Highlands, NC?
Census ACS data puts the median household income in Highlands at approximately $63,750.
Is the Highlands housing market growing?
Macon County's FHFA house price index shows a 2.61% annual change in 2025.
Is Highlands, NC affordable relative to income?
Census ACS data puts Highlands's median home value at about 10.5 times the median household income, with median gross rent equal to roughly 17% of that income annually. This is a general benchmark, not a personal pre-qualification -- your own income, debt, and down payment determine what you can actually afford.
What school district serves Highlands, NC?
Manifest and public school-directory data suggest Macon County Schools for many Highlands addresses, but attendance zones vary by street — verify your assigned schools with the district before making a move.
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