The typical owner-occupied home in Highlands is worth about $700,900, 2.4 times the North Carolina median of $288,900 and 2.1 times the national median of $332,700. Owners pay a median $2,714 a year in property taxes, about 0.39% of their home's value, lower than the North Carolina rate of 0.66%. The median household earns $71,509 a year, so the median home costs 9.8 times the median income (4.0 times for North Carolina). 67% of occupied homes here are lived in by their owners, and 42% of those owners still have a mortgage.
Highlands at a glance
| Highlands | North Carolina | U.S. | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $700,900 | $288,900 | $332,700 |
| Median property tax paid per year | $2,714 | $1,896 | $3,119 |
| Property tax as a share of value | 0.39% | 0.66% | 0.94% |
| Median household income | $71,509 | $72,388 | $80,734 |
| Homes lived in by their owners | 67% | 67% | 65% |
| Owner homes with a mortgage | 42% | 61% | 61% |
| Median monthly costs, owners with a mortgage | $1,939 | $1,631 | $1,963 |
| Those costs as a share of the owners' income | 18.7% | 19.4% | 21.0% |
| Median rent | $650 | $1,228 | $1,413 |
| Rent as a share of renters' income | 18.2% | 29.5% | 30.6% |
| Median year homes were built | 1981 | 1991 | 1980 |
| Vacant homes | 73.8% | 12.5% | 10.1% |
| Population | 1,074 | 10,730,404 | 334,922,499 |
What a typical home costs per month in Highlands
At this week's average 30-year rate of 7.11%, buying the median Highlands home of $700,900 with 20% down costs about $4,292 a month, including property taxes and insurance. With an FHA loan and 3.5% down, it's about $5,459, because the loan is bigger and FHA adds mortgage insurance.
Lenders usually want housing costs under about 28% of gross income, which means an income of roughly $183,936 for the 20%-down payment. That payment is 72% of the median Highlands household income of $71,509; at that income and 20% down, the 28% guideline points to a home of about $272,000.
The median rent here is $650 a month, so owning the median home costs about $3,642 a month more than renting, before you count the equity you build and any tax benefits.
| Down payment | $140,180 |
|---|---|
| Loan amount | $560,720 |
| Principal and interest | $3,772 |
| Property taxes (0.39% a year) | $228 |
| Homeowners insurance (our estimate, 0.5% a year) | $292 |
| PMI | $0 |
| Total per month | $4,292 |
Change the numbers in the calculator
| Down payment | $24,532 |
|---|---|
| Loan amount | $688,205 |
| Principal and interest | $4,630 |
| Property taxes (0.39% a year) | $228 |
| Homeowners insurance (our estimate, 0.5% a year) | $292 |
| FHA mortgage insurance | $310 |
| Total per month | $5,459 |
Change the numbers in the calculator
Questions about home buying in Highlands
What is the median home value in Highlands?
About $700,900 for owner-occupied homes, according to the Census Bureau's 2020–2024 American Community Survey.
How much are property taxes in Highlands?
Homeowners pay a median $2,714 a year, which is about 0.39% of the median home value. Your bill depends on your home's assessed value and local rates.
What income do you need to buy a home in Highlands?
For the median home with 20% down at 7.11%, the payment is about $4,292 a month. Keeping that under 28% of gross income takes about $183,936 a year.
More about Highlands
- Mortgage Refinance in Highlands
- Debt Relief in Highlands
- Home Equity Loans in Highlands
- Guides and quotes for mortgage refinance on our sister site, MortgageRefinance.com
Sources: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 2020–2024 5-year estimates; Freddie Mac Primary Mortgage Market Survey, week of November 12, 2026. Estimates for small places have wide margins of error. About our data