Population 15,137 · Census ACS 2020–24
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Population and households in Highland Park
Household size in Highland Park
| Period | Highland Park | New York area | New Jersey | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 2.43 | 2.79 | 2.77 | 2.68 |
| 2010–14 | 2.53 | 2.85 | 2.82 | 2.73 |
| 2015–19 | 2.45 | 2.82 | 2.78 | 2.71 |
| 2020–24 | 2.51 | 2.79 | 2.76 | 2.65 |
| Change | +0.08 | −0.00 | −0.01 | −0.03 |
The average household in Highland Park has 2.51 people, a bit under the U.S. average of 2.65. Household size has crept up from 2.43 in 2006–10, even as the national average fell. Households are largest in the northeast and smallest in the northwest.
Household size: the average number of people living in each occupied home. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25010).
Median age in Highland Park
| Period | Highland Park | New York area | New Jersey | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 36.3 | 38.0 | 39.1 | 37.7 |
| 2010–14 | 33.9 | 38.7 | 40.0 | 38.6 |
| 2015–19 | 36.4 | 39.8 | 41.0 | 39.6 |
| 2020–24 | 36.4 | 40.4 | 40.9 | 40.1 |
| Change | +0.1 | +2.4 | +1.8 | +2.3 |
Highland Park is younger than the country as a whole: its median age is 36.4, against 40.1 nationally. Only 30 of the 415 New Jersey cities with 5,000+ people are younger.
Median age: the age that splits residents into two equal halves. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B01002).
Single-parent households in Highland Park
| Period | Highland Park | New York area | New Jersey | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 6.3% | 13.1% | 11.6% | 12.3% |
| 2010–14 | 9.9% | 12.8% | 11.8% | 12.3% |
| 2015–19 | 8.4% | 11.4% | 10.8% | 11.6% |
| 2020–24 | 9.2% | 11.6% | 11.3% | 11.6% |
| Change | +2.9 pts | −1.5 pts | −0.4 pts | −0.6 pts |
Single parents head nearly one in ten households in Highland Park (9.2%), below the national share of 11.6%. The single-parent share has risen 2.9 points since 2006–10, even as the national share fell.
Single-parent households: households where one adult with no spouse present lives with children under 18. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B11003).
Housing in Highland Park
Renters in Highland Park
| Period | Highland Park | New York area | New Jersey | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 52.6% | 47.1% | 33.1% | 33.3% |
| 2010–14 | 58.5% | 48.7% | 35.0% | 35.6% |
| 2015–19 | 58.3% | 48.8% | 36.1% | 36.0% |
| 2020–24 | 59.7% | 48.6% | 36.2% | 34.8% |
| Change | +7.1 pts | +1.5 pts | +3.1 pts | +1.5 pts |
Most households in Highland Park rent: 59.7% of occupied homes are rented, far above the national share of 34.8%. Expect more apartments, and more turnover, than in owner-heavy areas. About four in ten owners (39.7%) have paid off their mortgages, about the same as nationally. The renter share is up 7.1 points from 2006–10, a much bigger shift than nationally.
Renters: occupied homes that are rented rather than owned. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25003).
Vacant homes in Highland Park
| Period | Highland Park | New York area | New Jersey | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 6.4% | 9.1% | 9.1% | 11.4% |
| 2010–14 | 7.0% | 9.0% | 9.3% | 11.4% |
| 2015–19 | 8.1% | 9.1% | 9.3% | 11.1% |
| 2020–24 | 4.9% | 7.9% | 6.6% | 9.6% |
| Change | −1.4 pts | −1.2 pts | −2.5 pts | −1.8 pts |
Empty homes are scarce in Highland Park: just 4.9% sit vacant, compared with 9.6% nationally, a sign of a tight housing market. Since 2006–10, vacancy has edged down 1.4 points, as it has nationally.
Vacant homes: homes with no one living in them, including vacation homes and homes for sale or rent. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25002).
Age of homes in Highland Park
| Period | Highland Park | New York area | New Jersey | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 1954 | 1957 | 1965 | 1974 |
| 2010–14 | 1953 | 1958 | 1966 | 1975 |
| 2015–19 | 1955 | 1959 | 1967 | 1977 |
| 2020–24 | 1959 | 1962 | 1969 | 1980 |
| Change | +5 | +5 | +5 | +6 |
The housing in Highland Park is old by national standards: the median home dates to 1959, against 1980 for the U.S., so buyers will find more older houses, some of them due for updates. The median year built has moved up from 1954 in 2006–10, a sign of steady new building. Newer construction is concentrated in the northwest, while the south has the oldest housing.
Age of homes: the year that splits the housing stock into older and newer halves. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25035).
Rent in Highland Park
| Period | Highland Park | New York area | New Jersey | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | $1,163 | $1,268 | $1,246 | $965 |
| 2010–14 | $1,272 | $1,377 | $1,324 | $1,040 |
| 2015–19 | $1,457 | $1,645 | $1,522 | $1,213 |
| 2020–24 | $1,875 | $2,060 | $1,896 | $1,571 |
| Change | +$711 | +$792 | +$651 | +$606 |
The median renter in Highland Park pays $1,875 a month for rent and utilities, above the national median of $1,571. Still, rents here are lower than in the wider New York area ($2,060). Rent has climbed $711 a month since 2006–10, up 61%, roughly in step with the nation. Rent takes 27.6% of the typical renter's income, just under the 30% mark often used to define affordable rent.
Rent: monthly rent plus the utilities renters pay themselves. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25064).
Education in Highland Park
Bachelor's degrees in Highland Park
| Period | Highland Park | New York area | New Jersey | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 63.5% | 35.0% | 34.7% | 28.4% |
| 2010–14 | 64.5% | 36.7% | 36.4% | 29.6% |
| 2015–19 | 71.5% | 39.9% | 39.6% | 32.1% |
| 2020–24 | 71.2% | 43.6% | 43.4% | 35.6% |
| Change | +7.8 pts | +8.6 pts | +8.6 pts | +7.2 pts |
Highland Park is highly educated: about seven in ten adults 25 and older (71.2%) hold at least a bachelor's degree, far above the national share of 35.6%. The share with a degree has risen 7.8 points since 2006–10, mirroring the country. College graduates are most concentrated in the west and least in the east.
Bachelor's degrees: adults 25 and older with a bachelor's degree or higher. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B15003).
High school graduates in Highland Park
| Period | Highland Park | New York area | New Jersey | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 94.6% | 83.7% | 87.0% | 84.9% |
| 2010–14 | 95.0% | 84.6% | 88.1% | 86.1% |
| 2015–19 | 96.2% | 86.2% | 89.5% | 87.7% |
| 2020–24 | 93.6% | 86.9% | 90.2% | 89.3% |
| Change | −1.1 pts | +3.3 pts | +3.2 pts | +4.3 pts |
High school completion in Highland Park is above the national rate: 93.6% of adults have a diploma or equivalent, against 89.3%. The share with a diploma is down 1.1 points from 2006–10, even as the national rate rose.
High school graduates: adults 25 and older with a high school diploma, GED or more. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B15003).
Jobs in Highland Park
| Period | Highland Park | New York area | New Jersey | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 5.5% | 7.9% | 7.9% | 8.1% |
| 2010–14 | 9.7% | 9.5% | 9.8% | 9.4% |
| 2015–19 | 5.3% | 5.7% | 5.6% | 5.6% |
| 2020–24 | 4.4% | 6.9% | 6.4% | 5.4% |
| Change | −1.0 pts | −0.9 pts | −1.5 pts | −2.7 pts |
Unemployment in Highland Park runs below the national rate: 4.4% of the labor force was out of work and looking, against 5.4% nationally. Since 2006–10, unemployment has edged down 1.0 points, mirroring the country. Each figure pools five years of surveys (2020–24), so it describes that whole stretch rather than today's job market.
Unemployment: people looking for work as a share of everyone working or looking. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B23025).
Highland Park compared with nearby cities
| City | Household size | Median age | Single parents | Renters | Vacant homes | Median year built | Median rent | Bachelor's degree | High school diploma | Unemployment |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Highland Park | 2.51 | 36.4 | 9.2% | 59.7% | 4.9% | 1959 | $1,875 | 71.2% | 93.6% | 4.4% |
| New Brunswick | 3.27 | 28.1 | 24.5% | 77.6% | 7.7% | 1964 | $1,821 | 27.7% | 67.8% | 7.5% |
| East Franklin | 3.46 | 32.5 | 25.0% | 53.7% | 3.0% | 1974 | $2,038 | 27.0% | 80.5% | 5.3% |
| Milltown | 2.80 | 41.9 | 10.7% | 14.8% | 6.0% | 1963 | $1,452 | 46.7% | 95.3% | 3.8% |
| Piscataway | 2.98 | 37.0 | 8.0% | 37.4% | 6.6% | 1976 | $2,154 | 55.7% | 92.0% | 7.9% |
| Edison | 2.88 | 41.0 | 6.9% | 39.4% | 4.1% | 1974 | $2,080 | 60.2% | 92.4% | 6.1% |
| Somerset | 2.48 | 43.3 | 8.7% | 26.6% | 4.0% | 1985 | $2,281 | 59.0% | 94.1% | 4.9% |
| South River | 2.90 | 37.9 | 14.4% | 34.0% | 5.0% | 1968 | $1,613 | 27.9% | 87.9% | 7.8% |
| North Brunswick | 2.86 | 38.9 | 12.3% | 42.7% | 3.4% | 1979 | $2,021 | 44.6% | 85.7% | 7.1% |
| Metuchen | 2.87 | 41.1 | 5.8% | 24.4% | 5.4% | 1962 | $2,175 | 61.0% | 95.2% | 5.9% |
| East Brunswick | 3.04 | 41.6 | 7.9% | 20.6% | 4.1% | 1972 | $2,208 | 58.4% | 93.1% | 4.6% |
All figures 2020–24.
Cities with similar populations: Keansburg, NJ · San German, PR · Rutherfordton, NC · Roma, TX · Rathdrum, ID · Leon Valley, TX · Lake Wylie, SC · Lake Villa, IL · Lake Ronkonkoma, NY · Killen, AL
About these numbers
Every figure on this page is a BestNeighborhood calculation from the Census Bureau's American Community Survey (ACS), built up from the Census block groups that make up Highland Park. Each ACS 5-year release pools five years of responses; this page shows the last 15 releases, 2006–10 through 2020–24. Neighboring releases share four of their five years, so they move gradually and small changes between them are within the survey's margin of error; in small places the lines can jump from one release to the next for the same reason. The maps show the same measures for each neighborhood, ranked against the whole country.
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