City profile
Highland, CA
Orange County · Population 56,675
Highland is a city in Orange County, CA with about 56,675 residents and a typical home value near $486,000. It is 41 miles from Palm Springs, CA, which shapes its climate, healthcare access and amenities.
Climate
Climate type
Dry desert
Winter avg
58°F
Summer avg
92°F
Sunny days / yr
350
Home prices & cost of living
Median home price
$485,600
Typical monthly housing
$2,925
Cost of living (100 = U.S.)
113
Taxes
- Property tax
- 0.71%
- State income tax (top)
- 13.3%
- Social Security
- Not taxed
- Pensions
- Taxed
- Sales tax (state + avg. local)
- 8.85%
FEMA natural hazard risk
Very High · county score 100/100
Top hazards: Landslide, Wildfire, Riverine flooding
Nearest major airport
4 mi to San Bernardino International Airport (SBD)
Political lean (2024 county vote)
Competitive / purple · 50% Democratic / 47% Republican
Community
Population
56,675
Black population
6.2%
County
Orange County
Detailed crime figures are available for our 201 hand-researched cities.
2025–2026 trends
2026 market trends
- ▸More retirees are leaving CA than arriving, mostly over cost
- ▸Home insurance is very expensive or hard to get here — get quotes before you buy
- ▸Home prices are softening in 2026 — more room to negotiate
- ▸Climate/cost risks to check: wildfire, earthquakes
Highlights
- About 56,675 residents
- Typical home value about $486,000
- 41 miles from Palm Springs, CA
Trade-offs
- Scores for this place are estimated from Census data and the nearest major city
Figures are estimates from public sources (see How we match). Verify before making decisions.