States › Alabama › Highland Lakes

Is Highland Lakes, AL expensive to live in?

CheapRent takes 8 cents of every $1 people earn here.
🏠 Rent per month (2026)$1,26428% lower than U.S. average
💵 Families earn per year (2026)$182,656about $15,221/month · 110% higher than U.S. average
🔑 House price$599,20080% higher than U.S. average

Rent is lower than in 72% of U.S. cities. That makes it a rare mix of above-average pay and below-average rent. A typical house costs about 3.3 years of household income. Commutes are long, about 30.3 minutes each way. Most homes (96.6%) are owned, so rentals can be hard to find. It is a highly educated city: 73.5% of adults have a college degree.

How much money do I need?

To rent here comfortably, you should earn about $50,560 a year. That is $24 an hour at a full-time job.

Is rent cheaper than other Alabama cities?

No. Rent here is more expensive than in most of Alabama. It is number 69 of 120 cities from cheapest to most expensive.

Highland Lakes
$1,264
Margaret
$1,175
Tarrant
$1,206
Monroeville
$607
Harvest
$1,301
Attalla
$782
Rainsville
$546

How much do households earn in Highland Lakes?

Under $25k
2.0%
$25k–50k
8.4%
$50k–100k
21.7%
$100k–150k
18.0%
$150k+
45.5%

Share of households by yearly income. 63.5% of households earn $100,000 or more.

How expensive is Highland Lakes overall?

Everyday prices in Alabama overall are 11% below the U.S. average (index 88.8, U.S. = 100).

Housing
62
Goods (food, clothes…)
96
Utilities
85
Other services
97
U.S. average
100

Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities 2024. City-level data is not published for Highland Lakes, so the Alabama figure is shown.

Taxes and bills in Highland Lakes

🏛️ Property tax$2,258a year · 0.38% of home value · U.S. $3,119
⚡ Electric bill$255a month (typical) · U.S. $156

Life in Highland Lakes

Commute to work30.3 minU.S.: 26.4 min
College degree73.5%U.S.: 35.7%
Own their home96.6%U.S.: 65.2%
Below poverty line4.1%U.S.: 12.5%
Unemployment1.7%U.S.: 5.2%

Is it cheaper to rent or buy in Highland Lakes?

Renting is cheaper right now: about $2,894 a month less.

Renting
$1,264
Owning
$4,158

Owning assumes a typical $599,200 home, 10% down, a 30-year loan at 6.5% and about 1.5% a year for taxes and insurance. You would also need $59,920 for the down payment.

Frequently asked questions

What is the average rent in Highland Lakes, AL?

Renting in Highland Lakes costs a median of about $1,264 a month in 2026, including utilities. The Alabama median is $1,175.

How much do I need to make to live in Highland Lakes?

To keep rent under 30% of income, you need about $50,560 a year, or $24 an hour at a full-time job.

Is Highland Lakes cheap or expensive?

Highland Lakes is rated Cheap: rent takes 8.3% of the typical household income of $182,656. It ranks 69th cheapest of 120 Alabama cities we track.

How much are property taxes in Highland Lakes?

The median homeowner in Highland Lakes pays $2,258 a year in property taxes, about 0.38% of the median home value.

Is Highland Lakes more expensive than the national average?

Overall prices in Alabama are 11% below the U.S. average, according to the U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis.

How much does a house cost in Highland Lakes?

The median home value in Highland Lakes is $599,200, about 3.3 times the typical yearly household income.

5,866 people live in Highland Lakes. Numbers are typical (middle) values.