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Highlands Ranch, CO Area Profile

Highlands Ranch, Colorado Area, CO

Cost of Living

A quick read on everyday affordability around Highlands Ranch, with the main cost drivers separated for scanning.

Composite Index

95.8

Grocery Index

9.1

Housing Index

8.6

Transportation Index

7.2

Cost of living summary
MetricValue
Composite cost index95.8
Grocery index9.1
Housing index8.6
Transportation index7.2

What to Watch

  • For Highlands Ranch, the useful affordability read is the mix of housing, utilities, and local income rather than one headline number.
  • Home values are elevated enough that taxes and financing terms can move the total cost.
  • Use Littleton, CO as a same-state comparison point before treating one CO value as typical.
View Colorado cost of living report

Utilities

Monthly utility patterns and baseline household costs for power, water, gas, and fuel.

Electric Rate Consumption

Monthly electric index
JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
222834456274485667826157

Water Consumption

Monthly water index
JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
664844363026343733554958

Gas Rate (CCF)

Monthly gas index
JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
283643526147556349455257
Everyday utility costs
MetricValue
Electricity rate$0.167/kWh
Gasoline price$3.28/gal
Water bill avg$48/mo
Gas rate$1.18/CCF
View Colorado utilities report

Demographics

Population, age mix, education, and income context for understanding the local community.

Population Age Pyramid

Age mix index
Age bandMaleFemale
0-96864
10-197571
20-348378
35-499290
50-6410097
65-748488
75+7279

Income Distribution

Income bracket index
BracketIndex
Under $35k72
$35k-$49k88
$50k-$74k100
$75k-$99k79
$100k+52

Annual Income Distribution

Median household$63,200
Per capita$33,900
Poverty rate9.8%
Community snapshot
MeasureEstimate
Population101,437
Median age41.4
Bachelor+66.8%

Schools

School performance and classroom context in a compact local snapshot.

Test Score Trends

Test score trend
201920202021202220232024
424851575964

Grocery Index

9.1

Housing Index

8.6

Transportation Index

7.2

Utility Index

7.9

School snapshot
IndicatorValue
Math proficiency53%
Reading proficiency58%
Student-teacher ratio14:1

Helpful Context

  • Year-to-year school figures can move more in smaller places, so compare Highlands Ranch with nearby districts too.
  • A single score rarely explains the full school picture for Highlands Ranch; program fit and attendance zones matter too.
  • Nearby city pages can help separate Highlands Ranch-specific signals from broader Colorado patterns.

Local Economy

A simple labor-market snapshot showing local job mix, wages, and workforce size.

Industry Job Types

Industry job mix
IndustryShareIndex
Manufacturing31%74
Agriculture26%64
Healthcare19%52
Retail14%39
Other Services10%31
Local economy snapshot
MetricValue
Unemployment3.9%
Median wage$155,847
Labor force264

Climate

Winter avg: 15 degrees F - Summer avg: 82 degrees F - Snowfall: 43 in

Local Takeaways

  • The labor market is comparatively tight, which can support local wage stability for Highlands Ranch and the surrounding Colorado labor market.
  • The median household income value is $155,847 when ACS data is available for this place.
  • Use the economy card with housing and taxes to judge whether Highlands Ranch works for a specific household budget.

Real Estate

Home values, property taxes, and rental context in one housing-focused snapshot.

Median Home Value Trend

Median home value trend
201920202021202220232024
$154k$161k$172k$181k$186k$189k

Property Tax Breakdown

  • County levy: 42%
  • School district: 34%
  • City/other: 24%
Housing and tax snapshot
IndicatorValue
Median home value$672,600
Median property tax paid$3,476
Estimated state sales tax rate7.39%
Rent (2-bed)$2,397/mo
View Colorado property tax report

Climate

A compact view of weather patterns and natural-risk context for the area.

Avg High (Jul)82°F
Avg Low (Jan)8°F
Humidity72%

Climate Snapshot

Reference
Now--
Condition--
Wind--
Today--

Climate context is provided for planning and comparison.

Climate snapshot
MeasureValue
Sunny days196
Annual snowfall43 in
NOAA hazard risk scoreModerate

Planning Notes

  • Use the climate panel as a planning screen for Highlands Ranch; property-specific exposure still needs local review.
  • Utility planning matters because electricity is in a moderate range, with usage habits driving the final bill.
  • Compare climate and insurance sections together before using Highlands Ranch as a relocation shortlist.

Insurance

Location-based risk and cost pressure signals that can affect insurance pricing.

Risk IndexModerate
Weather RiskMedium
Cost PressureLow
Insurance summary
IndicatorEstimate
Insurance cost index95
NOAA hazard risk scoreModerate
Primary local riskWinter weather

What Affects Rates

  • Insurance pricing for Highlands Ranch still depends on the address, structure age, roof condition, and carrier appetite.
  • Local claims history, coverage limits, deductibles, and property condition can outweigh broad CO averages.
  • Compare with Littleton, CO for a broader read on Colorado insurance pressure.
View Colorado insurance report

Highlands Ranch Facts

Fast factual reference points for Highlands Ranch, combining available ACS, EIA, and BLS signals.

Highlands Ranch, CO facts
FactValueSource context
Population101,437ACS place estimate
Median household income$155,847ACS household estimate
Median home value$672,600ACS housing estimate
Median age41.4ACS demographic estimate
Bachelor+ share66.8%ACS education estimate
Residential electric rate$0.167/kWhEIA state residential rate

Helpful Context

  • The utility fact uses the current state residential benchmark because electricity is in a moderate range, with usage habits driving the final bill.
  • City-specific ACS values are used when the place matches; state-level API values fill statewide measures.
  • Use these facts as a fast CO screen before checking address-level records or provider quotes.

Highlands Ranch Local Data Brief

This section is generated from cached city metrics and clearly labeled state-level benchmarks. It is meant to make the Highlands Ranch page less generic and more useful for comparing housing, income, utilities, taxes, insurance, demographics, and nearby alternatives.

Highlands Ranch, CO local metrics and source context
MetricValueHow to read it
Population101,437Highlands Ranch is treated as a mid-sized place for comparison.
Median household income$155,847Household income runs high enough that housing choice can dominate affordability.
Median home value$672,600Home values are elevated enough that taxes and financing terms can move the total cost.
Two-bedroom rent$2,397/moRent gives a renter-side affordability baseline beside owner costs.
Median property tax paid$3,476Property tax should be read with mortgage, insurance, and home value.
Residential electric rate$0.167/kWhThis is a state-level EIA benchmark, not a city utility quote.
Unemployment3.9%This is a state-level BLS labor-market benchmark.
Median age41.4Age mix can affect housing demand, commute needs, and school planning.
Bachelor+ share66.8%Education mix can help frame labor-market and school-context questions.

Affordability Summary

Population is 101,437, so Highlands Ranch should be compared with similar-size places before using broader Colorado averages. Median household income is $155,847, so the best affordability read for Highlands Ranch is income versus housing, taxes, utilities, and insurance together.

Median home value is $672,600, so ownership costs in Highlands Ranch should be checked with mortgage, property tax, insurance, and maintenance assumptions. Two-bedroom rent is $2,397/mo, so renters can compare Highlands Ranch against ownership costs and nearby rental markets.

Housing and Income Context

For Highlands Ranch, household income runs high enough that housing choice can dominate affordability. Home values are elevated enough that taxes and financing terms can move the total cost.

Use the home value, rent, and income fields together before deciding whether Highlands Ranch looks more favorable for renting, buying, or comparing with Littleton, CO.

Utility Cost Context

The residential electricity benchmark is $0.167/kWh, so Highlands Ranch households should treat usage, home size, heating, and cooling as the practical bill drivers. The electricity value shown for Highlands Ranch is a Colorado state-level EIA benchmark, so it should not be read as a local provider tariff.

For Highlands Ranch, utility planning is stronger when the electric benchmark is paired with home age, square footage, insulation, HVAC equipment, and household occupancy.

Property Tax Context

Median property tax paid is $3,476, so Highlands Ranch buyers should still verify parcel-specific tax records before budgeting. Parcel boundaries, exemptions, school districts, and reassessment rules can move the actual bill for a Highlands Ranch address.

Compare the property tax field with home value rather than reading it by itself; a lower tax bill can still pair with a different assessment base or exemption profile.

Insurance and Risk Context

Insurance costs in Highlands Ranch depend on address-level factors such as roof condition, structure age, coverage limits, claims history, deductible choice, and carrier underwriting.

Home value, tax burden, and insurance exposure should be reviewed together for Highlands Ranch, especially when comparing with Littleton, CO.

Population and Demographics

Median age is 41.4, so Highlands Ranch may have different school, commute, healthcare, and housing demand patterns than a statewide average. Bachelor+ share is 66.8%, so Highlands Ranch education context can be useful when reading labor-market and school sections.

Unemployment is 3.9%, so Highlands Ranch wage and job-market context should be compared with commute options and regional employment centers.

Nearby Colorado comparison pages
PlacePopulationHome valueElectric benchmark
Acres Green, CO2,709$540k$0.167/kWh
Littleton, CO45,092$597k$0.167/kWh
Columbine Valley, CO2,084$1,409k$0.167/kWh
Lone Tree, CO14,136$820k$0.167/kWh

Source Notes

  • City-specific Census ACS values are used when a matching place row exists in the cached city metrics file.
  • Electricity and unemployment fields are state-level EIA and BLS benchmarks, so they are labeled as planning context rather than city quotes.
  • The page should be used as a comparison screen before checking provider rates, parcel records, insurance quotes, school boundaries, and address-level details for Highlands Ranch.

Highlands Ranch Cost Drill-Down

This dashboard keeps the fast local overview on one page, while the linked category reports go deeper into one decision at a time. For Highlands Ranch, the strongest local signals in the current cache are population 101,437, median household income $155,847, median home value $672,600, rent $2,397/mo, property tax paid $3,476, and the Colorado residential electric benchmark $0.167/kWh.

Highlands Ranch category drill-down links and metric context
CategoryPrimary valueSecond valueWhy it matters here
Cost of living $155,847 $672,600 Highlands Ranch affordability is mostly a housing-versus-income read: household income runs high enough that housing choice can dominate affordability and home values are elevated enough that taxes and financing terms can move the total cost.
Utility costs $0.167/kWh $2,397/mo Highlands Ranch utility planning should pair the Colorado electric benchmark with home size, cooling load, appliance use, and occupancy.
Property taxes $3,476 $673k Highlands Ranch tax planning should compare the tax-paid field with home value, exemptions, assessment rules, and parcel-level records.
Insurance costs 41.4 66.8% Highlands Ranch insurance context should be read with housing age, replacement cost, roof condition, claim history, and nearby risk patterns.

Budget Fit

Highlands Ranch should be read as a mid-sized place where income, home value, rent, taxes, utilities, and insurance need to be checked together. Household income runs high enough that housing choice can dominate affordability, and home values are elevated enough that taxes and financing terms can move the total cost.

Monthly Bills

The electricity value on this page is a Colorado state-level EIA benchmark, not a city utility tariff. For Highlands Ranch, that benchmark becomes useful when paired with home square footage, cooling load, HVAC age, insulation, and household usage.

Ownership Costs

Median property tax paid is $3,476 and median home value is $672,600. That makes the ownership read stronger than a single price estimate because taxes, insurance, maintenance, and financing terms can move the real monthly cost.

Comparison Angle

Use Littleton, CO as a local comparison before using a broad CO average. The nearby table below keeps the comparison tied to home value, taxes, and electric benchmarks instead of alphabetical city links.

Labor and Demographics

Unemployment is 3.9%, median age is 41.4, and bachelor-plus share is 66.8%. These fields help frame school demand, commute patterns, wage fit, and service-provider availability around Highlands Ranch.

Source Discipline

City-specific ACS values are used where the place matches the cache. State-level EIA and BLS fields are labeled as benchmarks, so this page does not pretend those values are address-level or city-utility quotes.

Nearby comparison context for Highlands Ranch
PlaceDistanceHome valueProperty taxElectric benchmark
Acres Green, CO 4 mi $540k $2,506 $0.167/kWh
Littleton, CO 4 mi $597k $3,007 $0.167/kWh
Columbine Valley, CO 5 mi $1,409k $8,867 $0.167/kWh
Lone Tree, CO 5 mi $820k $4,518 $0.167/kWh
Greenwood Village, CO 6 mi $1,213k $6,270 $0.167/kWh

Data Freshness

This Highlands Ranch, Colorado dashboard was generated on 2026-06-18. The city metrics cache was refreshed on 2026-06-16; the nearby-city coordinate cache was refreshed on 2026-06-17.

  • City metrics: Census ACS place fields are city-specific where a matching place record exists.
  • State benchmarks: EIA electricity and BLS unemployment values are state-level context, not city provider tariffs or city labor surveys.
  • Nearby comparisons: Distance uses cached Census Gazetteer place coordinates when available.

Regional Data Explorer

Zoom out from Highlands Ranch to nearby cities, Colorado Area, and Colorado benchmarks.

Open Explorer

Benchmark Preview

Highlands Ranch 95.8
Home value
$189k
Property tax
$2,190
Electric rate
$0.154/kWh
County Avg 97.4
Home value
$178k
Property tax
$2,240
Electric rate
$0.158/kWh
CO Avg 101.2
Home value
$286k
Property tax
$3,180
Electric rate
$0.162/kWh

Local Service Cost Guides

Use these contractor-cost guides with the Highlands Ranch dashboard to compare local housing, utility, tax, climate, and repair-cost context.

Data note: City-profile values are local estimates for comparison and planning context.