Community Guide
Highland, California: a quiet suburb at the mountain's edge
Highland sits at about 1,300 feet at the foot of the San Bernardino Mountains in San Bernardino County, a residential suburb of roughly 57,000 people. With citrus-town roots and mountain views, it offers a quieter, family-oriented pace.
Housing stock
The kinds of homes you will find in Highland
Highland is not one kind of market. From ranch-style originals to newer foothill subdivisions, the city has a home for just about every buyer.
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Ranch-Style Originals
Mid-century ranch homes on wide, quiet streets, many with citrus trees in the yard and the mountains rising behind.
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Newer Foothill Subdivisions
Newer foothill housing with scenic views and room to grow, a practical alternative to pricier neighborhoods.
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Mountain-View & Edge-of-Forest Living
Properties along the mountain edge take in the San Bernardino range, with the national forest and Glen Helen nearby.
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Starter & Family Homes
An affordable foothill market with a slower pace, close to Redlands, San Bernardino, and the freeway network.
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Not sure which fits you?
Julian Cesar can match the right housing type to your budget and your move. A short conversation beats a long search.
Talk it through
Market data
Market Data for Highland
A snapshot of the Highland market, with verified figures as they are confirmed and sources named on each card.
- Median Sale Price
- ~$561,000
- Down ~4% year over year
- Source: Redfin, Oct 2026
- Median List Price
- ~$575K
- What sellers are asking, tracked monthly
- Source: Aug 2026
- Median Price per Sq Ft
- ~$322
- The price per square foot trend for the city
- Source: Resideline, Sep 2026
- Median Days on Market
- ~56 days
- About 1 offer per home
- Source: Redfin, Oct 2026
- Homes Sold, Last Month
- ~41
- Monthly closed sales volume across the city
- Source: Resideline 6-mo avg, Sep 2026
- Active Listings
- ~185
- Current homes for sale in Highland today
- Source: Movoto, Aug 2026
Latest figures, verified and sourced
Median sale price and days on market above are drawn from Redfin's Highland market data, with the reporting period named on each card. Julian follows this market week to week and can pull current sale prices, inventory, and neighborhood detail on a short call, so you are never negotiating in the dark. Additional figures are added as they are verified.
Sources: Figures above are drawn from Redfin's Highland market data for the periods named on each card. Market figures change regularly and should be read as a directional guide, not a valuation.
Life in Highland
What it is actually like to live here
Highland grew up as a citrus town at the foot of the San Bernardino Mountains, and that heritage still shapes the streets: ranch-style homes, orange trees in the yards, and roughly 57,000 residents living at a quieter, family-oriented pace about 1,300 feet up.
The setting is the payoff. The national forest edge climbs out of town, Highland Community Park anchors the city center, Glen Helen Regional Park sits nearby, and the mountain views are the backdrop of nearly every street.
The trade is the commute. SR-210 runs through town for the drive west toward Pasadena or east into Redlands, with the I-15 interchange close by in Fontana. Buyers weigh that against more affordable foothill housing and a slower pace, close to Redlands and San Bernardino without their intensity. It is a place where people trade a little commute for a lot of mountain.
- Citrus heritage and a quiet, family-oriented pace
- The national forest and Glen Helen Regional Park nearby
- SR-210 access west and east, with I-15 a short drive away
Local resources
Real links for living in Highland
Parks, food, schools, and getting around, organized by what you are looking for and linked straight to the official sources where we have them.
Outdoors
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Highland Community Park
The city's hub park, with sports fields, playgrounds, and room for the whole family.
Visit website -
San Bernardino National Forest
The national forest edge climbs right out of town, with trails and mountain air minutes away.
Visit website -
Highland Parks & Facilities
City-run parks, sports fields, and facilities, from Mason Park to the splash pad, bookable through the rec desk portal.
Visit website
Dining & Shopping
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Taco Joe's Mexican Restaurant
Mexican plates on Highland Avenue with decades of local history.
Visit website -
Pepper Steak Restaurant
A neighborhood steak and home-cooking spot on Highland Avenue.
Visit website -
Jenny's Diner
A classic breakfast-and-lunch diner on Palm Avenue with a neighborhood crowd.
Visit website
Education
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San Bernardino City Unified School District
Serves the western part of Highland, including San Andreas High and Highland-area elementary schools.
Visit website -
Redlands Unified School District
Serves the eastern Highland area, with the two districts split roughly along City Creek.
Visit website -
San Bernardino Valley College
A community college in nearby San Bernardino serving the Highland area.
Visit website
Transportation
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SR-210 Through Town
SR-210 runs through Highland, linking west toward Pasadena and east to I-10 in Redlands, with the I-15 interchange nearby in Fontana.
Visit website -
Omnitrans
Bus routes across the San Bernardino Valley, including the Highland-San Bernardino loops.
Visit website -
Metrolink San Bernardino Downtown
Commuter rail terminus for the San Bernardino Line, minutes down the hill.
Visit website
Community calendar
Local events in Highland
Weekly and seasonal happenings in Highland, checked against official sources. Details change, so confirm on the linked pages before you head out.
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Wednesdays, 2 to 7 p.m. (year-round)
Highland Farmers Market
7863 Central Ave, at the San Bernardino County Highland Branch Library
A weekly market with local farmers, artisans and food vendors in partnership with the county library.
Official details
Dates and details change. Every event above links to the official city, venue or organizer page so you can confirm the latest before you go.
My thoughts
Julian's honest take on Highland
Highland is the foothill value play that buyers discover late. The streets are quiet, the mountain views are real, and the homes sit at prices that the closer-in suburbs have left behind. The one thing to get right is the school boundary, which can split street by street, so I always confirm the assignment before we shop.
My job is making sure you see every option clearly, then choosing the path that fits you. Honest advice, clear communication, and people before transactions. That is how I work, and it is how I would want to be treated in your shoes.
Julian Cesar
Search SoCal Real Estate
Realtor & Investor · CA DRE Lic. #02015349 · Compass
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Read MoreHighland Q&A
Highland questions, answered straight
Is Highland a good place to buy a home?
Highland is a quiet suburb at the mountain's edge in San Bernardino County, with ranch-style homes and the San Bernardino Mountains rising behind. It offers a slower pace while staying close to Redlands, San Bernardino, and the freeway network.
What is the commute like from Highland?
SR-210 runs through town, linking west toward Pasadena and east to I-10 in Redlands, with the I-15 interchange nearby in Fontana. The mountain-adjacent position keeps the commute options open.
What schools serve Highland?
Highland is served by the Redlands Unified and San Bernardino City Unified districts, split roughly by City Creek, with schools named California Distinguished Schools. School boundaries matter more than city lines, so match the property to the district.
Thinking about Highland?
Whether you are buying, selling, or just exploring, Julian Cesar can show you the Highland that the listings never capture, plus the wider Inland Empire, Orange County, and Los Angeles.