Highland receives the higher standardized Area Score. That reflects AreaProfile's weighting, not a judgment about which place is better to live in.
Signals
Highland
Mustang
Opportunity
59 · Top 43%
vs63 · Top 35%
Growth
68 · Top 19%
vs71 · Top 15%
Climate
71 · Top 46%
vs62 · Bottom 22%
Physical resilience
59 · Top 49%
vs54 · Bottom 46%
Housing affordability
100 · Top 8%
vs100 · Top 8%
Access
91 · Bottom 47%
vs99 · Top 14%
Economic stability
73 · Top 21%
vs66 · Top 38%
Measured values
| Metric | Highland | Mustang | Source period |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population | 10,262 | 22,192 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median household income | $82,551 | $87,844 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Per capita income | $46,008 | $40,177 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Population density | 1,434/sq mi | 1,852/sq mi | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median home value | $202,900 | $239,200 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median gross rent | $855 | $1,287 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Homeownership rate | 72.7% | 75.8% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Unemployment rate | 4.1% | 3.9% | June 2026 |
| Employment change (year over year) | -0.5% | -1.6% | June 2026 |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 35.8% | 27.1% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Poverty rate | 6.0% | 8.0% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Housing units permitted (12 months) | 79 | 118 | 12 months ending July 2026 |
| Permits per 1,000 residents | 7.7 | 5.3 | 12 months ending July 2026 |
| Permit change (year over year) | 393.8% | -13.2% | 12 months ending July 2026 |
| Average July high | 90°F | 93°F | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Average January low | 24°F | 27°F | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Annual precipitation | 43.4" | 36.4" | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Distance to major airport | 21 mi | 7 mi | NASR current cycle |
| Average commute | 29.5 min | 28.9 min | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median age | 41.8 | 39.1 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
A bolded value is the more favorable of the two where the metric has a clear direction. Metrics like population and density have no inherent better or worse and are shown unweighted.
Physical risk tradeoff
Highland
Elevated or high exposure: earthquake, hail.
Mustang
Elevated or high exposure: ice storm, hail.
Full profiles: Highland, IL · Mustang, OK · How this is calculated: methodology