Highland
Foothill city at the base of the San Bernardino Mountains — home to Yaamava' Resort & Casino, East Highlands Ranch, and direct Highway 330 access to Big Bear
Why People Move Here
Highland sits at the base of the San Bernardino Mountains northeast of the city of San Bernardino, combining established suburban foothill living with a major regional entertainment anchor: Yaamava' Resort & Casino at San Manuel, owned and operated by the Yuhaaviatam of San Manuel Nation, the only AAA Five-Diamond casino hotel in the United States. East Highlands Ranch — a nearly built-out master-planned community of 2,500+ homes — anchors the foothill slope, while the Greenspot Road corridor along SR-210 hosts the city's newest retail expansion (anchored by a 46,000 sqft Stater Bros. at Greenspot Crossings). Median home prices run $506K-$598K depending on source (Redfin $561K Nov 2025, -4.1% YoY; Movoto $598K April 2026), with new construction $400K-$650K from D.R. Horton's Vista Verde at Mediterra and Richmond American. Highway 330 provides the shortest route from the Inland Empire floor to Big Bear Lake, making Highland a rare SoCal suburb with one-drive access to both major shopping (Citrus Plaza in Redlands, 10 min east) and year-round mountain recreation.
Key Statistics
Data sourced from census records, school district reports, and local transit authorities.
Commute Times
School Districts
Redlands Unified School District (RUSD)
A-- 19,773 students K-12, 21:1 student-teacher ratio
- 44% math proficiency, 57% reading proficiency
- Elementary schools rated B to A- on Niche
- Redlands East Valley High School (Mentone-adjacent): 1,866 students, 20:1 ratio, #14 in San Bernardino County, average SAT 1170 / ACT 23, 92% graduation rate
San Bernardino City Unified School District (SBCUSD)
C+- 44,712 students K-12, 21:1 student-teacher ratio
- 18% math proficiency, 33% reading proficiency
- Individual school ratings vary — some schools rate B
FAQ — Highland
What is the commute from Highland to downtown Los Angeles?
Highland is about 65 miles east of downtown LA, a ~68-minute drive off-peak and 90-120 minutes during rush hour via SR-210, I-210, and I-10. The car-free option is the Metrolink San Bernardino Line from the San Bernardino Transit Center (about a 10-minute drive from Highland) to LA Union Station, an ~87-minute ride. Arrow commuter rail (opened October 2022) connects SBTC east to Redlands, and sbX Bus Rapid Transit provides additional local connections.
What schools serve Highland, CA?
Highland is split across two unified school districts. Redlands Unified School District (RUSD) serves eastern Highland, including East Highlands Ranch, and feeds Redlands East Valley High School — a school with 1,866 students, a 20:1 student-teacher ratio, Niche ranking #14 in San Bernardino County, average SAT 1170 / ACT 23, and a 92% graduation rate. San Bernardino City Unified School District (SBCUSD) serves western Highland with 44,712 students district-wide and mixed per-school Niche grades. Because the boundary runs through the city, verify enrollment eligibility by address before any home purchase decision.
What is the housing market like in Highland, CA?
As of late 2025 / early 2026, Redfin reports a median sale price of $561K (November 2025, -4.1% year over year). Zillow's typical home value sits around $506K (-2.9% YoY), and Movoto's April 2026 median list price is $598K at about $287 per sqft. New construction ranges $400K-$650K, with active projects including D.R. Horton's Vista Verde at Mediterra (2,319-3,172 sqft homes with a multi-gen floorplan option) and Richmond American Homes. East Highlands Ranch on the foothill slope sits at the higher end. Verify current listings on Redfin and Zillow before making decisions.
What is Yaamava' Resort & Casino?
Yaamava' Resort & Casino at San Manuel, located at 777 San Manuel Blvd in Highland, is owned and operated by the Yuhaaviatam of San Manuel Nation (the Serrano people; 'Yaamava'' is the Serrano word for 'spring'). It is one of the top 10 largest casino resorts in the United States — 7,000 slot machines, 150 table games, five high-limit rooms, a 17-floor 432-room hotel (the only AAA Five-Diamond casino hotel in the US), a full-service spa, and the 3,000-seat Yaamava' Theater with a 3,800 sqft stage hosting major touring artists. With 4,300+ team members, it is among the largest private employers in the Inland Empire.
How do I get to Big Bear from Highland?
Highland has the most direct route from the Inland Empire floor to the San Bernardino Mountains via State Route 330. The drive from Highland to Big Bear Lake runs approximately 55 minutes: SR-330 north out of Highland into the foothills, through Running Springs (junction with SR-18), then east on SR-18 to Big Bear — 17 miles past Running Springs. The corridor also serves Green Valley Lake, Arrowbear, and Lake Arrowhead. The San Bernardino National Forest covers this entire stretch with 42 campgrounds, hundreds of miles of trails, and four winter recreation resorts.
What are the crime statistics in Highland, CA?
Per NeighborhoodScout data (2023 FBI UCR, released October 2024), Highland has an overall crime rate of approximately 21 per 1,000 residents, placing it higher than 66% of California cities but near the middle of the pack for similarly sized US cities. The chance of becoming a crime victim is roughly 1 in 48. Motor vehicle theft is elevated relative to the national average (roughly 1 in 319 chance). Policing is provided by the San Bernardino County Sheriff's Department under contract. Verify current statistics via the Sheriff's Department and the FBI UCR directly.
What outdoor recreation is available in Highland?
Highland sits at the foothill interface with the San Bernardino National Forest, giving residents direct access to hundreds of miles of mountain trails via SR-330 (Running Springs, Green Valley Lake, Big Bear Lake). Within the city, Highland is crossed by the Santa Ana River Trail — a multi-use paved trail that runs 50 miles from the San Bernardino Mountains to the Pacific coast — as well as the East Highlands Ranch private trail network. TrailLink lists 45+ trails totaling ~341 miles accessible from Highland. Highland Community Park is the main central green space, and Glen Helen Regional Park (home to the 65,000-capacity Glen Helen Amphitheater) is ~15 minutes away.
What healthcare and accessibility options are in Highland?
St. Bernardine Medical Center (Dignity Health) in adjacent San Bernardino is the nearest acute-care hospital at ~10 minutes, with a full emergency department. Loma Linda University Medical Center — a Level I trauma center, academic medical campus, and children's hospital — is ~15 minutes southeast. Redlands Community Hospital is ~12 minutes east and Arrowhead Regional Medical Center (Colton) is ~20 minutes southwest. Multiple urgent cares operate along Base Line, Highland Ave, and Greenspot Road corridors. Highland has 4 senior-living communities listed on SeniorHousingNet (verify HOPA 55+ age-restriction status directly per property), and the broader San Bernardino Valley hosts many additional options.
Compare Communities
Other communities in Central SB.