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Living in
Ashland.
Ashland is an unincorporated community in Alameda County, CA. It has no city government: the county runs it, and the Census counts it as its own place.
About
Life in Ashland
Ashland is a community of 22,784 people in California. The median household income is $81,604, median rent runs about $2,110 per month, and median home values are around $775,800. The unemployment rate is 4.7%.
Ashland at a Glance
Population, income, housing and more
Median Age
35.6 yrs
Poverty Rate
16.4%
Foreign-Born
37.7%
Broadband Internet
94.5%
of households
Population Growth
-6.7%
recent change · Census Bureau
Median household income
Demographics37.7% foreign-born, most often from Mexico
Who lives in Ashland: race and ethnicity, ages, households, languages and countries of origin
In Ashland, the largest foreign-born group is from Mexico (35.7%), and 32.6% of residents speak Spanish at home.
Under 18
21.0%
of residents
65 and Older
11.7%
of residents
Households with Kids
36.2%
anyone under 18
Living Alone
23.0%
of households
Married Couples
34.2%
of households
Avg Household Size
2.90
people
Race & Ethnicity
Hispanic or Latino of any race; other groups are non-Hispanic
Top countries of origin (foreign-born)
Languages Spoken at Home
Cost of Livingrent about average for CA
Rent, home values, and income in Ashland
In Ashland, home values are 6% above the CA average.
Median rent (per month)
Median home value
Rent Burdened
58.5%
spending 30%+ of income on rent
Severely Rent Burdened
29.1%
spending 50%+
Cost of Living Index
115.6
metro area (BEA) · US avg = 100
Median Property Tax
$4,978
per year, owner-occupied homes
Homeowners
35.1%
of occupied homes are owned
Typical Home Built
1963
median year built
Jobs & Economyunemployment 0.8 pts below CA average
Unemployment in Ashland
Unemployment in Alameda County, which includes Ashland, is 0.8 percentage points lower than the CA average.
Unemployment rate
Ashland: Alameda County rate (county-wide) · BLS annual average
Unemployment Rate — 10 Year Trend
Alameda County (county-wide) · Annual averages
Ashland is about 1% of Alameda County’s population, so county-wide figures may differ from local conditions.
What Ashland Residents Do for Work · share of employed residents by industry
City residents, wherever they work
Commute32.7 min avg
How Ashland residents get to work, and the nearest airports
In Ashland, most residents drive alone to work (70%), and 50% get there in under 30 minutes.
How People Get to Work
Commute Time Distribution
Nearest airports · with airline service
- 6 mi
Oakland San Francisco Bay Airport (OAK)
Medium hub4.5M passengers boarded in 2025
- 15 mi
San Francisco International Airport (SFO)
Major hub26.3M passengers boarded in 2025
Straight-line distance. Size is the FAA’s hub category, based on passenger traffic: regional airports may have only a few flights a day.
Safetyviolent crime 37% above national average
Crime rates for 2025
Violent crime in the area policed by the Alameda County Sheriff's Office, which covers Ashland, runs 37% above the national average.
Violent Crime Rate
451.4
per 100,000 residents
Above average (329 national, 2025)
Property Crime Rate
1,413
per 100,000 residents
Below average (1,552 national, 2025)
Policed by Alameda County Sheriff's Office (county-wide rate)
Natural DisastersFlood most common — 12 events in 2025
Natural hazard risk, storms and earthquakes
FEMA National Risk Index
Very High
99.8 / 100
Compares expected losses from natural hazards, social vulnerability and community resilience against every US county (higher = more risk).
Alameda County, county-wide · FEMA NRI December 2025
In Alameda County, which includes Ashland, the most common type is flood, with 12 recorded events in 2025.
Most common events:
Storm events by year
| Year | Events | Top Type | Property Damage |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 12 | Flood | None reported |
| 2024 | 16 | Flood | $140 |
| 2023 | 16 | High Wind | $30 |
| 2022 | 13 | Strong Wind | None reported |
| 2021 | 18 | Strong Wind | None reported |
| 2020 | 21 | Strong Wind | None reported |
| 2019 | 36 | Flood | None reported |
| 2018 | 21 | Flood | None reported |
Property damage is the National Weather Service's estimate filed with each event. “None reported” means the events were logged with $0 damage; “Not estimated” means no estimate was filed. Storms covering several counties aren't counted here, since NOAA doesn't split their damage by county.
289 earthquakes of magnitude 2.5+ within 100 miles in the past year
Alameda County, county-wide
Ashland is about 1% of Alameda County’s population, so county-wide figures may differ from local conditions.
Air Quality49 median AQI — Good
Days by air quality category (2024)
Air quality in Alameda County, which includes Ashland, is typically good — 194 good-air days per year.
Median AQI
49
Good Days
194
per year
Moderate Days
171
per year
Unhealthy Days
0
per year
Alameda County, county-wide
Ashland is about 1% of Alameda County’s population, so county-wide figures may differ from local conditions.
Climate75°F summers, 44°F winters
30-year climate averages (1991–2020) — monthly temperatures and precipitation
Ashland has mild summers (avg high 75°F) and mild winters (avg low 44°F).
Spring (Mar–May)
67°/50°F
avg high / low
Summer (Jun–Aug)
75°/57°F
avg high / low
Fall (Sep–Nov)
72°/53°F
avg high / low
Winter (Dec–Feb)
60°/44°F
avg high / low
Annual Precipitation
16.0"
Annual Snowfall
0.0"
Hot Days/Year
9
days above 90°F
Freeze Days/Year
1
days below 32°F
Rainy Days/Year
59
Average month
Show month-by-month table ↓Hide table ↑
| Month | High | Low | Precip |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 59°F | 43°F | 2.91" |
| Feb | 62°F | 45°F | 3.11" |
| Mar | 64°F | 47°F | 2.35" |
| Apr | 67°F | 50°F | 1.20" |
| May | 69°F | 52°F | 0.58" |
| Jun | 74°F | 55°F | 0.15" |
| Jul | 75°F | 57°F | 0.00" |
| Aug | 76°F | 58°F | 0.10" |
| Sep | 77°F | 58°F | 0.08" |
| Oct | 74°F | 54°F | 0.81" |
| Nov | 65°F | 47°F | 1.51" |
| Dec | 59°F | 43°F | 3.20" |
Healthcare
Hospitals, ratings, and health insurance in Ashland
Uninsured
8.1%
of residents
No hospitals inside Ashland's limits — nearest hospitals · within 15 miles
Willow Rock Center
Psychiatric · 1.2 mi away · San Leandro
Eden Medical Center
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available · 1.5 mi away · Castro Valley
Kaiser Foundation Hospital - San Leandro
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available · 3.1 mi away · San Leandro
Adult Health · vs. the typical US place
Share of adults. Modeled estimates, not counted cases. “US” = the typical US place.
Medicare-certified hospitals only. Doesn’t include clinics, urgent care, or freestanding ERs.
Education22.0:1 student/teacher ratio
Schools and degree attainment in Ashland
Ashland's student/teacher ratio is 22.0:1 (higher than the national average of 16:1), and 20.8% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Public Schools
5
within city limits
Private Schools
3
within city limits
College Degree Rate
20.8%
adults 25+ with bachelor's or higher
Student/Teacher Ratio
22.0:1
National avg 16:1
Schools located within city limits (2023) — school-level metrics change slowly year to year
Colleges Near Ashland (within 15 miles)
University of California-Berkeley
14.6 mi awayPublic · 4-year · 33,068 students · in-state tuition $17,198 · 94% graduate · median earnings $100,212 (10 yrs after entry)
California State University-East Bay
4.1 mi awayPublic · 4-year · 9,809 students · in-state tuition $7,993 · 69% graduate · median earnings $73,868 (10 yrs after entry)
Public · 2-year · 6,842 students · in-state tuition $1,258 · 20% graduate · median earnings $42,812 (10 yrs after entry)
Public · 2-year · 4,487 students · in-state tuition $1,258 · 21% graduate · median earnings $47,627 (10 yrs after entry)
Public · 2-year · 4,456 students · in-state tuition $1,258 · 21% graduate · median earnings $48,574 (10 yrs after entry)
Saint Mary's College of California
10.1 mi awayPrivate nonprofit · 4-year · 1,947 students · in-state tuition $59,769 · 75% graduate · median earnings $83,501 (10 yrs after entry)
Degree-granting colleges with 100+ students, placed by campus location (main campuses only — branch campuses are reported under their parent school)
Parks & Recreationclosest: Eugene O'Neill National Historic Site, 10 mi
Nearby national parks, recreation areas and public libraries for Ashland
Ashland has 8 nearby national parks or recreation areas, closest being Eugene O'Neill National Historic Site (10 mi away).
Nearby National Parks & Recreation Areas
Eugene O'Neill National Historic Site
National Historic Site
10 mi awayAlcatraz Island
National Park Site
19 mi awaySan Francisco Maritime National Historical Park
National Historical Park
19 mi awayJohn Muir National Historic Site
National Historic Site
20 mi awayRosie the Riveter WWII Home Front National Historical Park
National Historical Park
20 mi awayFort Point National Historic Site
National Historic Site
21 mi awayPresidio of San Francisco
National Park Site
21 mi awayPort Chicago Naval Magazine National Memorial
National Memorial
25 mi awayCities Near Ashland
The closest cities within 60 miles
Planning a move to Ashland?
Read our full moving guide — what it's really like to live here.
Ashland FAQ
Is Ashland, California affordable?⌄
Ashland's median rent is $2,110/month, which is significantly above the national average. The median household income is $81,702/year. Median home value is $775,800.
Is Ashland, California safe?⌄
Ashland is policed by the Alameda County Sheriff's Office, whose violent crime rate across its service area was 451 per 100,000 residents in 2025, which is above the national average of 329/100k that year. Property crime rate is 1413 per 100,000. As with any city, crime rates vary by neighborhood.
What is the job market like in Ashland, California?⌄
Alameda County, which includes Ashland, has an unemployment rate of 4.7%, which is close to the national average of 4.3%.
What is the cost of living in Ashland, California?⌄
The cost of living in Ashland is primarily driven by housing. Median rent is $2,110/month and median household income is $81,702/year. The median home value is $775,800. About 59% of renters spend more than 30% of their income on housing.
How is the commute in Ashland, California?⌄
The average commute in Ashland is 33 minutes, which is longer than average compared to the national average of 26 minutes.
Data from the US Census Bureau, BLS, FBI, NOAA, EPA, Zillow Research and other public sources. Where our data comes from