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Living in
Ashland.
About
Life in Ashland
Living in Ashland puts you in a small city that actually feels manageable—about 19,000 people where you can run errands without wasting half your day, yet you're still close enough to Cleveland (66 miles) for jobs, culture, or a weekend escape. Housing is genuinely affordable by modern standards, with median home values around $157,900 and median rent at $893 a month, which means your paycheck actually stretches; the median household income sits at $60,029, and with a 4.7% unemployment rate, job opportunities exist, though you may find yourself commuting for certain career paths. The city has real institutional backbone—Ashland University and the Ashland Theological Seminary anchor the community intellectually and economically, and there's an actual hospital, solid schools, and five parks within city limits, plus the Cuyahoga Valley National Park is just 47 miles away if you want serious outdoor access without relocating.
Ashland at a Glance
Population, income, housing and more
Median Age
38.2 yrs
Poverty Rate
16.6%
Foreign-Born
1.6%
Broadband Internet
87.4%
of households
Population Growth
-2.5%
recent change · Census Bureau
Median household income
Demographics1.6% 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 (26.1%), and 1.3% of residents speak Spanish at home.
Under 18
20.3%
of residents
65 and Older
20.8%
of residents
Households with Kids
25.1%
anyone under 18
Living Alone
38.8%
of households
Married Couples
40.4%
of households
Avg Household Size
2.19
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 14% below OH average
Rent, home values, and income in Ashland
In Ashland, rent runs 14% below the OH average, and home values are 26% below the OH average.
Median rent (per month)
Median home value
Rent Burdened
39.4%
spending 30%+ of income on rent
Severely Rent Burdened
21.7%
spending 50%+
Median Property Tax
$1,519
per year, owner-occupied homes
Homeowners
63.0%
of occupied homes are owned
Typical Home Built
1959
median year built
Vacant Homes
10.0%
of housing units
Home Value Trend
Latest: $235,822 (September 2026)
Jobs & Economyunemployment about average for OH
Unemployment in Ashland
Unemployment in Ashland County, which includes Ashland, is close to the OH average.
Unemployment rate
Ashland: Ashland County rate (county-wide) · BLS annual average
Unemployment Rate — 10 Year Trend
Ashland County (county-wide) · Annual averages
What Ashland Residents Do for Work · share of employed residents by industry
City residents, wherever they work
Commute20.6 min avg
How Ashland residents get to work, and the nearest airports
In Ashland, most residents drive alone to work (79%), and 76% get there in under 30 minutes.
How People Get to Work
Commute Time Distribution
Nearest airports · with airline service
- 45 mi
Cleveland Hopkins International Airport (CLE)
Medium hub4.9M passengers boarded in 2025
- 107 mi
Detroit Metropolitan Wayne County Airport (DTW)
Major hub16.3M 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 41% below national average
Crime rates for 2025
Violent crime in Ashland runs 41% below the national average.
Violent Crime Rate
193
per 100,000 residents
Below average (329 national, 2025)
Property Crime Rate
1,393.5
per 100,000 residents
Below average (1,552 national, 2025)
Ashland Police Department
Natural DisastersThunderstorm Wind most common — 4 events in 2025
Natural hazard risk, storms and earthquakes
FEMA National Risk Index
Relatively Low
46.3 / 100
Compares expected losses from natural hazards, social vulnerability and community resilience against every US county (higher = more risk).
Ashland County, county-wide · FEMA NRI December 2025
In Ashland County, which includes Ashland, the most common type is thunderstorm wind, with 4 recorded events in 2025.
Most common events:
Storm events by year
| Year | Events | Top Type | Property Damage |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 4 | Thunderstorm Wind | None reported |
| 2024 | 3 | Hail | None reported |
| 2023 | 13 | Thunderstorm Wind | $499,200 |
| 2022 | 6 | Winter Storm | $18,000 |
| 2021 | 6 | Thunderstorm Wind | $115,000 |
| 2020 | 5 | Thunderstorm Wind | $106,000 |
| 2019 | 15 | Thunderstorm Wind | $489,000 |
| 2018 | 5 | Winter Storm | $266,000 |
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.
3 earthquakes of magnitude 2.5+ within 100 miles in the past year
Ashland County, county-wide
Air Quality43 median AQI — Good
Days by air quality category (2025)
Air quality in Medina County, OH (the nearest EPA-monitored county, about 28 miles from Ashland) is typically good — 249 good-air days per year.
Median AQI
43
Good Days
249
per year
Moderate Days
110
per year
Unhealthy Days
0
per year
Nearest EPA monitor county: Medina County, OH (28 mi away)
Climate81°F summers, 22°F winters
30-year climate averages (1991–2020) — monthly temperatures and precipitation
Ashland has warm summers (avg high 81°F) and cold winters (avg low 22°F).
Spring (Mar–May)
59°/39°F
avg high / low
Summer (Jun–Aug)
81°/61°F
avg high / low
Fall (Sep–Nov)
62°/43°F
avg high / low
Winter (Dec–Feb)
37°/22°F
avg high / low
Annual Precipitation
42.5"
Annual Snowfall
49.2"
Hot Days/Year
13
days above 90°F
Freeze Days/Year
140
days below 32°F
Rainy Days/Year
153
Average month
Show month-by-month table ↓Hide table ↑
| Month | High | Low | Precip |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 34°F | 19°F | 3.22" |
| Feb | 37°F | 21°F | 2.53" |
| Mar | 47°F | 29°F | 3.34" |
| Apr | 60°F | 39°F | 4.27" |
| May | 71°F | 50°F | 4.19" |
| Jun | 79°F | 59°F | 4.79" |
| Jul | 83°F | 62°F | 3.86" |
| Aug | 81°F | 61°F | 3.60" |
| Sep | 75°F | 54°F | 3.36" |
| Oct | 63°F | 43°F | 3.16" |
| Nov | 50°F | 33°F | 3.15" |
| Dec | 39°F | 25°F | 3.02" |
Healthcare1 hospital, avg 4.0/5
Hospitals, ratings, and health insurance in Ashland
Ashland has 1 hospital, averaging 4.0 out of 5 on CMS's quality rating — above-average care.
Hospitals
1
within city limits
Uninsured
5.1%
of residents
Avg Hospital Rating
4.0 / 5
University Hospitals Samaritan Medical Center
Acute Care Hospitals
Nearby hospitals · within 15 miles
Ohiohealth Mansfield Hospital
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available · 13.7 mi away · Mansfield
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.
Education19.1:1 student/teacher ratio
Schools and degree attainment in Ashland
Ashland's student/teacher ratio is 19.1:1 (higher than the national average of 16:1), and 23.8% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Public Schools
6
within city limits
Private Schools
2
within city limits
College Degree Rate
23.8%
adults 25+ with bachelor's or higher
Student/Teacher Ratio
19.1:1
National avg 16:1
Schools located within city limits (2023) — school-level metrics change slowly year to year
Colleges & Universities in Ashland
Private nonprofit · 4-year · 2,199 students · in-state tuition $33,220 · 57% graduate · median earnings $56,321 (10 yrs after entry)
Nearby Colleges (within 15 miles)
Public · 2-year · 1,273 students · in-state tuition $4,864 · 30% graduate · median earnings $44,213 (10 yrs after entry)
Ohio State University-Mansfield Campus
14.7 mi awayPublic · 2-year · 736 students · in-state tuition $9,772 · 18% graduate · median earnings $67,080 (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: Cuyahoga Valley National Park, 47 mi
Nearby national parks, recreation areas and public libraries for Ashland
Ashland has 5 nearby national parks or recreation areas, closest being Cuyahoga Valley National Park (47 mi away).
Nearby National Parks & Recreation Areas
Cuyahoga Valley National Park
National Park
47 mi awayFirst Ladies National Historic Site
National Historic Site
49 mi awayPerry's Victory & International Peace Memorial
Memorial
60 mi awayJames A Garfield National Historic Site
National Historic Site
74 mi awayRiver Raisin National Battlefield Park
National Battlefield Park
91 mi awayPublic Libraries in Ashland
Ashland Public Library
224 Claremont Ave., Ashland
Cities 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, Ohio affordable?⌄
Ashland's median rent is $893/month, which is below the national average, making it relatively affordable. The median household income is $60,029/year. Median home value is $157,900.
Is Ashland, Ohio safe?⌄
Ashland's violent crime rate was 193 per 100,000 residents in 2025, which is well below the national average — one of the safer cities in the country of 329/100k that year. Property crime rate is 1394 per 100,000. As with any city, crime rates vary by neighborhood.
What is the job market like in Ashland, Ohio?⌄
Ashland 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, Ohio?⌄
The cost of living in Ashland is primarily driven by housing. Median rent is $893/month and median household income is $60,029/year. The median home value is $157,900. About 39% of renters spend more than 30% of their income on housing.
How is the commute in Ashland, Ohio?⌄
The average commute in Ashland is 21 minutes, which is shorter 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