The Town FilesAshland, Kentucky
City in Boyd County · population 21,625 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $125,000
- Household income
- $52,715
- Jan low / Jul high
- 23° / 85°
- Snow a year
- 6 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 13
- Median age
- 40.7
Ashland is a city of 21,625 people in Boyd County, Kentucky. The median home is worth $125,000, below the typical Kentucky town ($161,450). It ranks more walkable than 94% of Kentucky towns, hipper than 86% of Kentucky towns, more vibrant than 81% of Kentucky towns.
How Ashland ranks
Percentile among Kentucky towns with at least 500 people on The Town Files lifestyle rankings. 50 is typical for the state; 90 means better than 90% of Kentucky towns.
Homes and cost of living
The median home in Ashland is worth $125,000, below the typical Kentucky town ($161,450). Homes cost about 2.4 times the median household income of $52,715, which is more affordable than 78% of Kentucky towns. Median rent is $872 a month. 60.4% of households own their home.
| Housing | Ashland | Typical Kentucky town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $125,000 | $161,450 |
| Median rent | $872 | $837 |
| Median household income | $52,715 | $54,969 |
| Home value ÷ income | 2.4× | 3.0× |
| Homeownership | 60.4% | 63.5% |
| Median year built | 1965 | 1974 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 1.1% | — |
Who lives in Ashland
| People | Ashland | Typical Kentucky town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 40.7 | 39.1 |
| Age 65 and over | 19.2% | 18.1% |
| Under 18 | 21.8% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 24.8% | 19.8% |
| Below the poverty line | 22.4% | 18.0% |
| Veterans | 8.7% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 1.8% | — |
| Work from home | 7.5% | 7.5% |
| Average commute | 20.9 min | 22.2 min |
| Homes with broadband | 87.7% | 88.6% |
Weather in Ashland
July highs average 85.4°F and January lows 22.5°F. About 46.7 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 6.2 inches of snow (typical Kentucky town: 9.4 in). Expect about 35 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 125 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
13 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Ashland since 1950, compared with 19 for the typical Kentucky town. 4 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F3, struck on April 8, 1965 about 6.2 miles from the town center. The most recent was on April 2, 2024.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 71 times; the largest was 2.50 inches on July 23, 1962.
Severe weather in Boyd County since 1996
Boyd County has been included in 33 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for flood, tornado, hurricane.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| January 24, 2026 | Winter Storm | EM-3633: Severe Winter Storm |
| April 3, 2025 | Severe Storm | EM-3626: Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Tornadoes, And Flooding |
| February 24, 2025 | Severe Storm | DR-4860: Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Flooding, Landslides, And Mudslides |
| February 16, 2025 | Severe Storm | EM-3624: Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Flooding, And Landslides |
| May 22, 2024 | Severe Storm | DR-4782: Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Tornadoes, Landslides, And Mudslides |
Jobs and pay in Boyd County
Boyd County had 25,992 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $59,231 a year. Unemployment was 5.6% in 2023; in Ashland itself the ACS puts it at 7.7%.
Public schools in Ashland
21 public schools with 6,253 students, about 12.8 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Boyd County High School | 9-12 | 928 | 15.7 |
| Paul G. Blazer High School | 9-12 | 879 | 13.5 |
| Ashland Middle School | 6-8 | 665 | 15.1 |
| Boyd County Middle School | 6-8 | 620 | 13.2 |
| Summit Elementary School | K-5 | 444 | 12.0 |
| Hager Elementary School | K-5 | 341 | 14.8 |
| Fairview High School | 6-12 | 299 | 11.1 |
| Crabbe Elementary School | K-5 | 298 | 13.5 |
| Oakview Elementary School | K-5 | 296 | 11.4 |
| Poage Elementary School | K-5 | 282 | 11.3 |
| Cannonsburg Elementary School | K-5 | 247 | 8.2 |
| Fairview Elementary School | PK-5 | 244 | 11.1 |
Towns near Ashland
- Westwood, KY2.4 mi · 4,387 people · home $92,200
- South Point, OH4.4 mi · 3,836 people · home $184,000
- Russell, KY4.6 mi · 3,744 people · home $211,900
- Kenova, WV5.2 mi · 3,033 people · home $109,000
- Ironton, OH5.4 mi · 10,571 people · home $106,700
- Flatwoods, KY6.4 mi · 7,325 people · home $114,600
- Huntington, WV11.9 mi · 46,842 people · home $127,200
- Pea Ridge, WV17.8 mi · 6,602 people · home $188,500
Ashland questions
Is Ashland, Kentucky a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Ashland scores better for retirees than 14% of Kentucky towns and quieter than 11%. 19.2% of residents are 65 or older (median age 40.7).
How much does a house cost in Ashland?
The median owner-occupied home in Ashland is valued at $125,000 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $52,715, so homes cost about 2.4 times income. Median rent is $872 a month.
What is the weather like in Ashland?
July highs average 85.4°F and January lows 22.5°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 46.7 inches of precipitation a year and 6.2 inches of snow.
Does Ashland get tornadoes?
13 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Ashland since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F3 on April 8, 1965. The typical Kentucky town has had 19.
- U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates (2020–2024)
- U.S. Census Bureau, 2020 Census and 2025 Gazetteer (2020 / 2025)
- NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals (1991–2020)
- NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database (1950–2026)
- FEMA OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations (this product uses the FEMA OpenFEMA API but is not endorsed by FEMA) (1953–2026)
- NCES Common Core of Data (2023–24)
- BLS Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages; USDA ERS county unemployment (BLS LAUS) (2000–2024)
- The Town Files lifestyle rankings, built from federal demographic, school, crime and housing data (2025)