The Town FilesAshland, Nebraska
City in Saunders County · population 3,086 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $249,700
- Household income
- $89,408
- Jan low / Jul high
- 13° / 87°
- Snow a year
- 22 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 30
- Median age
- 36.1
Ashland is a city of 3,086 people in Saunders County, Nebraska. The median home is worth $249,700, above the typical Nebraska town ($154,800). It ranks better for retirees than 92% of Nebraska towns, more upscale than 89% of Nebraska towns, more of a college town than 85% of Nebraska towns.
How Ashland ranks
Percentile among Nebraska towns with at least 500 people on The Town Files lifestyle rankings. 50 is typical for the state; 90 means better than 90% of Nebraska towns.
Homes and cost of living
The median home in Ashland is worth $249,700, above the typical Nebraska town ($154,800). Homes cost about 2.8 times the median household income of $89,408, which is more affordable than 22% of Nebraska towns. Median rent is $866 a month. 72.6% of households own their home.
| Housing | Ashland | Typical Nebraska town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $249,700 | $154,800 |
| Median rent | $866 | $818 |
| Median household income | $89,408 | $66,320 |
| Home value ÷ income | 2.8× | 2.2× |
| Homeownership | 72.6% | 73.2% |
| Median year built | 1973 | 1963 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 1.4% | — |
Who lives in Ashland
| People | Ashland | Typical Nebraska town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 36.1 | 39.5 |
| Age 65 and over | 13.2% | 20.8% |
| Under 18 | 24.9% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 36.0% | 22.4% |
| Below the poverty line | 4.3% | 9.9% |
| Veterans | 8.0% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 5.8% | — |
| Work from home | 9.6% | 5.2% |
| Average commute | 26.5 min | 19.6 min |
| Homes with broadband | 95.8% | 87.8% |
Weather in Ashland
July highs average 87.2°F and January lows 13.3°F. About 32.3 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 22.1 inches of snow (typical Nebraska town: 28.6 in). Expect about 37 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 145 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
30 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Ashland since 1950, compared with 23 for the typical Nebraska town. 6 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F4, struck on April 25, 1957 about 0.1 miles from the town center. Tornadoes within 10 miles have caused 2 deaths and 21 injuries since 1950. The most recent was on May 17, 2026.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 73 times; the largest was 4.50 inches on April 27, 1989.
Severe weather in Saunders County since 1996
Saunders County has been included in 30 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for flood, tornado, hurricane.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| October 22, 2025 | Severe Storm | DR-4896: Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, And Flooding |
| May 21, 2025 | Winter Storm | DR-4868: Severe Winter Storm And Straight-Line Winds |
| October 21, 2024 | Severe Storm | DR-4838: Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Tornadoes, And Flooding |
| September 24, 2024 | Severe Storm | DR-4822: Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Tornadoes, And Flooding |
| August 20, 2024 | Severe Storm | DR-4808: Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Tornadoes, And Flooding |
Jobs and pay in Saunders County
Saunders County had 5,914 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $49,905 a year. Unemployment was 1.9% in 2023; in Ashland itself the ACS puts it at 2.9%.
Public schools in Ashland
4 public schools with 1,102 students, about 13.9 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| ASHLAND-GREENWOOD PRIMARY ELEMENTARY | PK-2 | 320 | 16.8 |
| ASHLAND-GREENWOOD HIGH SCHOOL | 9-12 | 283 | 12.3 |
| ASHLAND-GREENWOOD ELEMENTARY SCHOOL | PK-5 | 257 | 12.2 |
| ASHLAND-GREENWOOD MIDDLE SCHOOL | 6-8 | 242 | 15.1 |
Towns near Ashland
- Gretna, NE11.0 mi · 5,083 people · home $341,600
- Waverly, NE12.2 mi · 4,279 people · home $316,600
- Chalco, NE15.8 mi · 11,064 people · home $238,600
- Papillion, NE16.9 mi · 24,159 people · home $311,000
- Wahoo, NE17.7 mi · 4,818 people · home $243,600
- La Vista, NE18.6 mi · 16,746 people · home $260,900
- Valley, NE19.2 mi · 3,037 people · home $528,100
- Ralston, NE20.6 mi · 6,494 people · home $230,800
Ashland questions
Is Ashland, Nebraska a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Ashland scores better for retirees than 92% of Nebraska towns and quieter than 31%. 13.2% of residents are 65 or older (median age 36.1).
How much does a house cost in Ashland?
The median owner-occupied home in Ashland is valued at $249,700 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $89,408, so homes cost about 2.8 times income. Median rent is $866 a month.
What is the weather like in Ashland?
July highs average 87.2°F and January lows 13.3°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 32.3 inches of precipitation a year and 22.1 inches of snow.
Does Ashland get tornadoes?
30 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Ashland since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F4 on April 25, 1957. The typical Nebraska town has had 23.
- 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)