The Town FilesAshland, Ohio
City in Ashland County · population 19,225 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $157,900
- Household income
- $60,029
- Jan low / Jul high
- 19° / 83°
- Snow a year
- 41 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 16
- Median age
- 38.2
Ashland is a city of 19,225 people in Ashland County, Ohio. The median home is worth $157,900, below the typical Ohio town ($171,100). It ranks better for cycling than 97% of Ohio towns, better transit than 78% of Ohio towns, better for young professionals than 71% of Ohio towns.
How Ashland ranks
Percentile among Ohio towns with at least 500 people on The Town Files lifestyle rankings. 50 is typical for the state; 90 means better than 90% of Ohio towns.
Homes and cost of living
The median home in Ashland is worth $157,900, below the typical Ohio town ($171,100). Homes cost about 2.6 times the median household income of $60,029, which is more affordable than 53% of Ohio towns. Median rent is $893 a month. 63.0% of households own their home.
| Housing | Ashland | Typical Ohio town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $157,900 | $171,100 |
| Median rent | $893 | $914 |
| Median household income | $60,029 | $67,019 |
| Home value ÷ income | 2.6× | 2.6× |
| Homeownership | 63.0% | 71.7% |
| Median year built | 1959 | 1965 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.5% | — |
Who lives in Ashland
| People | Ashland | Typical Ohio town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 38.2 | 40.6 |
| Age 65 and over | 20.8% | 19.1% |
| Under 18 | 20.3% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 23.8% | 21.3% |
| Below the poverty line | 16.6% | 10.3% |
| Veterans | 6.5% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 1.6% | — |
| Work from home | 9.0% | 8.6% |
| Average commute | 20.6 min | 23.3 min |
| Homes with broadband | 87.4% | 90.9% |
Weather in Ashland
July highs average 82.8°F and January lows 19.1°F. About 42.5 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 40.9 inches of snow (typical Ohio town: 23.8 in). Expect about 8 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 124 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
16 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Ashland since 1950, compared with 16 for the typical Ohio town. 4 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an EF2, struck on April 14, 2019 about 9.2 miles from the town center. The most recent was on June 15, 2023.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 49 times; the largest was 2.25 inches on June 15, 2023.
Severe weather in Ashland County since 1996
Ashland County has been included in 12 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for other, tornado, hurricane.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| March 31, 2020 | Biological | DR-4507: Covid-19 Pandemic |
| March 13, 2020 | Biological | EM-3457: Covid-19 |
| June 30, 2012 | Severe Storm | EM-3346: Severe Storms |
| October 24, 2008 | Severe Storm | DR-1805: Severe Wind Storm Associated With Tropical Depression Ike |
| September 13, 2005 | Hurricane | EM-3250: Hurricane Katrina Evacuation |
Jobs and pay in Ashland County
Ashland County had 18,904 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $48,877 a year. Unemployment was 3.4% in 2023; in Ashland itself the ACS puts it at 3.8%.
Public schools in Ashland
13 public schools with 5,278 students, about 17.1 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ashland High School | 9-12 | 892 | 17.8 |
| Ashland Middle School | 6-8 | 710 | 15.4 |
| Reagan Elementary School | PK-3 | 559 | 26.6 |
| Taft Intermediate School | 4-5 | 472 | 26.2 |
| Edison Elementary School | K-3 | 437 | 19.9 |
| Ashland-W Holmes Career Center | 7-12 | 418 | 11.0 |
| Mapleton Elementary School | PK-5 | 390 | 21.7 |
| Crestview Elementary School | PK-4 | 364 | 22.8 |
| Crestview Middle School | 5-8 | 268 | 9.6 |
| Crestview High School | 9-12 | 260 | 15.3 |
| Mapleton High School | 9-12 | 229 | 13.5 |
| Mapleton Middle School | 6-8 | 192 | 19.2 |
Towns near Ashland
- Mansfield, OH13.2 mi · 47,534 people · home $119,600
- Loudonville, OH16.7 mi · 2,786 people · home $168,900
- Ontario, OH17.1 mi · 6,656 people · home $174,500
- Shelby, OH18.0 mi · 9,282 people · home $122,200
- Lexington, OH18.9 mi · 4,848 people · home $192,300
- Lodi, OH19.9 mi · 2,746 people · home $158,600
- Wellington, OH20.2 mi · 4,799 people · home $197,000
- Wooster, OH20.3 mi · 27,232 people · home $214,200
Ashland questions
Is Ashland, Ohio a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Ashland scores better for retirees than 46% of Ohio towns and quieter than 29%. 20.8% of residents are 65 or older (median age 38.2).
How much does a house cost in Ashland?
The median owner-occupied home in Ashland is valued at $157,900 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $60,029, so homes cost about 2.6 times income. Median rent is $893 a month.
What is the weather like in Ashland?
July highs average 82.8°F and January lows 19.1°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 42.5 inches of precipitation a year and 40.9 inches of snow.
Does Ashland get tornadoes?
16 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Ashland since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was an EF2 on April 14, 2019. The typical Ohio town has had 16.
- 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)