The Town FilesAshland, Wisconsin
City in Ashland County · population 7,908 (2020 Census) · spans 2 counties
- Median home
- $176,400
- Household income
- $54,529
- Jan low / Jul high
- 4° / 78°
- Snow a year
- 97 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 4
- Median age
- 40.9
Ashland is a city of 7,908 people in Ashland County, Wisconsin. The median home is worth $176,400, below the typical Wisconsin town ($256,000). It ranks better transit than 98% of Wisconsin towns, hipper than 97% of Wisconsin towns, better for cycling than 97% of Wisconsin towns.
How Ashland ranks
Percentile among Wisconsin towns with at least 500 people on The Town Files lifestyle rankings. 50 is typical for the state; 90 means better than 90% of Wisconsin towns.
Homes and cost of living
The median home in Ashland is worth $176,400, below the typical Wisconsin town ($256,000). Homes cost about 3.2 times the median household income of $54,529, which is more affordable than 48% of Wisconsin towns. Median rent is $753 a month. 62.7% of households own their home.
| Housing | Ashland | Typical Wisconsin town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $176,400 | $256,000 |
| Median rent | $753 | $951 |
| Median household income | $54,529 | $82,217 |
| Home value ÷ income | 3.2× | 3.1× |
| Homeownership | 62.7% | 86.8% |
| Median year built | 1956 | 1978 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.2% | — |
Who lives in Ashland
| People | Ashland | Typical Wisconsin town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 40.9 | 45.1 |
| Age 65 and over | 21.0% | 21.0% |
| Under 18 | 18.1% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 29.5% | 23.8% |
| Below the poverty line | 17.8% | 7.2% |
| Veterans | 9.1% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 3.1% | — |
| Work from home | 9.6% | 10.9% |
| Average commute | 13.5 min | 24.6 min |
| Homes with broadband | 84.9% | 89.1% |
Weather in Ashland
July highs average 78.1°F and January lows 4.4°F. About 32.8 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 97.4 inches of snow (typical Wisconsin town: 45.7 in). Expect about 5 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 179 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
4 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Ashland since 1950, compared with 15 for the typical Wisconsin town. The strongest, an EF1, struck on July 18, 2020 about 9.2 miles from the town center. The most recent was on July 18, 2020.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 20 times; the largest was 3.00 inches on April 10, 2011.
Severe weather in Ashland County since 1996
Ashland County has been included in 14 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for flood, drought, tornado.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| April 4, 2020 | Biological | DR-4520: Covid-19 Pandemic |
| March 13, 2020 | Biological | EM-3454: Covid-19 |
| August 10, 2018 | Flood | DR-4383: Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, And Flooding |
| August 9, 2016 | Severe Storm | DR-4276: Severe Storms And Flooding |
| August 8, 2013 | Severe Storm | DR-4141: Severe Storms, Flooding, And Mudslides |
Jobs and pay in Ashland County
Ashland County had 7,940 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $50,101 a year. Unemployment was 3.7% in 2023; in Ashland itself the ACS puts it at 3.7%.
Public schools in Ashland
3 public schools with 1,574 students, about 14.3 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ashland High | 9-12 | 609 | 14.9 |
| Lake Superior Elementary | PK-5 | 599 | 13.0 |
| Ashland Middle | 6-8 | 366 | 15.9 |
Ashland questions
Is Ashland, Wisconsin a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Ashland scores better for retirees than 14% of Wisconsin towns and quieter than 9%. 21.0% of residents are 65 or older (median age 40.9).
How much does a house cost in Ashland?
The median owner-occupied home in Ashland is valued at $176,400 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $54,529, so homes cost about 3.2 times income. Median rent is $753 a month.
What is the weather like in Ashland?
July highs average 78.1°F and January lows 4.4°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 32.8 inches of precipitation a year and 97.4 inches of snow.
Does Ashland get tornadoes?
4 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Ashland since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was an EF1 on July 18, 2020. The typical Wisconsin town has had 15.
- 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)