Ashford is a small town of 2,476 in Alabama, with a median household income of $51,215
and a 3.8% unemployment rate.
Its cost of living index is 90 (US average = 100), which is
10% below the national average.
Strengths:
Ashford stands out for an affordable cost of living, below-average home prices, lower-than-average crime.
Trade-offs:
No major red flags stand out in the available data. Whether Ashford is right for you depends on your priorities — the full breakdown is below.
All Ashford city data on this page comes from official government sources —
the US Census Bureau, FBI, NCES, BEA, and NOAA — updated annually.
Cost of Living
Index: 90.5
Ashford's overall cost of living index is 90.5,
where 100 represents the US national average.
Living in Ashford costs roughly 10% less than the average American city.
Metric
Ashford, AL
National Avg
Median Home Value
$161,000
$244,900
Median Monthly Rent
$761
$1,163
Homeownership Rate
73.0%
65.9%
Median Household Income
$51,215
$74,755
Crime & Safety
Very Safe
Ashford's violent crime rate is 84.9 per 100,000 residents
— 78% lower than the national average of ~380 per 100,000.
Violent Crime
84.9 /100k
Property Crime
466.7 /100k
Vertical marker = national average. Source: FBI UCR Program.
Schools & Education
Ashford is served primarily by Houston County.
The student-to-teacher ratio is 17.8:1
(slightly above the national average of ~16:1).
Metric
Ashford, AL
National Avg
School District
Houston County
—
Elementary Schools
5
—
Middle Schools
3
—
High Schools
6
—
Student/Teacher Ratio
17.8:1
16:1
Bachelor's Degree or Higher
17.0%
35.4%
High School Diploma or Higher
84.2%
91.1%
Weather & Climate
Ashford sees average highs of 60.5°F in January
and 92.8°F in July,
with 57.6 inches of annual precipitation
and 0.1 inches of snow per year.
Ashford's cost of living index is 90, where 100 is the national average.
That makes Ashford roughly 10% less expensive than a typical US city — a meaningful affordability advantage.
The median home price is $161,000 and median rent is $761/month.
Ashford's violent crime rate is 84.9 per 100,000 residents — the national average is ~380 per 100,000. Property crime is 466.7 per 100,000 (national avg ~2,100). Data from the FBI Uniform Crime Reporting Program.
Public schools in Ashford are operated by Houston County.
The district has 5 elementary, 3 middle, and 6 high schools.
The student-to-teacher ratio is 17.8:1. 17.0% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Ashford, AL has a population of 2,476, a median household income of $51,215, and an unemployment rate of 3.8%.
It offers below-average costs of living, which stretches take-home pay further than in most American cities. Whether it's right for you depends on your priorities — use the compare tool above to stack it against another city you're considering.
Ashford averages 60.5°F in January and 92.8°F in July. Annual rainfall is 57.6 inches
with about 0.1 inches of snow per year.
Based on NOAA 30-year climate normals (1991–2020).
Ashford, AL is covered by 1 ZIP code: 36312.
The population of Ashford, Alabama is 2,476 with a median age of 37.8. Source: US Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.
Key numbers for living in Ashford: cost of living index 90 (100 = US average), median home $161,000, median household income $51,215, crime index 22 (100 = US average, lower is safer), schools rated C+. Whether these are benefits or drawbacks depends on where you're coming from — compare Ashford side by side with your current city to see the trade-offs.
