What are the schools like in Ashland, AL?

Ashland is served primarily by Clay County. The district operates 2 elementary schools, 1 middle schools, and 2 high schools with a student-to-teacher ratio of 16.4:1.

What is the median household income in Ashland?

The median household income in Ashland, AL is $30,850 according to the most recent US Census American Community Survey 5-year estimates. The unemployment rate is 8.9%.

What is the weather like in Ashland, AL?

Ashland has an average high temperature of 54.9°F in January and 89.8°F in July. Annual precipitation averages 59.7 inches and annual snowfall averages 1.6 inches.

Ashland, AL Cost of Living, Crime & Is It a Good Place to Live? (2026)

Q: Is Ashland, AL affordable or expensive?

Ashland's cost of living index is 83, where 100 represents the national average. This means Ashland is 17% less expensive than the average US city. The median home value is $117,800 and the median rent is $379 per month.

Q: What is the crime rate in Ashland, AL?

Ashland has a violent crime rate of 778.0 incidents per 100,000 residents and a property crime rate of 2385.9 per 100,000. The national average violent crime rate is approximately 380 per 100,000.

Is Ashland, AL a Good Place to Live?

Ashland is a small town of 1,674 in Alabama, with a median household income of $30,850 and a 8.9% unemployment rate. Its cost of living index is 83 (US average = 100), which is 17% below the national average.

Strengths: Ashland stands out for an affordable cost of living, below-average home prices, short average commutes.

Trade-offs: Potential downsides include a higher-than-average crime index, an elevated unemployment rate. Whether Ashland is right for you depends on your priorities — the full breakdown is below.

All Ashland 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: 83.4

Ashland's overall cost of living index is 83.4, where 100 represents the US national average. Living in Ashland costs roughly 17% less than the average American city.

Metric	Ashland, AL	National Avg
Median Home Value	$117,800	$244,900
Median Monthly Rent	$379	$1,163
Homeownership Rate	51.5%	65.9%
Median Household Income	$30,850	$74,755

Crime & Safety

Higher than Average

Ashland's violent crime rate is 778.0 per 100,000 residents — 105% higher than the national average of ~380 per 100,000.

Violent Crime

778.0 /100k

Property Crime

2385.9 /100k

Vertical marker = national average. Source: FBI UCR Program.

Schools & Education

Ashland is served primarily by Clay County. The student-to-teacher ratio is 16.4:1 (slightly above the national average of ~16:1).

Metric	Ashland, AL	National Avg
School District	Clay County	—
Elementary Schools	2	—
Middle Schools	1	—
High Schools	2	—
Student/Teacher Ratio	16.4:1	16:1
Bachelor's Degree or Higher	16.0%	35.4%
High School Diploma or Higher	78.0%	91.1%

Weather & Climate

Ashland sees average highs of 54.9°F in January and 89.8°F in July, with 59.7 inches of annual precipitation and 1.6 inches of snow per year.

Metric	Ashland, AL
Average High — January	54.9°F
Average High — July	89.8°F
Annual Precipitation	59.7"
Annual Snowfall	1.6"

Demographics

Metric	Ashland, AL	National Avg
Population	1,674	—
Median Age	42.0	38.9
Unemployment Rate	8.9%	3.7%
Avg Commute Time	22.2 min	26 min
White (non-Hispanic)	72.7%	59.3%
Black or African American	22.0%	13.6%
Hispanic or Latino	4.9%	18.9%
Asian	0.0%	6.3%
Under 18	21.1%	22.2%
65 and over	20.0%	16.8%

Nearby Cities

Lineville, AL 6 mi Millerville, AL 8 mi Goldville, AL 13 mi Waldo, AL 14 mi Delta, AL 15 mi

ZIP Codes in Ashland

Ashland, AL is covered by 1 ZIP code:

36251

Ashland vs Other Cities

Ashland, AL vs Lineville, AL Ashland, AL vs Millerville, AL Ashland, AL vs Goldville, AL Ashland, AL vs Waldo, AL Ashland, AL vs Delta, AL

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Ashland, AL affordable or expensive?

Ashland's cost of living index is 83, where 100 is the national average. That makes Ashland roughly 17% less expensive than a typical US city — a meaningful affordability advantage. The median home price is $117,800 and median rent is $379/month.

What is the crime rate in Ashland, AL?

Ashland's violent crime rate is 778.0 per 100,000 residents — the national average is ~380 per 100,000. Property crime is 2385.9 per 100,000 (national avg ~2,100). Data from the FBI Uniform Crime Reporting Program.

What are the schools like in Ashland?

Public schools in Ashland are operated by Clay County. The district has 2 elementary, 1 middle, and 2 high schools. The student-to-teacher ratio is 16.4:1. 16.0% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

Is Ashland, AL a good place to live?

Ashland, AL has a population of 1,674, a median household income of $30,850, and an unemployment rate of 8.9%. 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.

What is the weather like in Ashland?

Ashland averages 54.9°F in January and 89.8°F in July. Annual rainfall is 59.7 inches with about 1.6 inches of snow per year. Based on NOAA 30-year climate normals (1991–2020).

What ZIP codes are in Ashland?

Ashland, AL is covered by 1 ZIP code: 36251.

What is the population of Ashland?

The population of Ashland, Alabama is 1,674 with a median age of 42.0. Source: US Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.

What are the pros and cons of living in Ashland?

Key numbers for living in Ashland: cost of living index 83 (100 = US average), median home $117,800, median household income $30,850, crime index 168 (100 = US average, lower is safer), schools rated C+. Whether these are benefits or drawbacks depends on where you're coming from — compare Ashland side by side with your current city to see the trade-offs.