What are the schools like in Ashland, OH?

Ashland is served primarily by Ashland City. The district operates 3 elementary schools, 1 middle schools, and 1 high schools with a student-to-teacher ratio of 18.3:1.

What is the median household income in Ashland?

The median household income in Ashland, OH is $56,040 according to the most recent US Census American Community Survey 5-year estimates. The unemployment rate is 3.8%.

What is the weather like in Ashland, OH?

Ashland has an average high temperature of 34.1°F in January and 83.4°F in July. Annual precipitation averages 42.5 inches and annual snowfall averages 49.2 inches.

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

Q: Is Ashland, OH affordable or expensive?

Ashland's cost of living index is 90, where 100 represents the national average. This means Ashland is 10% less expensive than the average US city. The median home value is $135,200 and the median rent is $817 per month.

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

Ashland has a violent crime rate of 172.5 incidents per 100,000 residents and a property crime rate of 1417.6 per 100,000. The national average violent crime rate is approximately 380 per 100,000.

Is Ashland, OH a Good Place to Live?

Ashland is a small city of 19,270 in Ohio, with a median household income of $56,040 and a 3.8% unemployment rate. Its cost of living index is 90 (US average = 100), which is 10% below the national average.

Strengths: Ashland stands out for an affordable cost of living, below-average home prices, lower-than-average crime, solid school ratings (B-), short average commutes.

Trade-offs: No major red flags stand out in the available data. 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: 90.2

Ashland's overall cost of living index is 90.2, where 100 represents the US national average. Living in Ashland costs roughly 10% less than the average American city.

Metric	Ashland, OH	National Avg
Median Home Value	$135,200	$244,900
Median Monthly Rent	$817	$1,163
Homeownership Rate	63.6%	65.9%
Median Household Income	$56,040	$74,755

Crime & Safety

Very Safe

Ashland's violent crime rate is 172.5 per 100,000 residents — 55% lower than the national average of ~380 per 100,000.

Violent Crime

172.5 /100k

Property Crime

1417.6 /100k

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

Schools & Education

Ashland is served primarily by Ashland City. The student-to-teacher ratio is 18.3:1 (slightly above the national average of ~16:1).

Metric	Ashland, OH	National Avg
School District	Ashland City	—
Elementary Schools	3	—
Middle Schools	1	—
High Schools	1	—
Student/Teacher Ratio	18.3:1	16:1
Bachelor's Degree or Higher	24.6%	35.4%
High School Diploma or Higher	90.8%	91.1%

Weather & Climate

Ashland sees average highs of 34.1°F in January and 83.4°F in July, with 42.5 inches of annual precipitation and 49.2 inches of snow per year.

Metric	Ashland, OH
Average High — January	34.1°F
Average High — July	83.4°F
Annual Precipitation	42.5"
Annual Snowfall	49.2"

Demographics

Metric	Ashland, OH	National Avg
Population	19,270	—
Median Age	38.8	38.9
Unemployment Rate	3.8%	3.7%
Avg Commute Time	19.5 min	26 min
White (non-Hispanic)	92.5%	59.3%
Black or African American	1.7%	13.6%
Hispanic or Latino	1.9%	18.9%
Asian	0.9%	6.3%
Under 18	20.1%	22.2%
65 and over	20.8%	16.8%

Nearby Cities

Nankin, OH 4 mi Bailey Lakes, OH 6 mi Hayesville, OH 7 mi Mifflin, OH 7 mi Polk, OH 8 mi

ZIP Codes in Ashland

Ashland, OH is covered by 1 ZIP code:

44805

Ashland vs Other Cities

Ashland, OH vs Nankin, OH Ashland, OH vs Bailey Lakes, OH Ashland, OH vs Hayesville, OH Ashland, OH vs Mifflin, OH Ashland, OH vs Polk, OH

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Ashland, OH affordable or expensive?

Ashland's cost of living index is 90, where 100 is the national average. That makes Ashland roughly 10% less expensive than a typical US city — a meaningful affordability advantage. The median home price is $135,200 and median rent is $817/month.

What is the crime rate in Ashland, OH?

Ashland's violent crime rate is 172.5 per 100,000 residents — the national average is ~380 per 100,000. Property crime is 1417.6 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 Ashland City. The district has 3 elementary, 1 middle, and 1 high schools. The student-to-teacher ratio is 18.3:1. 24.6% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

Is Ashland, OH a good place to live?

Ashland, OH has a population of 19,270, a median household income of $56,040, 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.

What is the weather like in Ashland?

Ashland averages 34.1°F in January and 83.4°F in July. Annual rainfall is 42.5 inches with about 49.2 inches of snow per year. Based on NOAA 30-year climate normals (1991–2020).

What ZIP codes are in Ashland?

Ashland, OH is covered by 1 ZIP code: 44805.

What is the population of Ashland?

The population of Ashland, Ohio is 19,270 with a median age of 38.8. 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 90 (100 = US average), median home $135,200, median household income $56,040, crime index 54 (100 = US average, lower is safer), schools rated B-. 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.