Ashtabula West 5th Street · Roland Penttila / CC BY-SA 3.0Center St. Looking Towards Main St. (39997064455) · Ashtabula Archive / Public domainAshtabula Bridge disaster · Unknown authorUnknown author / Public domainOhio - Ashabula - NARA - 68146567 (cropped) · Ashabula Chamber of Commerce / Public domain
Ashtabula is a small city of 18,003 in Ohio, with a median household income of $39,053
and a 13.6% unemployment rate.
Its cost of living index is 88 (US average = 100), which is
12% below the national average.
Strengths:
Ashtabula stands out for an affordable cost of living, below-average home prices, lower-than-average crime, short average commutes.
Trade-offs:
Potential downsides include an elevated unemployment rate. Whether Ashtabula is right for you depends on your priorities — the full breakdown is below.
All Ashtabula 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: 88.0
Ashtabula's overall cost of living index is 88.0,
where 100 represents the US national average.
Living in Ashtabula costs roughly 12% less than the average American city.
Metric
Ashtabula, OH
National Avg
Median Home Value
$92,000
$244,900
Median Monthly Rent
$785
$1,163
Homeownership Rate
53.0%
65.9%
Median Household Income
$39,053
$74,755
Crime & Safety
Very Safe
Ashtabula's violent crime rate is 186.2 per 100,000 residents
— 51% lower than the national average of ~380 per 100,000.
Violent Crime
186.2 /100k
Property Crime
919.7 /100k
Vertical marker = national average. Source: FBI UCR Program.
Schools & Education
Ashtabula is served primarily by Ashtabula Area City.
The student-to-teacher ratio is 19.4:1
(slightly above the national average of ~16:1).
Metric
Ashtabula, OH
National Avg
School District
Ashtabula Area City
—
Elementary Schools
3
—
Middle Schools
2
—
High Schools
1
—
Student/Teacher Ratio
19.4:1
16:1
Bachelor's Degree or Higher
11.6%
35.4%
High School Diploma or Higher
80.6%
91.1%
Weather & Climate
Ashtabula sees average highs of 33.2°F in January
and 81.0°F in July,
with 37.1 inches of annual precipitation
and 89.9 inches of snow per year.
Ashtabula's cost of living index is 88, where 100 is the national average.
That makes Ashtabula roughly 12% less expensive than a typical US city — a meaningful affordability advantage.
The median home price is $92,000 and median rent is $785/month.
Ashtabula's violent crime rate is 186.2 per 100,000 residents — the national average is ~380 per 100,000. Property crime is 919.7 per 100,000 (national avg ~2,100). Data from the FBI Uniform Crime Reporting Program.
Public schools in Ashtabula are operated by Ashtabula Area City.
The district has 3 elementary, 2 middle, and 1 high schools.
The student-to-teacher ratio is 19.4:1. 11.6% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Ashtabula, OH has a population of 18,003, a median household income of $39,053, and an unemployment rate of 13.6%.
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.
Ashtabula averages 33.2°F in January and 81.0°F in July. Annual rainfall is 37.1 inches
with about 89.9 inches of snow per year.
Based on NOAA 30-year climate normals (1991–2020).
Ashtabula, OH is covered by 1 ZIP code: 44004.
The population of Ashtabula, Ohio is 18,003 with a median age of 40.2. Source: US Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.
Key numbers for living in Ashtabula: cost of living index 88 (100 = US average), median home $92,000, median household income $39,053, crime index 47 (100 = US average, lower is safer), schools rated C. Whether these are benefits or drawbacks depends on where you're coming from — compare Ashtabula side by side with your current city to see the trade-offs.
.jpg)
.jpg)