Median Income
$58,904
household / year
Median Home Value
$253,200
owner-occupied
Median Rent
$1,170
gross / month
Cost of Living
98
national avg = 100

Is Ashland, VA a Good Place to Live?

Ashland is a small town of 7,617 in Virginia, with a median household income of $58,904 and a 3.1% unemployment rate. Its cost of living index is 98 (US average = 100), which is 2% below the national average.

Strengths: Ashland stands out for solid school ratings (A-), 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: 98.0

Ashland's overall cost of living index is 98.0, where 100 represents the US national average. Living in Ashland costs roughly 2% less than the average American city.

Metric Ashland, VA National Avg
Median Home Value $253,200 $244,900
Median Monthly Rent $1,170 $1,163
Homeownership Rate 51.7% 65.9%
Median Household Income $58,904 $74,755

Crime & Safety

Near National Average

Ashland's violent crime rate is 594.7 per 100,000 residents — 57% higher than the national average of ~380 per 100,000.

Violent Crime
594.7 /100k
Property Crime
2100.5 /100k

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

Schools & Education

Ashland is served primarily by Hanover County Public Schools. The student-to-teacher ratio is 13.2:1 (better than the national average of ~16:1).

Metric Ashland, VA National Avg
School District Hanover County Public Schools —
Elementary Schools 14 —
Middle Schools 4 —
High Schools 4 —
Student/Teacher Ratio 13.2:1 16:1
Bachelor's Degree or Higher 34.6% 35.4%
High School Diploma or Higher 87.2% 91.1%

Weather & Climate

Ashland sees average highs of 46.8°F in January and 86.7°F in July, with 45.3 inches of annual precipitation and 14.7 inches of snow per year.

MetricAshland, VA
Average High — January46.8°F
Average High — July86.7°F
Annual Precipitation45.3"
Annual Snowfall14.7"

Demographics

MetricAshland, VANational Avg
Population7,617—
Median Age31.038.9
Unemployment Rate3.1%3.7%
Avg Commute Time22.7 min26 min
White (non-Hispanic)65.3%59.3%
Black or African American21.3%13.6%
Hispanic or Latino7.5%18.9%
Asian1.8%6.3%
Under 1815.9%22.2%
65 and over18.0%16.8%

Nearby Cities

Hanover, VA 5 mi Glen Allen, VA 7 mi Laurel, VA 9 mi Wyndham, VA 9 mi Innsbrook, VA 9 mi

ZIP Codes in Ashland

Ashland, VA is covered by 1 ZIP code:

23005

Ashland vs Other Cities

Ashland, VA vs Hanover, VA Ashland, VA vs Glen Allen, VA Ashland, VA vs Laurel, VA Ashland, VA vs Wyndham, VA Ashland, VA vs Innsbrook, VA

Frequently Asked Questions

Ashland's cost of living index is 98, where 100 is the national average. That makes Ashland roughly 2% less expensive than a typical US city — a meaningful affordability advantage. The median home price is $253,200 and median rent is $1,170/month.
Ashland's violent crime rate is 594.7 per 100,000 residents — the national average is ~380 per 100,000. Property crime is 2100.5 per 100,000 (national avg ~2,100). Data from the FBI Uniform Crime Reporting Program.
Public schools in Ashland are operated by Hanover County Public Schools. The district has 14 elementary, 4 middle, and 4 high schools. The student-to-teacher ratio is 13.2:1. 34.6% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Ashland, VA has a population of 7,617, a median household income of $58,904, and an unemployment rate of 3.1%. Whether it's right for you depends on your priorities — use the compare tool above to stack it against another city you're considering.
Ashland averages 46.8°F in January and 86.7°F in July. Annual rainfall is 45.3 inches with about 14.7 inches of snow per year. Based on NOAA 30-year climate normals (1991–2020).
Ashland, VA is covered by 1 ZIP code: 23005.
The population of Ashland, Virginia is 7,617 with a median age of 31.0. Source: US Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.
Key numbers for living in Ashland: cost of living index 98 (100 = US average), median home $253,200, median household income $58,904, crime index 134 (100 = US average, lower is safer), schools rated A-. 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.