Ashland, OH

Census place 3902568 · pop 18,911

D50/ 100
😐 Meh
D
in OH
📍 Ohio ranks #28 of 50 states →
🏆 Rent$909/mo · top 2%
🚽 Growth-7.3% · bottom 5%
Taxes
0.96% property · US 0.99%7.29% sales · US 7.00%2.75% flat income · US 4.63%

Sales & income are statewide.

The breakdown — worst first

Population growth (5yr)-7.3%5

U.S. median +2.4% · worse than most cities

-7.3% population change (5yr) · 5-year population change — are people moving in, or fleeing?

Unemployment rateCounty-level4.9%14

U.S. median 3.6% · worse than most cities

4.9% unemployment · Share of the labor force out of work. Published by county, not city — every city in the county shares this figure.

Broadband access87.4%22

U.S. median 90.0% · worse than most cities

87.4% of homes have broadband · Share of households with a broadband internet subscription.

Adult smoking16.2%24

U.S. median 14.6% · worse than most cities

16.2% of adults · Share of adults who currently smoke.

Physical inactivity30.0%25

U.S. median 26.5% · worse than most cities

30.0% of adults · Adults with no leisure-time physical activity.

Median household income$60,02928

U.S. median $67,857 · worse than most cities

$60,029 median household income · Median household income — a proxy for local economic health.

Poverty rate16.6%28

U.S. median 12.1% · worse than most cities

16.6% live in poverty · Share of residents living below the federal poverty line.

Bachelor's degree or higher23.8%34

U.S. median 24.3% · worse than most cities

23.8% have a bachelor's degree or higher · Share of adults 25+ with a bachelor's degree or higher.

Poor mental health18.1%35

U.S. median 17.4% · worse than most cities

18.1% of adults · Adults reporting frequent poor mental health (14+ days a month).

Adult obesity36.8%38

U.S. median 36.5% · worse than most cities

36.8% of adults · Share of adults with obesity (BMI ≥ 30).

Homeownership63.0%48

U.S. median 67.2% · worse than most cities

63.0% own their home · Share of occupied homes that are owner-occupied.

Property-tax burden0.96%51

U.S. median 0.99% · better than most cities

0.96% of home value paid in property tax · Median real-estate taxes paid as a share of home value.

Income inequality0.4263

U.S. median 0.43 · better than most cities

Gini 0.42 (0 = equal, 1 = unequal) · Gini index of household income (0 = equal, 1 = unequal).

Uninsured adults8.0%66

U.S. median 9.3% · better than most cities

8.0% of adults · Adults 18–64 without health insurance.

Commute time21 min72

U.S. median 24 min · better than most cities

21 min average one-way commute · Average one-way commute to work, in minutes.

Housing cost$157,90084

U.S. median $214,900 · better than most cities

$157,900 median home value · Median home value — how expensive it is to buy in. Higher = less affordable.

Natural disaster riskCounty-level44/10092

U.S. median 77/100 · better than most cities

44/100 FEMA risk (higher = riskier) · FEMA National Risk Index — wildfire, flood, earthquake, heat and more. Published by county, not city — every city in the county shares this figure.

Rent$909/mo98

U.S. median $1,756/mo · better than most cities

$909/mo typical rent · Typical monthly rent (Zillow Observed Rent Index, all home types).

Not measured for Ashland: Crime, Air, Bad air, Property crime. Not every public source covers every city — EPA air monitors and Zillow rent only reach some places, and national crime data is still being added.

Frequently asked

Is Ashland, OH a good place to live?
By the numbers, Ashland scores 50/100 — a D (Meh) on Shcity, which ranks U.S. cities on public data across 18 metrics like crime, cost, jobs and health. Its strongest area is rent and its weakest is population growth (5yr). Ohio overall ranks #28 of 50 states. Whether it's "good" depends on what you value — re-weight the factors to score it your way.
Is Ashland, OH expensive to live in?
Ashland has a median home value of $157,900 and typical rent around $909/mo — more affordable than most U.S. cities.
What's the biggest downside of living in Ashland, OH?
Its weakest measured area is population growth (5yr) (-7.3%) — 5/100, worse than most U.S. cities.
What is Ashland, OH best at?
Its strongest measured area is rent ($909/mo) — 98/100, better than most U.S. cities.

Sources: U.S. Census (ACS), CDC PLACES, FBI Crime Data Explorer, BLS, EPA AirData, FEMA National Risk Index, and Zillow.