Village · Illinois

Ashton, Illinois

Ashton, village, in Lee County, Illinois. Ashton had 929 residents on July 1, 2025 by the Census Bureau's estimate, down 3.6% since 2020; the 2020 Census counted 967 and the ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates put it at 935 (±149). GEOID 1702583.

Residents, July 2025 estimate

929

Census Bureau estimate (no margin published)
2020 Census count: 967 · ACS 2020-2024: 935 ±149

Median household income

$62,778

±$8,405 (90% margin)
Illinois: $83,390

Median home value

$114,200

±$11,273 (90% margin)
Illinois: $263,300

Median gross rent

$898

±$343 (90% margin)
Illinois: $1,274

Where is Ashton and what county is it in?

Ashton is a village in Lee County, Illinois. It covers 0.7 square miles of land, 1,341 residents per square mile in 2020.

Ashton is in the Dixon, IL micropolitan statistical area (Census Bureau delineation, July 2023).

Ashton lies entirely within Ashton Township, a township with its own local government (2020 census blocks).

Ashton (marked with a dot) in Lee County, Illinois. Boundaries: Census Bureau 2024.

Source: 2024 Gazetteer and 2020 place-by-county files, U.S. Census Bureau · Census reference files

How many people live in Ashton, and is it growing?

The Census Bureau estimates that 929 people lived in Ashton on July 1, 2025, down 3.6% since 2020, a steeper fall than Illinois's (−0.8%). The 2020 Census counted 967 residents. The 2020-2024 American Community Survey, a five-year sample, puts the population at 935 (±149).

  • July 2020→2021 +2 (963)
  • 2021→2022 −12 (951)
  • 2022→2023 −12 (939)
  • 2023→2024 −5 (934)
  • 2024→2025 −5 (929)
ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates (counts) with the change from 2015-2019
Measure AshtonLee CountyIllinois Change since 2015-2019
Total population 935 ±149 33,869 12,694,798 no clear change
Households 400 ±64 13,337 5,036,449 no clear change
Average household size 2.28 ±0.26 2.34 2.46 no clear change
Housing units 455 ±73 14,995 5,457,452 no clear change

Ashton's population since 2000

From 1,142 in 2000 to 929 in 2025: down 18.7%. The 2000, 2010 and 2020 figures are census counts, each for Ashton as it was drawn that year: a place that annexed land, or a community that has since incorporated, covered a different area then. The 2005 figure is the Census Bureau's intercensal estimate, revised to fit the 2000 and 2010 counts and drawn on 2010 boundaries; 2015 and 2025 are July 1 estimates made from the census before them.

  • 2000 Census 1,142
  • 2005 (estimate) 1,040
  • 2010 Census 972
  • 2015 (estimate) 914
  • 2020 Census 967
  • 2025 (estimate) 929

Source: The 2000, 2010 and 2020 Census counts and the Census Bureau's population estimates (intercensal 2000-2010, Vintage 2020, Vintage 2025) · Census population estimates

Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026); Census PEP Vintage 2025 (SUB-EST2025, CO-EST2025); 2020 Census P.L. 94-171 · Check it at data.census.gov

Who lives in Ashton?

The median resident of Ashton is 38.9 years old; 24.7% are under 18 and 19.5% are 65 or older. The largest group is non-Hispanic white residents at 85.3%, then Hispanic or Latino residents (of any race) at 10.9%.

Age, origin, education and moves, ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates. Race groups are non-Hispanic; Hispanic includes any race.
Measure AshtonLee CountyIllinois Change since 2015-2019
Median age 38.9 ±7.8 43.1 39.0 no clear change
Under 18 years 24.7% ±5.3 pts 19.6% 21.8% –
65 years and over 19.5% ±5.8 pts 21.3% 17.0% –
Male 46.4% ±4.6 pts 52.9% 49.4% –
Hispanic or Latino (any race) 10.9% ±8.3 pts 7.6% 18.8% –
White alone, not Hispanic 85.3% ±9.4 pts 83.4% 58.1% no clear change
Black or African American alone, not Hispanic 0.9% ±1.3 pts 5.3% 13.3% –
Asian alone, not Hispanic 1.4% ±2.6 pts 0.7% 5.9% –
American Indian and Alaska Native alone, not Hispanic 0.0% ±3.9 pts 0.0% 0.1% –
Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander alone, not Hispanic 0.0% ±3.9 pts 0.0% 0.0% –
Two or more races, not Hispanic 1.5% ±1.1 pts 2.9% 3.4% –
Some other race alone, not Hispanic 0.0% ±3.9 pts 0.1% 0.4% –
Born outside the United States 3.1% ±3.2 pts 2.2% 14.7% –
Speak a language other than English at home (age 5+) 8.7% ±7.6 pts 4.6% 24.0% –
Civilian veterans (age 18+) 4.5% ±2.1 pts 6.4% 4.8% –
With a disability 17.9% ±4.5 pts 16.2% 12.1% –
No health insurance coverage 4.0% ±2.5 pts 3.8% 6.9% –
High school graduate or higher (age 25+) 88.5% ±6.1 pts 91.2% 90.5% –
Bachelor's degree or higher (age 25+) 11.7% ±4.1 pts 19.4% 37.8% no clear change
Graduate or professional degree (age 25+) 4.2% ±2.9 pts 6.9% 15.3% –
Lived in the same house a year earlier 91.0% ±6.5 pts 90.5% 88.9% –
Moved from another state in the past year 1.2% ±1.5 pts 1.2% 1.6% –

Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) (Data Profiles DP02, DP05) · Check it at data.census.gov

What do households in Ashton earn?

Half of Ashton's 400 households earn less than $62,778 a year (±$8,405), against $70,292 in Lee County and $83,390 in Illinois. In 2015-2019 it was $67,496 in 2024 dollars; the margins of error cannot tell the two periods apart. 14.5% of residents live below the poverty line.

Income and poverty in 2024 dollars, ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates; 2015-2019 dollars adjusted with the R-CPI-U-RS
Measure AshtonLee CountyIllinois Change since 2015-2019
Median household income $62,778 ±$8,405 $70,292 $83,390 no clear change
Mean household income $69,592 ±$8,549 $90,634 $115,638 –
Per capita income $29,329 ±$3,931 $35,945 $46,406 no clear change
People below the poverty line 14.5% ±6.4 pts 11.8% 11.8% no clear change
Children under 18 below the poverty line 13.9% ±12.5 pts 12.0% 15.1% –
Households receiving SNAP 17.3% ±8.7 pts 15.4% 13.8% –
Households with a computer 96.3% ±3.4 pts 92.2% 95.2% –
Households with a broadband subscription 89.3% ±6.3 pts 87.4% 90.8% –

Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) (Data Profile DP03) · Check it at data.census.gov

What does housing cost in Ashton?

Owners occupy 63.0% of Ashton's occupied homes and renters 37.0%. The median owner-occupied home is valued at $114,200 by its owner (±$11,273). The median renter pays $898 a month including utilities, and 26.2% of renters pay 35% or more of their income on rent.

Housing, ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates. Home values are owners' own estimates.
Measure AshtonLee CountyIllinois Change since 2015-2019
Median home value (owner-occupied) $114,200 ±$11,273 $154,600 $263,300 no clear change
Median gross rent $898 ±$343 $894 $1,274 no clear change
Renters paying 35% or more of income on rent 26.2% ±14.8 pts 30.4% 39.0% no clear change
Median monthly owner costs, with a mortgage $1,156 ±$85 $1,403 $1,987 –
Owner-occupied homes 63.0% ±9.9 pts 73.6% 67.1% no clear change
Renter-occupied homes 37.0% ±9.9 pts 26.4% 32.9% –
Housing units 455 ±73 14,995 5,457,452 no clear change
Homeowner vacancy rate 5.6% ±6.3 pts 2.9% 1.0% –
Rental vacancy rate 0.0% ±22.1 pts 7.4% 5.0% –
Single-family detached homes 72.7% ±9.1 pts 79.3% 58.2% –
Mobile homes 1.8% ±2.3 pts 5.4% 2.3% –
Built 2020 or later 0.0% ±7.9 pts 0.2% 0.7% –
Built 2010 to 2019 1.8% ±3.0 pts 3.4% 5.0% –
Built 1939 or earlier 61.3% ±8.6 pts 31.1% 20.2% –
Households with no vehicle 4.5% ±3.9 pts 6.6% 11.0% –

Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) (Data Profile DP04) · Check it at data.census.gov

How many new homes is Ashton building?

Builders took permits for 1 new housing units in Ashton in 2025 (1 in single-family houses), 1.1 per 1,000 residents against 1.5 across Illinois.

  • 2019 0 units
  • 2020 0 units
  • 2021 0 units
  • 2022 0 units
  • 2023 0 units
  • 2024 0 units
  • 2025 1 units

Counts of units in permits a local office issued; not every permitted unit is built. A year marked with months was reported for part of the year.

Source: Building Permits Survey, annual place files 2019-2025, U.S. Census Bureau · Census Building Permits Survey

How do people in Ashton work and get to work?

82.7% of Ashton's workers drive alone and 4.7% work from home. The average trip to work takes 27.2 minutes. The unemployment rate in 2020-2024 averaged 9.9%.

Work and commuting, ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates (workers 16 and over)
Measure AshtonLee CountyIllinois Change since 2015-2019
In the labor force (age 16+) 59.3% ±7.0 pts 55.7% 65.0% –
Unemployment rate 9.9% ±5.3 pts 5.2% 5.8% no clear change
Drove alone to work 82.7% ±7.1 pts 82.0% 65.9% –
Carpooled 8.8% ±6.4 pts 9.5% 7.8% –
Public transportation 0.0% ±9.2 pts 0.6% 5.8% –
Walked 3.1% ±2.8 pts 1.2% 2.8% –
Worked from home 4.7% ±2.9 pts 5.5% 15.9% –
Mean travel time to work 27.2 min ±4.7 24.6 min 27.8 min +6.3 min

Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) (Data Profile DP03) · Check it at data.census.gov

What census tracts are in Ashton?

No census tract lies mostly in Ashton; 1 tract reaches into it (2020 census blocks).

Census tracts in Ashton, ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates
TractResidents, 2020-2024Median household incomeMedian home valueShare of tract in Ashton
Tract 1Lee County3,014 $86,111 $164,60012%

Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026); 2020 block assignment files (tract share = share of the tract's census blocks in Ashton) · Census block assignment files

How does Ashton compare with other places in Illinois?

By the Census Bureau's July 2025 estimates, Ashton is the 10,593rd-most populous of the 19,476 U.S. incorporated places that have one and the 672nd-most populous of 1,294 in Illinois.

Ashton is not ranked by income or the other survey measures: those rankings include places of 1,000 or more residents (2020 Census) with a reliable estimate.

Ashton's rank in Illinois (1 = highest): by population among the state's incorporated places with a 2025 estimate; by the other measures among places of 1,000+ residents with a reliable estimate
MeasureRankOf
Population, July 2025 estimate672nd1,294

Ashton's figures with every place in Illinois (CSV)

Every place in Illinois, sortable · Compare Ashton with other places

Source: PlainCities ranks computed from the American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) and PEP Vintage 2025 · How ranks are computed

How reliable are the figures for Ashton?

21 of the 57 figures for Ashton on this page carry a coefficient of variation over 40% and are marked with a ring: they come from a small sample, so read them as rough.

The American Community Survey samples about one household in eight over five years, so every figure is an estimate with a 90% margin of error (shown under each value). A ring marks an estimate whose coefficient of variation is over 40%. A change is called only when the gap between the two periods is larger than their combined 90% margin (the square root of the sum of the two squared margins), the Census Bureau's test. How to read a margin of error.

Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026): margins of error as published · ACS technical documentation

How these figures are made: methodology and release checks · reading a margin of error · every state · corrections

Not on this page: crime, weather and schools for Ashton are other agencies' records. Crime: the FBI's Crime Data Explorer · climate: NOAA's U.S. Climate Normals · schools: the National Center for Education Statistics' public schools in Ashton.