County · Wisconsin

Ashland County, Wisconsin

Ashland County, Wisconsin. Ashland County had 16,203 residents in 2025 by the Census Bureau's estimate, up 1.1% since 2020, in line with Wisconsin (+1.3%). It holds 26 places (3 cities, villages and boroughs, 13 towns and townships and 10 census-designated) and 8 census tracts. GEOID 55003.

Residents, July 2025 estimate

16,203

Census Bureau estimate (no margin published)
2020 Census count: 16,027 · ACS 2020-2024: 16,080

Median household income

$62,462

±$5,140 (90% margin)
Wisconsin: $77,485

Median home value

$170,300

±$5,974 (90% margin)
Wisconsin: $266,500

Median gross rent

$721

±$62 (90% margin)
Wisconsin: $1,087

How many people live in Ashland County, and is it growing?

The 2020 Census counted 16,027 residents in Ashland County. The Census Bureau estimates 16,203 for July 1, 2025, up 1.1% since 2020, in line with Wisconsin (+1.3%). The 2020-2024 American Community Survey puts the population at 16,080 over 1,045 square miles of land.

July 2020→2021 +41 (16,069)
2021→2022 +7 (16,076)
2022→2023 +58 (16,134)
2023→2024 +67 (16,201)
2024→2025 +2 (16,203)

Ashland County in Wisconsin. Boundaries: Census Bureau 2024.

Counts, ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates, with the change from 2015-2019
Measure	Ashland County	Wisconsin	Change since 2015-2019
Total population	16,080	5,914,872	+463
Households	6,832±222	2,479,480	no clear change
Average household size	2.27±0.07	2.33	no clear change
Housing units	9,445±89	2,778,572	−210

Ashland County's population since 2000

From 16,866 in 2000 to 16,203 in 2025: down 3.9%. The 2000, 2010 and 2020 figures are census counts. 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 16,866
2005 (estimate) 16,407
2010 Census 16,157
2015 (estimate) 15,808
2020 Census 16,027
2025 (estimate) 16,203

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); PEP Vintage 2025 (CO-EST2025); 2020 Census · Check it at data.census.gov

What cities and towns are in Ashland County?

Ashland County holds 26 places: 3 cities, villages and boroughs (incorporated places), 13 towns and townships (county subdivisions with their own government) and 10 census-designated places. The largest is Ashland with 7,927 residents (2025 estimate). Places that cross a county line are listed with the share of their 2020 residents who live in this county.

Places in Ashland County, ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates. Ring: estimate with a coefficient of variation over 40%.

Ashland	city	7,908	7,902±28	$54,529	$176,400	17.8%	100%
Sanborn (town)	town	1,381	1,146±136	$53,125	$105,700	15.2%	100%
White River (town)	town	1,067	1,145±155	$87,917	$218,200	3.3%	100%
Gingles (town)	town	738	594±91	$85,938	$225,000	5.1%	100%
Mellen	city	698	681±145	$41,875	$78,100	21.3%	100%
Jacobs (town)	town	648	423±73	$55,625	$99,100	14.4%	100%
Ashland (town)	town	589	654±126	$74,464	$126,800	4.1%	100%
Morse (town)	town	499	608±106	$92,589	$214,800	6.3%	100%
New OdanahGEOID 5557008	CDP	466	275±74	$40,417	$77,000	30.2%	100%
Marengo (town)	town	460	577±104	$56,827	$193,800	2.1%	100%
Glidden	CDP	437	215±50	$57,829	$80,000	8.8%	100%
La Pointe (town)	town	428	321±93	$71,250	$278,600	8.2%	100%
Agenda (town)GEOID 5500300550	town	370	492±178	$104,500	$124,400	4.3%	100%
Butternut	village	366	465±100	$43,750	$74,300	27.9%	100%
Chippewa (town)	town	349	366±67	$64,545	$211,700	4.6%	100%
Birch HillGEOID 5507532	CDP	295	313±95	$54,875	$63,100	16.0%	100%
Gordon (town), Ashland County	town	261	403±102	$72,895	$236,000	6.5%	100%
Franks FieldGEOID 5527412	CDP	160	49±31	$22,917	not published	34.7%	100%
MarengoGEOID 5549175	CDP	148	149±55	$57,292	$159,400	8.9%	100%
Peeksville (town)GEOID 5500361600	town	137	160±56	$56,250	$155,600	8.8%	100%
Shanagolden (town)GEOID 5500372825	town	131	143±50	$48,125	$124,400	7.7%	100%
JolmavilleGEOID 5538487	CDP	126	104±47	$81,250	$318,800	1.0%	100%
BayfrontGEOID 5505387	CDP	113	135±54	$99,213	$343,300	3.0%	100%
DiapervilleGEOID 5520167	CDP	67	109±53	$51,650	$84,000	0.0%	100%
OdanahGEOID 5559450	CDP	47	60±54	not published	$91,700	0.0%	100%
Clam LakeGEOID 5514850	CDP	36	53±31	$73,393	$455,700	1.9%	100%

Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026); 2020 place-by-county parts · Check it at data.census.gov

Who lives in Ashland County?

The median resident of Ashland County is 43.1 years old; 20.7% are under 18 and 21.5% are 65 or older. The largest group is non-Hispanic white residents at 81.3%, then non-Hispanic American Indian and Alaska Native residents at 9.3%. 2.2% of residents were born outside the United States.

Age, origin and education, ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates. Race groups are non-Hispanic; Hispanic includes any race.
Measure	Ashland County	Wisconsin	Change since 2015-2019
Median age	43.1±0.6	40.2	+1.1
Under 18 years	20.7%±0.2 pts	21.4%	–
65 years and over	21.5%±0.1 pts	18.5%	–
Hispanic or Latino (any race)	3.0%	8.0%	+0.1 pts
White alone, not Hispanic	81.3%±0.6 pts	78.6%	−1.1 pts
Black or African American alone, not Hispanic	0.5%±0.2 pts	5.9%	no clear change
Asian alone, not Hispanic	0.7%±0.2 pts	2.9%	no clear change
American Indian and Alaska Native alone, not Hispanic	9.3%±0.6 pts	0.5%	–
Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander alone, not Hispanic	0.0%±0.1 pts	0.0%	–
Two or more races, not Hispanic	5.1%±0.9 pts	3.7%	–
Some other race alone, not Hispanic	0.1%±0.1 pts	0.3%	–
Born outside the United States	2.2%±0.7 pts	5.2%	+1.1 pts
Speak a language other than English at home (age 5+)	3.5%±1.0 pts	9.0%	–
Civilian veterans (age 18+)	8.0%±1.2 pts	6.2%	–
With a disability	15.9%±1.4 pts	12.3%	–
No health insurance coverage	6.4%±1.2 pts	5.2%	no clear change
High school graduate or higher (age 25+)	95.5%±0.8 pts	93.6%	–
Bachelor's degree or higher (age 25+)	24.5%±2.2 pts	33.4%	+4.7 pts
Graduate or professional degree (age 25+)	8.2%±1.4 pts	11.4%	–
Moved from another state in the past year	2.2%±0.7 pts	2.0%	–

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 Ashland County earn?

Half of Ashland County's 6,832 households earn less than $62,462 a year (±$5,140), against $77,485 in Wisconsin. In 2015-2019 the median was $52,317 in 2024 dollars, so it rose by $10,145 after inflation. 13.4% of residents live below the poverty line.

Income and poverty in 2024 dollars, ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates
Measure	Ashland County	Wisconsin	Change since 2015-2019
Median household income	$62,462±$5,140	$77,485	+$10,145
Mean household income	$76,270±$3,932	$101,466	–
Per capita income	$33,580±$1,524	$43,373	+$4,110
People below the poverty line	13.4%±2.1 pts	10.6%	−4.0 pts
Children under 18 below the poverty line	10.2%±3.6 pts	12.8%	−14.0 pts
Households receiving SNAP	14.3%±2.0 pts	11.1%	–
Households with a broadband subscription	84.8%±2.4 pts	90.3%	–

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 Ashland County?

Owners occupy 73.4% of Ashland County's occupied homes and renters 26.6%. The median owner-occupied home is valued at $170,300 by its owner (±$5,974). The median renter pays $721 a month including utilities, and 31.1% of renters pay 35% or more of their income on rent.

Housing, ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates
Measure	Ashland County	Wisconsin	Change since 2015-2019
Median home value (owner-occupied)	$170,300±$5,974	$266,500	+$31,109
Median gross rent	$721±$62	$1,087	no clear change
Renters paying 35% or more of income on rent	31.1%±7.9 pts	35.0%	no clear change
Median monthly owner costs, with a mortgage	$1,336±$71	$1,689	–
Owner-occupied homes	73.4%±2.4 pts	67.8%	+5.1 pts
Housing units	9,445±89	2,778,572	−210
Homeowner vacancy rate	0.8%±0.5 pts	0.5%	–
Rental vacancy rate	12.1%±5.7 pts	4.5%	–
Single-family detached homes	77.0%±1.7 pts	66.2%	–
Mobile homes	6.4%±1.0 pts	3.1%	–
Built 2020 or later	0.4%±0.3 pts	1.4%	–
Built 1939 or earlier	25.4%±2.4 pts	17.8%	–

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 Ashland County building?

Builders took permits for 49 new housing units across Ashland County in 2025 (47 single-family), 3.0 per 1,000 residents.

2019 12 units
2020 13 units
2021 13 units
2022 22 units
2023 33 units
2024 29 units
2025 49 units

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

How do people in Ashland County get to work?

73.9% of Ashland County's workers drive alone and 9.7% work from home. The average trip to work takes 17.8 minutes. The unemployment rate in 2020-2024 averaged 3.8%.

Work and commuting, ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates
Measure	Ashland County	Wisconsin	Change since 2015-2019
In the labor force (age 16+)	59.7%±1.7 pts	65.3%	–
Unemployment rate	3.8%±1.2 pts	3.2%	no clear change
Drove alone to work	73.9%±2.7 pts	74.4%	–
Carpooled	7.2%±1.6 pts	7.3%	–
Public transportation	1.1%±0.7 pts	1.1%	–
Walked	6.4%±1.8 pts	2.6%	–
Worked from home	9.7%±2.0 pts	13.1%	+5.9 pts
Mean travel time to work	17.8 min±1.1	22.2 min	no clear change

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 are Ashland County's census tracts?

Ashland County is divided into 8 census tracts. Among those with a reliable estimate, median household income runs from $39,500 (Tract 9504) to $77,578 (Tract 9505).

Census tracts of Ashland County, ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates; sort by any column

Tract 940055003940000	Odanah (10%)	2,066	1,887±150	$65,341	$152,700	$465	11.1%
Tract 950355003950300	Ashland	2,735	2,680±294	$50,114	$196,100	$768	13.0%
Tract 950455003950400	Ashland	2,267	2,350±197	$39,500	$191,800	$734	22.6%
Tract 950555003950500	Marengo (1%)	2,212	2,303±189	$77,578	$194,300	$847	3.6%
Tract 950655003950600	Mellen (23%)	1,356	1,530±162	$65,781	$143,600	$591	12.4%
Tract 950755003950700	Glidden (11%)	2,043	2,132±154	$61,250	$124,300	$625	12.1%
Tract 950855003950800	Ashland (75%)	3,348	3,198±237	$66,281	$168,500	$820	17.0%
Tract 990055003990000	–	0	0±10	not published	not published	not published	–

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

How does Ashland County compare with Wisconsin's other counties?

Ashland County's rank among Wisconsin's counties with a reliable estimate (1 = highest)
Measure	Rank
Population	62nd of 72
Growth 2020-2025	38th of 72
Residents per square mile	65th of 72
Median household income	63rd of 72
Median home value	66th of 72
Median gross rent	67th of 72
Poverty rate	10th of 72
Bachelor's degree or higher	38th of 72
Median age	41st of 72

Every county in Wisconsin

Source: PlainCities ranks 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 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 Ashland County 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' school search.