Ashland city, Kentucky Demographics & Population 2026

Population Overview

Ashland city is a small city located in Kentucky. The total population is 21,405. It ranks as the 18th most populous out of 552 cities and towns in Kentucky.

Age Demographics

The median age in Ashland city is 41.1 years. This is 5% higher than the state median of 39.1 years.

Economy, Income & Housing

The median household income in Ashland city is $52,199. This is 16% lower than the state median of $62,417. Compared to the national median of $78,538, household income here is 34% lower. The poverty rate stands at 22.8%. This is 42% higher than the state poverty rate of 16.1%. With more than one in five residents living below the poverty line, economic hardship is a significant challenge for the community. The unemployment rate is 8.4%. This is 73% higher than the state rate of 4.8%. The median home value is $125,300. Housing costs are 35% lower than the state median of $192,300. With a home-value-to-income ratio of just 2.4x, Ashland city is one of the most affordable housing markets in the area. 59.9% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied. This homeownership rate is 12% lower than the state average of 68.3%.

Race & Ethnicity

Ashland city has a predominantly White (non-Hispanic) population, comprising 91.5% of all residents. Hispanic or Latino residents account for 2.3%. The Black or African American population (1.5%) is well below the state average of 7.8%. The Hispanic or Latino population (2.3%) is well below the state average of 4.7%. The Asian population (0.5%) is well below the state average of 1.5%.

Education

24.6% of residents aged 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or higher. This is 9% lower than the state rate of 27.0%. Nationally, 35.0% of adults hold at least a bachelor's degree. The high school graduation rate (or equivalent) is 91.0%.

Data Sources & Methodology

All demographic data for Ashland city, Kentucky is sourced from the U.S. Census Bureau's American Community Survey (ACS) 5-Year Estimates (2019-2023). The ACS collects data from approximately 3.5 million households annually, providing reliable estimates for communities of all sizes. Comparisons are made against Kentucky state averages and national averages calculated from the same dataset. Rankings reflect the city's position among all 552 Census-designated places in Kentucky. For official data, visit data.census.gov.