Ashley, Michigan Demographics & Population 2026
Demographic data: ACS 2020–2024 five-year estimates. Sources and methodology
During the 2020–2024 ACS period, Ashley, Michigan had a total population of 483, the 555th largest village in Michigan, with a median household income of $58,846, which is 19% lower than the state average. The poverty rate is 15.8%.
Key Takeaways
- Housing is very affordable with a home-value-to-income ratio of just 1.9x.
- Near full employment with an unemployment rate of just 2.2%.
Ashley Quick Facts
How Ashley Changed
Change from the non-overlapping 2015–2019 ACS period to 2020–2024. Earlier dollar figures are adjusted to 2024 dollars; changes marked “no clear change” are within the combined 90% margins of error.
| Metric | 2015–2019 | 2020–2024 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population | 525 | 483 | No clear change (-8.0%) |
| Median household income | $41,844 | $58,846 | +40.6% |
| Median home value¹ | $84,057 | $109,500 | +30.3% |
| Median gross rent | $773 | $950 | +22.9% |
How Ashley Compares
Median Household Income
Median Home Value
Economy & Housing
Household Income Distribution
Detailed income brackets
Employment
Housing Overview
People & Demographics
Age Distribution
Race & Ethnicity
- White: 89.9%
- Black: 0.4%
- Hispanic: 4.5%
- Asian: 0.0%
- Other: 0.0%
Diversity Index
A less diverse community where one racial or ethnic group represents a large majority.
State average: 45 | National average: 61
Education
Educational Attainment (Adults 25+)
- < High School: 15.0%
- HS Diploma: 36.7%
- Some College: 21.7%
- Associate's: 5.3%
- Bachelor's: 14.7%
- Graduate+: 6.7%
Ashley Rankings in Michigan
Explore Michigan Rankings
Other Cities in Gratiot County
Cities Similar to Ashley
These cities in the same state have comparable population and economic profiles.
| City | Population | Median Income | Home Value | Bachelor's+ | Poverty |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| South Range | 482 | $58,542 | $101,100 | 15.6% | 23.6% |
| Woodland | 488 | $58,047 | $154,500 | 10.4% | 10.7% |
| Atlantic Mine | 491 | $55,481 | $103,500 | 30.1% | 16.5% |
| Carsonville | 463 | $57,647 | $101,300 | 10.2% | 19.3% |
| Cannonsburg | 510 | N/A | N/A | 58.4% | 0.0% |
A note before these figures: with a population of 483, Ashley's ACS estimates come from a small number of survey responses and carry wide margins of error. Individual percentages below — particularly rates that round to 0% or 100% — are approximations, not precise measurements. See data.census.gov for the published margins of error.
Population Overview
Ashley is a small community located in Michigan, within Gratiot County. The total population is 483. It ranks as the 555th most populous out of 745 Census-designated places in Michigan.
Age Demographics
The median age in Ashley is 48.5 years. This is 21% higher than the state median of 40.2 years. 18.0% of residents are 75 or older, suggesting a significant retirement-age population with implications for healthcare services and senior housing.
Economy, Income & Housing
The median household income in Ashley is $58,846. This is 19% lower than the state median of $72,875. It is also 27% lower than the national median of $80,734. The poverty rate stands at 15.8%. This is 20% higher than the state poverty rate of 13.2%. The unemployment rate is 2.2%. This is 61% lower than the state rate of 5.7%. The median home value is $109,500. Housing costs are 53% lower than the state median of $231,600. With a home-value-to-income ratio of just 1.9x, Ashley is one of the most affordable housing markets in the area. 67.3% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied. This homeownership rate is 8% lower than the state average of 73.2%.
Race & Ethnicity
Ashley has a predominantly White (non-Hispanic) population, comprising 89.9% of all residents. Hispanic or Latino residents account for 4.5%. The Black or African American population (0.4%) is well below the state average of 13.1%.
Education
21.4% of residents aged 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or higher. This is 34% lower than the state rate of 32.5%. Nationally, 35.7% of adults hold at least a bachelor's degree. The high school graduation rate (or equivalent) is 85.0%.
Data Sources & Methodology
All demographic data for Ashley, Michigan is sourced from the U.S. Census Bureau's American Community Survey (ACS) 2020–2024 5-Year Estimates. The ACS collects data from approximately 3.5 million households annually and pools five years of responses so that even small communities can be measured, though the margin of error widens as the population falls. Comparisons are made against Michigan state averages and national averages calculated from the same dataset. Rankings reflect the city's position among all 745 Census-designated places in Michigan. Read more about how these figures are produced on our methodology page, or visit data.census.gov for official data.
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Frequently Asked Questions
What is the population of Ashley, Michigan?
Ashley, Michigan has a population of 483 according to the most recent U.S. Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.
What is the median household income in Ashley, MI?
The median household income in Ashley is $58,846, which is 27% lower than the national median of $80,734.
What is the poverty rate in Ashley, MI?
The poverty rate in Ashley is 15.8%. This means approximately 69 residents live below the federal poverty line.
What is the racial makeup of Ashley, Michigan?
Ashley's population is 89.9% White, 0.4% Black, 4.5% Hispanic/Latino, and 0.0% Asian.
What is the median home value in Ashley, MI?
The median home value in Ashley is $109,500. The home-value-to-income ratio is 1.9x.
How educated is Ashley, Michigan?
21.4% of adults (25+) in Ashley hold a bachelor's degree or higher, and 6.7% hold a graduate or professional degree.