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Ashland, Montana Demographics & Population 2026

During the 2020–2024 ACS period, Ashland, Montana had a total population of 959, the 98th largest community in Montana, with a median household income of $45,607, which is 37% lower than the state average. The poverty rate is 29.7%.

Data vintage: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2020–2024 5-Year Estimates · refreshed July 2026 · Methodology & source notes

Key Takeaways

Ashland Quick Facts

Population 959
Median Household Income $45,607
Median Home Value $85,000
Poverty Rate 29.7%
Unemployment Rate 3.4%
Median Age 37.3 years
Homeownership Rate 23.8%
Affordability Ratio 1.9x
Bachelor's Degree or Higher 26.9%
High School Graduation Rate 93.6%
Diversity Index 52/100
Population 959 98th of 475
Median Income $45,607 bottom 20%
Poverty Rate 29.7% 138% higher than national
Median Home Value $85,000 bottom 10%

How Ashland Changed

Change from the 2019–2023 ACS period to 2020–2024. These are rolling five-year estimates, not year-over-year measurements.

Metric2019–20232020–2024Change
Population956959+0.3%
Median household income$39,429$45,607+15.7%
Median home value$137,500$85,000-38.2%

How Ashland Compares

Economy & Housing

Household Income Distribution

Under $25K 32.1%
$25K-$50K 26.4%
$50K-$100K 18.5%
$100K+ 23.0%
Detailed income brackets
Under $10K
7.8%
$10K-$15K
9.7%
$15K-$20K
13.1%
$20K-$25K
1.4%
$25K-$30K
4.8%
$30K-$35K
2.6%
$35K-$40K
5.2%
$40K-$45K
3.3%
$45K-$50K
10.4%
$50K-$60K
0.9%
$60K-$75K
8.3%
$75K-$100K
9.3%
$100K-$125K
11.6%
$125K-$150K
5.2%
$150K-$200K
6.2%
$200K+
0.0%

Employment

3.4% Unemployment Rate State: 3.6%|National: 5.2%
66.1% Labor Force Participation

Housing Overview

Owner 23.8%
Renter 76.3%
Affordability Index Very Affordable
1.9x home value to income ratio
Median gross rent $621/mo 16.3% of median household income annually

People & Demographics

Diversity Index

52out of 100
Moderate Diversity

Moderate diversity with one or two groups making up the majority.

State average: 29 | National average: 61

Education

Ashland Rankings in Montana

#98 Population of 475
#289 Median Income of 341
#174 Education of 473
#302 Home Value of 320

Other Cities in Rosebud County

CityPopulationMedian IncomePovertyHome Value
Colstrip 2,101 $82,500 9.4% $194,900
Lame Deer 1,872 $23,700 55.9% $111,100
Forsyth 1,728 $39,744 14.1% $208,400
Rosebud 45 $46,354 0.0% N/A
Birney 17 N/A 0.0% N/A

Cities Similar to Ashland

These cities in the same state have comparable population and economic profiles.

CityPopulationMedian IncomeHome ValueBachelor's+Poverty
St. Ignatius977$50,000$250,00025.0%21.8%
White Haven978$41,154$205,3009.8%25.2%
Superior896$45,250$310,00017.8%15.5%
Havre North890$44,554$165,4003.7%40.2%
Hays1,009$52,250$59,20015.6%23.7%

A note before these figures: with a population of 959, Ashland'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

Ashland is a small community located in Montana, within Rosebud County. The total population is 959. It ranks as the 98th most populous out of 475 Census-designated places in Montana.

Age Demographics

The median age in Ashland is 37.3 years. This is 8% lower than the state median of 40.4 years.

Economy, Income & Housing

The median household income in Ashland is $45,607. This is 37% lower than the state median of $72,509. It is also 44% lower than the national median of $80,734. The poverty rate stands at 29.7%. This is 158% higher than the state poverty rate of 11.5%. 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 3.4%. This is 7% lower than the state rate of 3.6%. The median home value is $85,000. Housing costs are 77% lower than the state median of $375,800. With a home-value-to-income ratio of just 1.9x, Ashland is one of the most affordable housing markets in the area. 23.8% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied. This homeownership rate is 66% lower than the state average of 69.2%.

Race & Ethnicity

Ashland is a highly diverse community where no single racial or ethnic group constitutes a majority of the population. Asian residents account for 5.7%. The White (non-Hispanic) population (29.8%) is well below the state average of 83.6%. The Hispanic or Latino population (1.3%) is well below the state average of 4.6%. The Asian population is significantly higher than the state average (5.7% vs 0.8%).

Education

26.9% of residents aged 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or higher. This is 23% lower than the state rate of 35.2%. Nationally, 35.7% of adults hold at least a bachelor's degree. The high school graduation rate (or equivalent) is 93.6%.

Data Sources & Methodology

All demographic data for Ashland, Montana 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 Montana state averages and national averages calculated from the same dataset. Rankings reflect the city's position among all 475 Census-designated places in Montana. 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 Ashland, Montana?

Ashland, Montana has a population of 959 according to the most recent U.S. Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.

What is the median household income in Ashland, MT?

The median household income in Ashland is $45,607, which is 44% lower than the national median of $80,734.

What is the poverty rate in Ashland, MT?

The poverty rate in Ashland is 29.7%. This means approximately 283 residents live below the federal poverty line.

What is the racial makeup of Ashland, Montana?

Ashland's population is 29.8% White, 0.5% Black, 1.3% Hispanic/Latino, and 5.7% Asian.

What is the median home value in Ashland, MT?

The median home value in Ashland is $85,000. The home-value-to-income ratio is 1.9x.

How educated is Ashland, Montana?

26.9% of adults (25+) in Ashland hold a bachelor's degree or higher, and 14.9% hold a graduate or professional degree.