Ashland city, Oregon Demographics & Population 2026

Population Overview

Ashland city is a small city located in Oregon. The total population is 21,343. It ranks as the 31st most populous out of 419 cities and towns in Oregon.

Age Demographics

The median age in Ashland city is 47.7 years. This is 19% higher than the state median of 40.1 years. Only 11.8% of residents are under 18, indicating fewer families with children. 10.9% 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 Ashland city is $71,782. This is 11% lower than the state median of $80,426. Compared to the national median of $78,538, household income here is 9% lower. The poverty rate stands at 14.2%. This is 20% higher than the state poverty rate of 11.9%. The unemployment rate is 5.5%. This is 1% higher than the state rate of 5.4%. The median home value is $573,700. Housing costs are 26% higher than the state median of $454,200. The home-value-to-income ratio of 8.0x suggests that housing affordability is a significant concern for many residents. 50.6% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied. This homeownership rate is 20% lower than the state average of 63.4%.

Race & Ethnicity

The largest racial or ethnic group in Ashland city is White (non-Hispanic), making up 81.9% of the population. Hispanic or Latino residents account for 8.9%. The Black or African American population (0.5%) is well below the state average of 1.8%. The Asian population (1.9%) is well below the state average of 4.4%.

Education

65.0% of residents aged 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or higher. This places Ashland city in the top 10% of all cities in the state for educational attainment. This is 79% higher than the state rate of 36.2%. Nationally, 35.0% of adults hold at least a bachelor's degree. The high school graduation rate (or equivalent) is 95.9%. Notably, 30.5% of adults hold a graduate or professional degree, indicating a highly educated workforce.

Data Sources & Methodology

All demographic data for Ashland city, Oregon 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 Oregon state averages and national averages calculated from the same dataset. Rankings reflect the city's position among all 419 Census-designated places in Oregon. For official data, visit data.census.gov.