Ashland County, Wisconsin Demographics 2026

Population Overview

Ashland County is located in Wisconsin with a total population of 16,050. It is the 63rd most populous county out of 72 in Wisconsin. The county encompasses 2 Census-designated places.

Age Demographics

The median age in Ashland County is 43.1 years. This is 7% higher than the state median of 40.1 years.

Economy, Income & Housing

The median household income in Ashland County is $57,645. This is 24% lower than the state median of $75,670. Compared to the national median of $78,538, household income here is 27% lower. The poverty rate stands at 16.4%. This is 55% higher than the state poverty rate of 10.6%. The unemployment rate is 4.7%. This is 43% higher than the state rate of 3.3%. The median home value is $160,500. Housing costs are 35% lower than the state median of $247,400. With a home-value-to-income ratio of just 2.8x, Ashland County is one of the most affordable housing markets in the area. 72.4% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied. This homeownership rate is 7% higher than the state average of 67.9%.

Race & Ethnicity

The largest racial or ethnic group in Ashland County is White (non-Hispanic), making up 81.9% of the population. Hispanic or Latino residents account for 2.9%. The Black or African American population (0.8%) is well below the state average of 6.0%. The Hispanic or Latino population (2.9%) is well below the state average of 7.8%. The Asian population (0.8%) is well below the state average of 2.9%.

Education

22.1% of residents aged 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or higher. This is 33% lower than the state rate of 32.8%. Nationally, 35.0% of adults hold at least a bachelor's degree. The high school graduation rate (or equivalent) is 95.2%.