The Town FilesAshland, Alabama
Town in Clay County · population 1,984 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $159,300
- Household income
- $42,308
- Jan low / Jul high
- 31° / 90°
- Snow a year
- 2 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 18
- Median age
- 44.8
Ashland is a town of 1,984 people in Clay County, Alabama. The median home is worth $159,300, close to the typical Alabama town ($161,250). It ranks hipper than 95% of Alabama towns.
How Ashland ranks
Percentile among Alabama towns with at least 500 people on The Town Files lifestyle rankings. 50 is typical for the state; 90 means better than 90% of Alabama towns.
Homes and cost of living
The median home in Ashland is worth $159,300, close to the typical Alabama town ($161,250). Homes cost about 3.8 times the median household income of $42,308, which is more affordable than 15% of Alabama towns. Median rent is $366 a month. 60.6% of households own their home.
| Housing | Ashland | Typical Alabama town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $159,300 | $161,250 |
| Median rent | $366 | $834 |
| Median household income | $42,308 | $56,250 |
| Home value ÷ income | 3.8× | 2.8× |
| Homeownership | 60.6% | 71.3% |
| Median year built | 1980 | 1981 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.0% | — |
Who lives in Ashland
| People | Ashland | Typical Alabama town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 44.8 | 39.9 |
| Age 65 and over | 20.9% | 18.1% |
| Under 18 | 20.4% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 16.8% | 17.3% |
| Below the poverty line | 25.0% | 16.7% |
| Veterans | 2.0% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 1.1% | — |
| Work from home | 4.1% | 5.1% |
| Average commute | 22.5 min | 26.1 min |
| Homes with broadband | 72.1% | 86.7% |
Weather in Ashland
July highs average 89.8°F and January lows 31.1°F. About 59.7 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 1.6 inches of snow (typical Alabama town: 0.6 in). Expect about 40 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 65 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
18 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Ashland since 1950, compared with 30 for the typical Alabama town. 4 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F4, struck on May 1, 1953 about 0.4 miles from the town center and killed 7. Tornadoes within 10 miles have caused 7 deaths and 21 injuries since 1950. The most recent was on January 3, 2023.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 15 times; the largest was 2.00 inches on April 18, 1978.
Severe weather in Clay County since 1996
Clay County has been included in 24 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for flood, drought, hurricane.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| September 26, 2024 | Hurricane | EM-3618: Hurricane Helene |
| April 26, 2021 | Severe Storm | DR-4596: Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, And Tornadoes |
| December 10, 2020 | Hurricane | DR-4573: Hurricane Zeta |
| September 14, 2020 | Hurricane | EM-3545: Hurricane Sally |
| March 29, 2020 | Biological | DR-4503: Covid-19 Pandemic |
Jobs and pay in Clay County
Clay County had 4,241 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $44,540 a year. Unemployment was 2.4% in 2023; in Ashland itself the ACS puts it at 0%.
Public schools in Ashland
2 public schools with 469 students, about 18.8 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ashland Elementary School | PK-6 | 469 | 18.8 |
| Clay County Career Development Center | 7-12 | — | — |
Towns near Ashland
- Lineville, AL5.6 mi · 2,489 people · home $175,500
- New Site, AL17.1 mi · 773 people · home $171,900
- Wadley, AL18.4 mi · 659 people · home $198,600
- Talladega, AL19.0 mi · 15,861 people · home $121,900
- Munford, AL19.1 mi · 1,351 people · home $78,200
- Goodwater, AL19.2 mi · 1,291 people · home $58,900
- Hollins, AL19.8 mi · 517 people · home $92,400
- Wedowee, AL20.2 mi · 737 people · home $179,700
Ashland questions
Is Ashland, Alabama a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Ashland scores better for retirees than 39% of Alabama towns and quieter than 45%. 20.9% of residents are 65 or older (median age 44.8).
How much does a house cost in Ashland?
The median owner-occupied home in Ashland is valued at $159,300 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $42,308, so homes cost about 3.8 times income. Median rent is $366 a month.
What is the weather like in Ashland?
July highs average 89.8°F and January lows 31.1°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 59.7 inches of precipitation a year and 1.6 inches of snow.
Does Ashland get tornadoes?
18 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Ashland since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F4 on May 1, 1953. The typical Alabama town has had 30.
- U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates (2020–2024)
- U.S. Census Bureau, 2020 Census and 2025 Gazetteer (2020 / 2025)
- NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals (1991–2020)
- NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database (1950–2026)
- FEMA OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations (this product uses the FEMA OpenFEMA API but is not endorsed by FEMA) (1953–2026)
- NCES Common Core of Data (2023–24)
- BLS Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages; USDA ERS county unemployment (BLS LAUS) (2000–2024)
- The Town Files lifestyle rankings, built from federal demographic, school, crime and housing data (2025)