The Town FilesAshland, Mississippi
Town in Benton County · population 551 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $98,800
- Household income
- $38,482
- Jan low / Jul high
- 29° / 89°
- Snow a year
- 2 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 11
- Median age
- 34.9
Ashland is a town of 551 people in Benton County, Mississippi. The median home is worth $98,800, below the typical Mississippi town ($124,700). It ranks quieter than 99% of Mississippi towns, better transit than 79% of Mississippi towns, easier by car than 78% of Mississippi towns.
How Ashland ranks
Percentile among Mississippi towns with at least 500 people on The Town Files lifestyle rankings. 50 is typical for the state; 90 means better than 90% of Mississippi towns.
Homes and cost of living
The median home in Ashland is worth $98,800, below the typical Mississippi town ($124,700). Homes cost about 2.6 times the median household income of $38,482, which is more affordable than 66% of Mississippi towns. Median rent is $713 a month. 81.1% of households own their home.
| Housing | Ashland | Typical Mississippi town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $98,800 | $124,700 |
| Median rent | $713 | $820 |
| Median household income | $38,482 | $45,965 |
| Home value ÷ income | 2.6× | 2.8× |
| Homeownership | 81.1% | 65.3% |
| Median year built | 1976 | 1979 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.0% | — |
Who lives in Ashland
| People | Ashland | Typical Mississippi town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 34.9 | 37.3 |
| Age 65 and over | 24.4% | 16.6% |
| Under 18 | 27.2% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 10.2% | 19.4% |
| Below the poverty line | 27.5% | 22.9% |
| Veterans | 2.1% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 0.2% | — |
| Work from home | 3.1% | 4.0% |
| Average commute | 29.6 min | 23.9 min |
| Homes with broadband | 72.8% | 83.3% |
Weather in Ashland
July highs average 88.8°F and January lows 28.7°F. About 57.0 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 2.0 inches of snow (typical Mississippi town: 0.5 in). Expect about 52 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 71 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
11 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Ashland since 1950, compared with 31 for the typical Mississippi town. 6 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an EF4, struck on December 23, 2015 about 2.0 miles from the town center and killed 6. Tornadoes within 10 miles have caused 10 deaths and 38 injuries since 1950. The most recent was on December 23, 2015.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 11 times; the largest was 2.75 inches on March 27, 2017.
Severe weather in Benton County since 1996
Benton County has been included in 17 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for tornado, hurricane, snowstorm.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| February 6, 2026 | Winter Storm | DR-4899: Severe Winter Storm |
| January 24, 2026 | Winter Storm | EM-3640: Severe Winter Storm |
| October 22, 2021 | Hurricane | DR-4626: Hurricane Ida |
| August 28, 2021 | Hurricane | EM-3569: Hurricane Ida |
| April 5, 2020 | Biological | DR-4528: Covid-19 Pandemic |
Jobs and pay in Benton County
Benton County had 1,038 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $46,416 a year. Unemployment was 3.7% in 2023; in Ashland itself the ACS puts it at 1.3%.
Public schools in Ashland
3 public schools with 476 students, about 11.3 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| ASHLAND ELEMENTARY SCHOOL | PK-6 | 256 | 12.8 |
| ASHLAND MIDDLE-HIGH SCHOOL | 7-12 | 220 | 12.2 |
| BENTON CO REGIONAL VOCATIONAL CEN | 9-12 | — | — |
Towns near Ashland
- Blue Mountain, MS14.0 mi · 948 people · home $79,700
- Ripley, MS15.3 mi · 5,462 people · home $117,200
- Holly Springs, MS15.7 mi · 6,968 people · home $109,600
- Walnut, MS16.4 mi · 704 people · home $97,000
- Moscow, TN19.6 mi · 572 people · home $147,800
- Middleton, TN22.8 mi · 658 people · home $122,100
- Victoria, MS24.8 mi · 1,066 people · home $209,100
- New Albany, MS25.2 mi · 7,626 people · home $161,400
Ashland questions
Is Ashland, Mississippi a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Ashland scores better for retirees than 44% of Mississippi towns and quieter than 99%. 24.4% of residents are 65 or older (median age 34.9).
How much does a house cost in Ashland?
The median owner-occupied home in Ashland is valued at $98,800 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $38,482, so homes cost about 2.6 times income. Median rent is $713 a month.
What is the weather like in Ashland?
July highs average 88.8°F and January lows 28.7°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 57.0 inches of precipitation a year and 2.0 inches of snow.
Does Ashland get tornadoes?
11 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Ashland since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was an EF4 on December 23, 2015. The typical Mississippi town has had 31.
- 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)