The Town FilesAshland, Missouri
City in Boone County · population 4,747 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $258,500
- Household income
- $93,143
- Jan low / Jul high
- 23° / 89°
- Snow a year
- 17 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 21
- Median age
- 39.6
Ashland is a city of 4,747 people in Boone County, Missouri. The median home is worth $258,500, above the typical Missouri town ($153,900). It ranks better for retirees than 95% of Missouri towns, more upscale than 91% of Missouri towns, quieter than 86% of Missouri towns.
How Ashland ranks
Percentile among Missouri towns with at least 500 people on The Town Files lifestyle rankings. 50 is typical for the state; 90 means better than 90% of Missouri towns.
Homes and cost of living
The median home in Ashland is worth $258,500, above the typical Missouri town ($153,900). Homes cost about 2.8 times the median household income of $93,143, which is more affordable than 47% of Missouri towns. Median rent is $1,206 a month. 71.2% of households own their home.
| Housing | Ashland | Typical Missouri town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $258,500 | $153,900 |
| Median rent | $1,206 | $855 |
| Median household income | $93,143 | $56,368 |
| Home value ÷ income | 2.8× | 2.7× |
| Homeownership | 71.2% | 67.4% |
| Median year built | 2006 | 1972 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.0% | — |
Who lives in Ashland
| People | Ashland | Typical Missouri town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 39.6 | 38.6 |
| Age 65 and over | 14.9% | 17.7% |
| Under 18 | 22.3% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 45.3% | 18.9% |
| Below the poverty line | 4.1% | 14.6% |
| Veterans | 6.1% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 1.3% | — |
| Work from home | 6.4% | 7.9% |
| Average commute | 22.9 min | 23.1 min |
| Homes with broadband | 98.8% | 88.7% |
Weather in Ashland
July highs average 88.5°F and January lows 22.5°F. About 41.4 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 16.5 inches of snow (typical Missouri town: 11.1 in). Expect about 35 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 101 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
21 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Ashland since 1950, compared with 23 for the typical Missouri town. 5 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an EF2, struck on April 20, 2025 about 7.8 miles from the town center. The most recent was on April 17, 2026.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 63 times; the largest was 2.75 inches on April 10, 2001.
Severe weather in Boone County since 1996
Boone County has been included in 27 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for flood, drought, hurricane.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| September 1, 2021 | Severe Storm | DR-4612: Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Tornadoes, And Flooding |
| March 26, 2020 | Biological | DR-4490: Covid-19 Pandemic |
| March 13, 2020 | Biological | EM-3482: Covid-19 |
| July 9, 2019 | Severe Storm | DR-4451: Severe Storms, Tornadoes, And Flooding |
| June 2, 2017 | Flood | DR-4317: Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-Line Winds And Flooding |
Jobs and pay in Boone County
Boone County had 98,657 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $59,677 a year. Unemployment was 2.5% in 2023; in Ashland itself the ACS puts it at 1.8%.
Public schools in Ashland
4 public schools with 1,976 students, about 12.8 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| SOUTHERN BOONE MIDDLE | 5-8 | 647 | 14.1 |
| Southern Boone High | 9-12 | 544 | 14.3 |
| SOUTHERN BOONE PRIMARY | PK-2 | 495 | 11.5 |
| SOUTHERN BOONE ELEM. | 3-4 | 290 | 10.7 |
Towns near Ashland
- Columbia, MO10.4 mi · 126,254 people · home $284,600
- Holts Summit, MO13.3 mi · 4,458 people · home $191,900
- Fulton, MO15.8 mi · 12,600 people · home $155,900
- Jefferson City, MO17.3 mi · 43,228 people · home $218,700
- California, MO21.7 mi · 4,498 people · home $152,700
- Centralia, MO28.1 mi · 4,541 people · home $174,300
- Boonville, MO29.1 mi · 7,964 people · home $187,900
Ashland questions
Is Ashland, Missouri a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Ashland scores better for retirees than 95% of Missouri towns and quieter than 86%. 14.9% of residents are 65 or older (median age 39.6).
How much does a house cost in Ashland?
The median owner-occupied home in Ashland is valued at $258,500 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $93,143, so homes cost about 2.8 times income. Median rent is $1,206 a month.
What is the weather like in Ashland?
July highs average 88.5°F and January lows 22.5°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 41.4 inches of precipitation a year and 16.5 inches of snow.
Does Ashland get tornadoes?
21 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Ashland since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was an EF2 on April 20, 2025. The typical Missouri town has had 23.
- 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)