The Town FilesAshley, North Dakota
City in McIntosh County · population 613 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $58,900
- Household income
- $42,540
- Jan low / Jul high
- 1° / 81°
- Snow a year
- 42 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 10
- Median age
- 60.3
Ashley is a city of 613 people in McIntosh County, North Dakota. The median home is worth $58,900, below the typical North Dakota town ($167,950). It ranks quieter than 97% of North Dakota towns, better for cycling than 83% of North Dakota towns, better for retirees than 73% of North Dakota towns.
How Ashley ranks
Percentile among North Dakota towns with at least 500 people on The Town Files lifestyle rankings. 50 is typical for the state; 90 means better than 90% of North Dakota towns.
Homes and cost of living
The median home in Ashley is worth $58,900, below the typical North Dakota town ($167,950). Homes cost about 1.4 times the median household income of $42,540, which is more affordable than 96% of North Dakota towns. Median rent is $711 a month. 72.6% of households own their home.
| Housing | Ashley | Typical North Dakota town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $58,900 | $167,950 |
| Median rent | $711 | $775 |
| Median household income | $42,540 | $68,195 |
| Home value ÷ income | 1.4× | 2.5× |
| Homeownership | 72.6% | 68.6% |
| Median year built | 1953 | 1973 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 10.8% | — |
Who lives in Ashley
| People | Ashley | Typical North Dakota town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 60.3 | 39.0 |
| Age 65 and over | 42.9% | 20.1% |
| Under 18 | 11.2% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 15.4% | 23.0% |
| Below the poverty line | 13.2% | 10.6% |
| Veterans | 12.2% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 1.8% | — |
| Work from home | 11.8% | 5.5% |
| Average commute | 9.3 min | 16.8 min |
| Homes with broadband | 80.1% | 87.3% |
Weather in Ashley
July highs average 81.0°F and January lows 1.3°F. About 20.7 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 42.4 inches of snow (typical North Dakota town: 44.3 in). Expect about 12 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 185 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
10 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Ashley since 1950, compared with 11 for the typical North Dakota town. 2 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F3, struck on July 31, 1966 about 3.3 miles from the town center. Tornadoes within 10 miles have caused 2 deaths and 4 injuries since 1950. The most recent was on June 7, 2020.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 44 times; the largest was 2.75 inches on June 9, 2001.
Severe weather in McIntosh County since 1996
McIntosh County has been included in 21 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for flood, drought, biological.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| February 15, 2024 | Winter Storm | DR-4760: Severe Winter Storm And Straight-Line Winds |
| July 13, 2022 | Severe Storm | DR-4660: Severe Winter Storm And Flooding |
| July 9, 2020 | Flood | DR-4553: Flooding |
| April 1, 2020 | Biological | DR-4509: Covid-19 Pandemic |
| March 13, 2020 | Biological | EM-3477: Covid-19 |
Jobs and pay in McIntosh County
McIntosh County had 998 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $46,427 a year. Unemployment was 1.9% in 2023; in Ashley itself the ACS puts it at 0%.
Public schools in Ashley
2 public schools with 136 students, about 7.2 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| ASHLEY ELEMENTARY SCHOOL | PK-6 | 81 | 6.8 |
| ASHLEY HIGH SCHOOL | 7-12 | 55 | 7.9 |
Towns near Ashley
- Wishek, ND17.5 mi · 864 people · home $100,600
- Eureka, SD21.7 mi · 813 people · home $78,200
Ashley questions
Is Ashley, North Dakota a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Ashley scores better for retirees than 73% of North Dakota towns and quieter than 97%. 42.9% of residents are 65 or older (median age 60.3).
How much does a house cost in Ashley?
The median owner-occupied home in Ashley is valued at $58,900 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $42,540, so homes cost about 1.4 times income. Median rent is $711 a month.
What is the weather like in Ashley?
July highs average 81.0°F and January lows 1.3°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 20.7 inches of precipitation a year and 42.4 inches of snow.
Does Ashley get tornadoes?
10 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Ashley since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F3 on July 31, 1966. The typical North Dakota town has had 11.
- 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)