1st Advantage MortgageThe median Ashland County household earns $69,860, and 13% of residents live below the poverty line. A loan makes sense only if its total cost beats your alternatives and the payment fits your budget. Check the lender's Ohio license first.
On this page
- Ashland County at a glance
- Paychecks and income spread in Ashland County
- Work, industries and travel time in Ashland County
- Rent, home values and ownership in Ashland County
- Places inside Ashland County
- Ashland County and the counties next door
- Budget math at the Ashland County median
- Ashland County households compared
- Reading the Ashland County data as a borrower
- Checklist for Ashland County applicants
- Licensing and complaints for Ashland County
- More guides for Ashland County
- Frequently asked questions
Ashland County at a glance
The latest five-year Census estimate puts Ashland County's population at 52,256; only 47 of Ohio's 88 county-level areas are larger. Packed into 423 square miles, that is close to 124 residents for every square mile of land. No metropolitan area includes Ashland County in the 2023 federal delineation, so its numbers stand on their own rather than as part of a metro. Of the 12 Census places inside Ashland County, Ashland leads by population with about 18,911; 9 of the 12 are incorporated.
Paychecks and income spread in Ashland County
The median household income in Ashland County is $69,860; statewide it is $71,389, so Ashland County runs 2% below Ohio as a whole. In the state ranking that is 39th of 88.
| Households earning | Ashland County | +/- vs Ohio |
|---|---|---|
| Under $35,000 | 22.0% | -1.8 pts |
| $35,000 to $99,999 | 48.9% | +7.3 pts |
| $100,000 to $199,999 | 24.9% | -0.5 pts |
| $200,000 or more | 4.2% | -4.9 pts |
About 22% of households earn under $35,000, while 29% clear $100,000. 13.3% of residents fall below the federal poverty line (statewide: 13.3%). The Gini index of income inequality is 0.404 (0 is perfect equality). A household earning below the $69,860 median should test any payment carefully; one earning above it should still pick the shortest term it can manage.
Work, industries and travel time in Ashland County
By the Census industry count, 23% of employed Ashland County residents work in manufacturing and 20% in education and health care. Manufacturing stands out: 23% of workers here, versus 15% statewide. The survey's unemployment rate for Ashland County averages 3.6% over 2020 to 2024 (state: 4.8%). 13% of commuters travel 45 minutes or more each way, and 6% work from home. Only 6.5% of homes here go without a vehicle.
| Where residents work | Ashland County | Difference from Ohio |
|---|---|---|
| Manufacturing | 23.1% | +8.4 pts |
| Education and health care | 19.6% | -4.7 pts |
| Retail trade | 11.1% | -0.1 pts |
| Professional and administrative services | 8.1% | -2.2 pts |
| Arts, lodging and food service | 7.3% | -1.1 pts |
| Construction | 6.8% | +0.8 pts |
Industry shapes paperwork. Salaried and public jobs are easy to verify, while hourly, tipped, commission or contract earners in Ashland County should have bank statements and tax returns ready.
Rent, home values and ownership in Ashland County
Median gross rent, utilities included, comes to $888 in Ashland County versus $1,034 statewide. By the Census definition, 43% of Ashland County renters are cost-burdened. Home values center on $186,800, or 2.7 years of median income. 78% of Ashland County households own their home and 22% rent. Median construction year: 1969.
| Ashland County | Ohio | U.S. county median | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median gross rent | $888/mo | $1,034/mo | $877/mo |
| Median home value | $186,800 | $214,800 | $185,300 |
| Owners | 78% | 67% | 75% |
| Rent-burdened renters | 43% | 46% | 45% |
| Burdened owners | 20% | 21% | n/a |
| Vacant units | 8% | 8% | n/a |
In an owner-heavy county like Ashland County, many borrowers can also choose a home equity loan or line of credit. Those can price lower but put the house on the line, so compare the two in writing; our personal loan vs. HELOC guide walks through it.
Places inside Ashland County
Here are the 12 most populous of the county's 12 Census places, with income and rent from the same 2020 to 2024 survey. About 53% of Ashland County residents live in one of the 12. Among places of 500 or more people, median income runs from $54,125 in Perrysville to $79,320 in Cinnamon Lake. None of the 12 has its own city guide, so this page covers all of them.
| Place in county | Status | Population (ACS) | Median HH income | Monthly rent | Distance from center |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ashland | city | 18,911 | $60,029 | $893 | 3 mi |
| Loudonville | village | 3,230 | $56,005 | $671 | 15 mi |
| Sullivan | CDP | 1,027 | $67,964 | n/a | 13 mi |
| Cinnamon Lake | CDP | 933 | $79,320 | n/a | 11 mi |
| Perrysville | village | 822 | $54,125 | $755 | 13 mi |
| Hayesville | village | 580 | $76,250 | $825 | 5 mi |
| Jeromesville | village | 547 | $68,750 | $1,065 | 5 mi |
| Nankin | CDP | 421 | $145,536 | n/a | 5 mi |
| Polk | village | 380 | $68,125 | $675 | 8 mi |
| Bailey Lakes | village | 314 | $75,000 | $978 | 9 mi |
| Savannah | village | 306 | $73,750 | $904 | 10 mi |
| Mifflin | village | 247 | $55,481 | $648 | 7 mi |
CDPs are unincorporated communities the Census Bureau defines for counting.
Ashland County and the counties next door
Richland County is closest, 15 miles from center to center; the sixth, Knox County, is 31 miles off. 4 of the six report a higher median household income than Ashland County; Medina County is highest at $94,968 and Richland County lowest at $59,509.
| Nearby county | Center to center | Household income | Gross rent | Owner-occupied |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ashland County | - | $69,860 | $888/mo | 78% |
| Richland County, OH | 15 mi | $59,509 | $824/mo | 68% |
| Wayne County, OH | 20 mi | $73,574 | $881/mo | 77% |
| Holmes County, OH | 26 mi | $76,140 | $816/mo | 79% |
| Huron County, OH | 27 mi | $67,878 | $848/mo | 74% |
| Medina County, OH | 27 mi | $94,968 | $1,143/mo | 80% |
| Knox County, OH | 31 mi | $73,878 | $950/mo | 76% |
Budget math at the Ashland County median
Ashland County at the medians, through a lender's eyes (what DTI means):
- $69,860 a year is $5,822 of gross monthly income
- Housing at the median rent of $888 uses 15%
- Under a 35% cap, $2,038 total minus rent leaves $1,150
- 45% debt-to-income limit: $1,732 left for all other debt payments
Lenders set their own limits and look beyond the ratio. The DTI calculator uses your figures instead of Ashland County's.
Ashland County households compared
23% of Ashland County adults 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or more. The uninsured rate is 7.1%, against 6.4% for Ohio.
| Residents | Ashland County | Ohio | Middle U.S. county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 41.2 | 39.7 | 41.5 |
| Bachelor's or higher | 22.6% | 31.5% | 22.2% |
| No high school diploma | 8.6% | 8.2% | n/a |
| No health insurance | 7.1% | 6.4% | 7.8% |
| No vehicle | 6.5% | 7.5% | 5.4% |
| Work from home | 6.5% | 13.0% | 8.7% |
| Poverty rate | 13.3% | 13.3% | 13.2% |
| Unemployment (ACS) | 3.6% | 4.8% | 4.4% |
| Trip time | Share |
|---|---|
| Under 15 min | 37.7% |
| 15 to 29 min | 30.8% |
| 30 to 44 min | 18.3% |
| 45 to 59 min | 6.3% |
| 60+ min | 7.0% |
Reading the Ashland County data as a borrower
Where the Ashland County numbers stand out, and why it matters for a loan:
- Advance-fee offers. No legitimate lender asks a Ashland County borrower to pay first (scam signs).
- Consolidating cards in Ashland County. Compare the total repaid, not the monthly figure (how).
- Paperwork. ID, proof of income and a bank account are the basics (requirements).
Checklist for Ashland County applicants
Four checks before you sign anything:
- Get a written quote for whatever you are paying for in Ashland County.
- Shop at least three lenders, including one Ashland County-area credit union.
- Confirm the lender is licensed in Ohio.
- Lock paid-off cards after consolidating so balances stay at zero.
Licensing and complaints for Ashland County
No county office licenses personal lenders. For Ashland County, check the Ohio Division of Financial Institutions. A CFPB complaint gets forwarded to the company for a response. Statewide data and rules: Ohio guide.
More guides for Ashland County
For statewide rules and data, see the Ohio guide.
Frequently asked questions
What is the median household income in Ashland County?
$69,860 a year in the 2020 to 2024 Census survey, versus $71,389 for Ohio. It ranks 39th of 88 in the state.
How much is rent in Ashland County?
Median gross rent, utilities included, is $888 a month; 43% of renters spend 30% or more of income on it.
I live in a small Ashland County town. Is this my guide?
Yes. If your town has no city guide, this county page is the local one; it covers Ashland, Loudonville, Sullivan, Cinnamon Lake, Perrysville and 7 more.
Does my county matter to the questionnaire?
Only your state does. Whether you live in Ashland County or elsewhere in Ohio, the same rules apply.
Who do I complain to about a lender in Ashland County?
Start with the Ohio Division of Financial Institutions, then the CFPB complaint portal. Keep copies of every message.