1st Advantage MortgageIn Ashland County, Wisconsin, the typical household earns $62,462 a year and the typical rent is $721. Your income, debts and credit decide what you qualify for. Get offers in writing, compare the total repaid, and never pay a fee up front.
On this page
- Getting oriented in Ashland County
- How Ashland County residents earn a living
- Income in Ashland County compared with Wisconsin
- What it costs to live in Ashland County
- Regional comparison for Ashland County
- Places inside Ashland County
- Ashland County residents: age, schooling, coverage
- What the numbers mean for Ashland County borrowers
- Room for a loan payment in Ashland County
- Steps before you apply in Ashland County
- Checking a lender's license in Wisconsin
- Nearby and statewide guides
- Frequently asked questions
Getting oriented in Ashland County
With an estimated 16,080 residents (ACS 2020 to 2024), Ashland County ranks 62nd of 72 in Wisconsin for population. Land area is 1,045 square miles (2024 Gazetteer), so density runs near 15 per square mile. It sits outside every metropolitan statistical area in the July 2023 OMB delineation. Of the 13 Census places inside Ashland County, Ashland leads by population with about 7,902; 3 of the 13 are incorporated.
How Ashland County residents earn a living
Education and health care employs 27% of working residents, the largest share; retail trade is next with 12%. Public administration stands out: 8% of workers here, versus 4% statewide. Averaged over the five survey years, 3.8% of the labor force was out of work and looking. About 74% drive to work alone and 9% have trips of 45 minutes or more.
| Industry (employed residents 16+) | Ashland County | Gap to Wisconsin |
|---|---|---|
| Education and health care | 26.8% | +3.5 pts |
| Retail trade | 12.2% | +1.1 pts |
| Manufacturing | 11.0% | -6.8 pts |
| Arts, lodging and food service | 10.0% | +2.6 pts |
| Construction | 9.5% | +3.2 pts |
| Professional and administrative services | 8.2% | -1.3 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.
Income in Ashland County compared with Wisconsin
Ashland County households have a median income of $62,462 (ACS 2020 to 2024), which ranks 63rd of 72 in Wisconsin.
| Household income | Ashland County | vs Wisconsin |
|---|---|---|
| Under $35,000 | 29.1% | +8.9 pts |
| $35,000 to $99,999 | 43.1% | +1.0 pts |
| $100,000 to $199,999 | 24.1% | -4.4 pts |
| $200,000 or more | 3.7% | -5.5 pts |
Some 29% of households here live on less than $35,000 a year; 28% have six-figure incomes. Census counts 13.4% of Ashland County residents in poverty, against 10.6% across Wisconsin. For a borrower in Ashland County, the county median is only context: a lender looks at the income you can document, so pay stubs, benefit letters or tax returns matter more than any average.
What it costs to live in Ashland County
Median gross rent, utilities included, comes to $721 in Ashland County versus $1,087 statewide. By the Census definition, 37% of Ashland County renters are cost-burdened. The median owner-occupied home is valued at $170,300, about 2.7 times the median household income. The ownership rate is 73%. Median construction year: 1972.
| Cost | Ashland County | Wisconsin figure | Median county, U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median gross rent | $721/mo | $1,087/mo | $877/mo |
| Median home value | $170,300 | $266,500 | $185,300 |
| Owners | 73% | 68% | 75% |
| Rent-burdened renters | 37% | 44% | 45% |
| Burdened owners | 23% | 22% | n/a |
Because most Ashland County households own, home repairs are a frequent reason to borrow. An unsecured personal loan leaves the house out of the deal, while a HELOC uses it as collateral.
Regional comparison for Ashland County
Nearest neighbors first, measured between county centers (24 to 62 miles). Douglas County leads the group on income ($75,099), Gogebic County trails ($52,732), and Ashland County out-earns 4 of the six. Some neighbors are in Michigan. Lender licensing is state by state, so a loan for a Ashland County resident follows Wisconsin rules.
| Adjacent area | How far | HH income (median) | Rent (median) | Owner share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ashland County | - | $62,462 | $721/mo | 73% |
| Bayfield County, WI | 24 mi | $71,151 | $812/mo | 84% |
| Iron County, WI | 25 mi | $60,625 | $662/mo | 89% |
| Gogebic County, MI | 43 mi | $52,732 | $623/mo | 81% |
| Sawyer County, WI | 52 mi | $60,801 | $712/mo | 77% |
| Douglas County, WI | 58 mi | $75,099 | $909/mo | 72% |
| Price County, WI | 62 mi | $60,546 | $786/mo | 82% |
Places inside Ashland County
The table lists the 13 largest of 13 Census places in Ashland County, by population. Together all 13 hold about 10,510 people, so roughly 35% of residents live outside any named place. None of the 13 has its own city guide, so this page covers all of them.
| Place | Type | Population | Median income | Median rent | From county center |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ashland | city | 7,902 | $54,529 | $753 | 9 mi |
| Mellen | city | 681 | $41,875 | $594 | 15 mi |
| Butternut | village | 465 | $43,750 | $626 | 38 mi |
| Birch Hill | CDP | 313 | $54,875 | $465 | 6 mi |
| New Odanah | CDP | 275 | $40,417 | n/a | 4 mi |
| Glidden | CDP | 215 | $57,829 | $588 | 29 mi |
| Marengo | CDP | 149 | $57,292 | $754 | 10 mi |
| Bayfront | CDP | 135 | $99,213 | n/a | 8 mi |
| Diaperville | CDP | 109 | $51,650 | n/a | 4 mi |
| Jolmaville | CDP | 104 | $81,250 | n/a | 8 mi |
| Odanah | CDP | 60 | n/a | n/a | 3 mi |
| Clam Lake | CDP | 53 | $73,393 | n/a | 29 mi |
| Franks Field | CDP | 49 | $22,917 | n/a | 4 mi |
A CDP is a named community without its own municipal government.
Ashland County residents: age, schooling, coverage
Degree holders: 25% of adults over 25. 6.4% of residents have no health coverage.
| Indicator | Ashland County | All of Wisconsin | U.S. county median |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 43.1 | 40.2 | 41.5 |
| Bachelor's or higher | 24.5% | 33.4% | 22.2% |
| No high school diploma | 4.5% | 6.4% | n/a |
| No health insurance | 6.4% | 5.2% | 7.8% |
| No vehicle | 5.8% | 6.4% | 5.4% |
| Work from home | 9.7% | 13.1% | 8.7% |
| Poverty rate | 13.4% | 10.6% | 13.2% |
| Unemployment (ACS) | 3.8% | 3.2% | 4.4% |
| One-way commute | Share of Ashland County workers |
|---|---|
| Under 15 min | 56.7% |
| 15 to 29 min | 27.1% |
| 30 to 44 min | 6.8% |
| 45 to 59 min | 4.0% |
| 60+ min | 5.4% |
What the numbers mean for Ashland County borrowers
A few patterns in the Ashland County data, and the practical point behind each:
- Know your credit. Review all three bureau reports for free (AnnualCreditReport.com).
- Advance-fee offers. No legitimate lender asks a Ashland County borrower to pay first (scam signs).
- Paperwork. ID, proof of income and a bank account are the basics (requirements).
Room for a loan payment in Ashland County
Ashland County at the medians, through a lender's eyes (what DTI means):
- $62,462 a year is $5,205 of gross monthly income
- Less median rent of $721, which is 14% of it
- At 35%, room after rent is $1,101 a month
- $1,621: what a 45% ratio leaves once rent is paid
Subtract what you already pay on other debts. A new payment should fit in what remains, with some to spare.
Steps before you apply in Ashland County
Four checks before you sign anything:
- Know the exact dollar figure you need before talking to a lender.
- Ask each lender for the APR and all fees in writing.
- Verify the Wisconsin license before giving out your Social Security number.
- Ask a Ashland County credit union about member loans.
Checking a lender's license in Wisconsin
Before sharing details with a lender, a Ashland County resident can confirm its license with the Wisconsin Department of Financial Institutions. The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau accepts complaints nationwide. See the Wisconsin state guide for the statewide picture.
Nearby and statewide guides
For statewide rules and data, see the Wisconsin guide.
Frequently asked questions
Is Ashland County a high-income county?
Its $62,462 median ranks 63rd of 72 Wisconsin counties and compares with $65,681 for the median U.S. county.
Is Ashland County expensive for renters?
Median rent is $721 against $1,087 statewide, and 37% of renter households are cost-burdened.
What are the biggest places in Ashland County?
By population: Ashland, Mellen, Butternut, Birch Hill, New Odanah. The county has 13 Census places in all.
Can Ashland County residents use the questionnaire?
Yes. It asks the same questions in every Wisconsin county, lists every requirement up front and does not affect your credit score.
Who regulates personal lenders for Ashland County residents?
The Wisconsin Department of Financial Institutions licenses consumer lenders in Wisconsin; the CFPB takes complaints about any lender, and the FTC wants to hear about fee-first offers.