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Ashland, KY

Photo: Wikipedia

Ashland, KY

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Demographics

HomogeneousSimpson's Diversity Index: 16
Population21,405
Foreign Born1.0%
Population Density1,994people per mi²
Median Age41.1 yrs
Demographics Trajectory
StableSince 2010, this city has held a relatively stable population and racial composition.
Current Race / Ethnicity Breakdown
Population Trends

Quality of Life

Overall Quality Of Life
A-
Great

A high quality of life with strong walkability, manageable living costs, healthy neighborhood signals, and solid amenity access.

Quality of Life blends cost of living, nearby amenities, socioeconomic signals, and neighborhood character. City-level scores represent the whole municipality; individual neighborhoods can differ.

Cost of Living

62/100

38% below national average

A+

The Real Cost of Living in Ashland, Kentucky

TierIndividualFamily (4)
Survival $14k$26k
Comfortable $24k$36k
Luxury $93k+$144k+
Elite (Top 5%) $109k+$169k+
Affordability Ratio

146%

The Hood Index™

A metric tracking the socioeconomic signals of the area.

A
Hood Index scan area
Luxury Lean86%
RisksNeutralGrowth
Premium
20
Positive
8
Poor
3
Negative
3

Groceries

5 within 10 miles

1.3mi

Gas

20 within 10 miles

1.1mi

Hospital

11 within 20 miles

1mi

Airport

John Glenn Columbus International Airport

107.1mi

Post Office

USPS — Ashland, KY

1.4mi

Critical Amenities

Country Clubs

1 private club within 10 miles.

Golf1Nearest 7.5 mi
Camping8Nearest 19.2 mi
Marina0Nearest 13.2 mi
Winery0 
Ice Rink0 
Gun Range0Nearest 18.5 mi

Affluence Level

Overall Affluence Grade
F
Distressed

A low-income area with significant economic hardship. Household wealth and educational attainment are well below national averages.

Median HHI
$52k+1.9%
31% below US avg
Est. Avg Net Worth
$263k
60% below US avg
College Educated
24.6%
30% below US avg
WFH
7.0%
51% below US avg
Homeownership
59.9%
8% below US avg
Median Home
$125k
56% below US avg

Crime

Overall Crime Grade
C+
Moderate

Crime rates similar to the national median for U.S. locations.

Crime Rate
22.4
Incidents per 1,000 residents
5yr Trend
−5.1%
Overall crime change since 2020

Violent Crime

5yr+21.9%
Homicide
0.05 / 1k Residents85% above state avg
Robbery
0.24 / 1k Residents14% below state avg
Aggravated Assault
1.62 / 1k Residents20% above state avg

Property Crime

5yr−32.0%
Burglary
2.15 / 1k Residents35% above state avg
Larceny-Theft
16.29 / 1k Residents91% above state avg
Motor Vehicle Theft
1.43 / 1k Residents21% below state avg
Source: FBI Crime Data · 2025

Political Climate

Cook PVI: R+32Solidly Conservative

District shown is the primary district for this city’s centroid. Cities may span multiple districts.

Presidential Voting Trends for Ashland, Kentucky
Dem Rep
10%20%30%40%50%60%70%80%90%2000200420082012201620202024

Personal Sovereignty

Personal Sovereignty measures your capacity for self-reliance and independence with minimal government friction. Higher scores mean fewer barriers between you and the way you want to live... but it assumes you have the space you need and good neighbors.

Overall Sovereignty Grade
B
Self-Reliant

Viable for self-reliance. Generally workable, though some barriers may limit total independence.

State Policy

Tax Burden
C+
Fair9.6% of income
Property Rights
D+
WeakIJ Grade D+
Firearm Rights
A
GreatFPC Grade A
Homeschooling
A-
GoodLow regulation

Energy independence: Importer (60% of energy produced in-state)

Personal Liberty

Raw Milk
D-
RestrictedLimited
Gambling Laws
C+
LimitedTribal · Poker · Sportsbetting
Marijuana Laws
C+
LimitedMedical only

Homesteading

Growing Season205 days286 frost-free
Annual Rainfall49.9"
Elevation669 ft

Strategic Assessment

Strategic Assessment grades tactical survivability using Joel Skousen's Strategic Relocation framework. Major population centers, blast zones, natural disasters, and border exposure all drive risk — lower exposure means a more defensible position in a crisis.

Learn more about Strategic Relocation ($)
Overall Strategic Grade
C+
Exposed

Meaningful friction. Expect exposure to either population pressure, blast zones, or natural disaster risk. Consider buying a retreat property.

Strategic Pillars

City Proximity
C-
Weak485 mi to nearest major city
Pop. Density
C-
Weak1,994/sq mi
Fallout Danger
A-
Good1 within ~30 mi
Natural Disaster
D-
PoorInland Flooding, Heat Wave, Tornado, Strong Wind, Earthquake
Border / Coast
A+
Greatborder 312 mi · coast 361 mi
FEMA Expected Loss$29.5M/yrfor the county

Key Distances

Nearest Major CityLexington323k people are 105 mi away
Nearest Major AirportNo hub airport within 50 mi
Distance to State Capital122 miFrankfort, KY
Nearest Prison7.2 mi1 within 25 mi

* Values derived from national, state, county, city and local statistics and may differ in a specific area. Last updated: 2026-04-21T09:16:49.000Z

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