Your life in Ashland County, Wisconsin

What stands out

Against every county in America, Ashland County is unusual in three ways: the average temperature is in the bottom 2% of American counties (41°F), natural-hazard risk is in the bottom 4% of American counties (4 of 100), and the restaurant count per person is in the top 5% of American counties (1.6 per 1,000). Within Wisconsin it ranks 6th of 72 counties for the average temperature, counting from the bottom.

Where you are

You live in Ashland County, Wisconsin. 16,041 people live here with you. The population held steady at 0.2% last year, and more Americans moved in than out (net +70).

Wisconsin has a graduated income tax reaching 7.65%, does not tax Social Security, and exempts some retirement income for residents 65 and over. Property taxes are high, largely for schools and local services, with a state lottery credit offsetting part of the bill. Milwaukee and Madison drive most job growth; the northern half of the state is lakes, forests and second homes.

Money

The typical household here brings in $57,000 a year, lower than 61% of American counties. Employers pay an average wage of $50,101. Unemployment runs 3.9%, higher than 67% of American counties. 7% of workers work from home; for the rest the average commute is 16 minutes each way.

Wisconsin takes 4.2% of that median income in state income tax, about $2,417 a year.

Home

The median home costs $191K, cheaper than 67% of American counties, about 1.9 years of the median household's income. A two-bedroom rents for around $708 a month. Property tax is 1.58% of home value, roughly $2,268 a year on that median home, higher than 88% of American counties. 72% of households own rather than rent.

Safety and health

Violent crime here is 3.9 per 1,000 residents, higher than 53% of American counties. Drug overdoses killed 26 people per 100,000 in 2024, one of the harder-hit counties in the country.

A child born here can expect to live 74.8 years, shorter than 61% of American counties. There are 50 active physicians in the county, about 31.2 per 10,000 people. Medicare rates the local hospitals 3.0 of 5 stars. 6.7% of people under 65 have no health insurance.

School

Local students test at grade level 2.99 where 3.0 is national grade level, lower than 59% of American counties. 95% of adults finished high school.

Neighbors and politics

In 2024 your neighbors voted Democratic by 11 points. 73% of eligible voters turned out. Under Wisconsin law you can get a concealed-carry permit on request, abortion is legal with limits, and marijuana is illegal.

Weather and risk

The year averages 41°F, highs near 52 and lows near 30, colder than 98% of American counties. About 31 inches of rain and snow fall a year. FEMA puts natural-hazard risk at 4 out of 100, safer than 96% of American counties; the county has had 14 federal disaster declarations since 1953.

Getting around, going out

Home internet averages 171 Mbps down, slower than 62% of American counties. There are 2 airports in the county, counting general aviation. For a night or a weekend out: 1.6 full-service restaurants per 1,000 people, 1 brewery, 2 National Park Service sites.

Where these numbers come from

• BLS QCEW 2024
• CDC 2024
• CMS 2024
• Census 2023
• Census ACS
• Census ACS 2022
• Census Population Estimates 2023
• Census SAHIE 2024
• County Health Rankings 2024
• Derived from ACS 2022 home value / household income
• FAA Airport Database
• FEMA Disaster Declarations 1953–2026
• FEMA National Risk Index 2023 (0–100, all hazards)
• HRSA Area Health Resources File 2023
• IMLS
• NOAA Climate Normals
• National Park Service
• Ookla Speedtest Intelligence
• Open Brewery DB
• OpenElections 2024
• SEDA via County Health Rankings 2024 (3.0 = at grade level; not a Z-score)
• Tax Foundation 2023
• USDA Food Environment Atlas
• Zillow ZHVI 2024
• Wisconsin tax and law data: state revenue department, Tax Foundation, Giffords, Guttmacher (2026)

Percentiles compare this county with every other county that reports the same figure. Missing figures are left out rather than guessed. Share this page: the address is permanent.