Small-town market profile · Ohio
Ashland, OH area market data
How the Ashland area compares with other small-town markets for 56 business types: competitors, household spending, official counts and growth.
- Population, 2025
- 52,523
- +0.1% since 2020
- Households
- 20,720
- Median household income
- $69,860
- +32.3% vs. 2015–2019, before inflation
- Median home value
- $186,800
- Jobs located here
- 18,646
- Highest market score
- 78
- Collision repair and body shops, #26 of 387 scored small-town markets
A site report maps the competitors on map listings around any address in the Ashland area by name and distance, and the households and spending within reach. Or open the report at the center of the Ashland area. Signed out, you see a blurred preview; on an account, each report is one action.
Free10 actions over 3 days, no cardSurvey estimates 2020–2024 · population estimates 2025 · official business counts 2023 · map listings September 2026 · Data credits · How we measure
What this means
The Ashland area has an estimated 52,523 people and 20,720 households. Population estimates put the population change in the Ashland area from 2020 to 2025 at +0.1%, slower than the U.S. (+3.1%). Median household income in the Ashland area is $69,860, 13% below the U.S. median of $80,734. Against the 2015–2019 survey, the median rose 32.3%, before inflation.
Relative to the U.S., household spending in the Ashland area runs highest on vehicle maintenance and repairs (an index of 118, where 100 is the U.S. average) and lowest on child care and other personal services (56).
Of the business types scored in the Ashland area, collision repair and body shops (78), dentists and orthodontists (77) and clothing and shoe stores (76) have the highest Groundwork market scores. For collision repair and body shops, that ranks #26 of 387 scored small-town markets.
The Ashland area is made up of one county, Ashland County. Against the U.S., map listings per household run highest for pet grooming and boarding businesses (89% above the U.S. rate) and lowest for dentists and orthodontists (60% below the U.S. rate).
All 56 business types in the Ashland area
Highest Groundwork market score first. Each score compares the Ashland area with other small-town markets for that business type, from 0 to 100. Spending per listing divides a whole spending line (all vehicle repairs, all eating out) by one type’s listings: the demand for each competitor, not a business’s revenue. Compare it across markets with its index, where 100 is the U.S. figure for the same type; the real estate types, whose line is all housing costs, show the index only. How the score works.
| Business type | Score | Rank among small-town markets | Listings | Per 10k households | Spending per listing | Spending per listing vs. U.S. (100) | Official establishments |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Collision repair and body shops | 78 | #26 of 387 | 5 | 2.4 | $4.7M | 152 | 4 |
| Dentists and orthodontists | 77 | #42 of 526 | 11 | 5.3 | $2.5M | 249 | 10 |
| Clothing and shoe stores | 76 | #49 of 536 | 14 | 6.8 | $2.6M | 207 | 3 |
| HVAC and plumbing | 75 | #25 of 476 | 5 | 2.4 | $10.4M | 218 | 8 |
| Sit-down restaurants | 75 | #39 of 538 | 64 | 30.9 | $1.1M | 172 | 28 |
| Clothing, shoes and laundry | 75 | #65 of 536 | 24 | 11.6 | $1.5M | 175 | 3 |
| Home repair trades | 72 | #38 of 526 | 15 | 7.2 | $3.5M | 142 | 13 |
| Gas stations | 71 | #66 of 536 | 25 | 12.1 | $2.4M | 102 | 19 |
| Restaurants and cafes | 70 | #79 of 538 | 146 | 70.5 | $499K | 135 | 78 |
| Funeral homes | 67 | #84 of 365 | 8 | 3.9 | $417K | 61 | 3 |
| Auto repair shops | 67 | #94 of 538 | 45 | 21.7 | $520K | 117 | 22 |
| Tire shops | 67 | #99 of 431 | 6 | 2.9 | $3.9M | 156 | 5 |
| Auto repair and car care | 67 | #110 of 538 | 82 | 39.6 | $285K | 106 | 30 |
| Car washes and detailing | 66 | #97 of 441 | 9 | 4.3 | $2.6M | 103 | Under 3 |
| Hair salons | 65 | #89 of 538 | 31 | 15.0 | $608K | 141 | 9 |
| Doctors, dentists and clinics | 64 | #140 of 538 | 127 | 61.3 | $212K | 139 | 45 |
| Child care and preschools | 62 | #126 of 454 | 5 | 2.4 | $1.3M | 134 | 8 |
| Salons, barbers and spas | 61 | #128 of 538 | 59 | 28.5 | $320K | 150 | 15 |
| Gyms, studios and classes | 59 | #166 of 535 | 24 | 11.6 | $632K | 95 | 4 |
| Coffee shops and cafes | 59 | #169 of 529 | 13 | 6.3 | $5.6M | 151 | 12 |
| Spas and skin care | 58 | #163 of 504 | 13 | 6.3 | $1.5M | 166 | 4 |
| Primary care and pediatrics | 56 | #182 of 458 | 13 | 6.3 | $2.1M | 117 | 27 |
| Real estate | 55 | #196 of 536 | 39 | 18.8 | Index only | 161 | 10 |
| Gyms | 55 | #202 of 506 | 14 | 6.8 | $1.1M | 83 | 4 |
| Barbershops | 54 | #167 of 377 | 9 | 4.3 | $2.1M | 111 | Under 3 |
| Real estate agents and brokers | 53 | #224 of 533 | 32 | 15.4 | Index only | 156 | 6 |
| Convenience stores | 53 | #257 of 529 | 25 | 12.1 | $4.8M | 60 | 4 |
| Grocery stores | 51 | #255 of 506 | 12 | 5.8 | $9.9M | 107 | 11 |
| Yoga, Pilates and fitness studios | 50 | #57 of 112 | 6 | 2.9 | $2.5M | 62 | 4 |
| Roofing and gutters | 50 | #141 of 288 | 6 | 2.9 | $8.6M | 102 | Under 3 |
| Bakeries and dessert shops | 50 | #257 of 507 | 16 | 7.7 | $4.6M | 110 | 12 |
| Insurance agencies | 45 | #300 of 537 | 25 | 12.1 | $1.5M | 118 | 22 |
| Fast food and sandwich shops | 45 | #324 of 537 | 32 | 15.4 | $2.3M | 75 | 38 |
| Pet stores | 44 | #131 of 220 | 5 | 2.4 | $3.1M | 69 | 3 |
| Pizza | 43 | #324 of 520 | 22 | 10.6 | $3.3M | 65 | 38 |
| Grocery and convenience stores | 43 | #354 of 538 | 51 | 24.6 | $2.3M | 69 | 15 |
| House cleaning | 42 | #88 of 142 | 5 | 2.4 | $4.7M | 73 | 7 |
| Landscaping and lawn care | 41 | #260 of 399 | 9 | 4.3 | $2.6M | 89 | 19 |
| Veterinarians | 39 | #273 of 398 | 8 | 3.9 | $1.9M | 71 | 9 |
| Pet grooming and boarding | 39 | #277 of 387 | 14 | 6.8 | $1.1M | 44 | 3 |
| Chiropractors | 37 | #320 of 426 | 18 | 8.7 | $1.5M | 63 | 8 |
| Lawn, cleaning and pest control | 37 | #357 of 481 | 16 | 7.7 | $1.5M | 87 | 26 |
| Pet businesses | 23 | #500 of 527 | 36 | 17.4 | $432K | 49 | 15 |
| Electricians | Not scored | Not scored | 4 | 1.9 | $13M | 108 | 5 |
| Laundromats | Not scored | Not scored | 4 | 1.9 | $9.2M | 74 | Under 3 |
| Martial arts and dance studios | Not scored | Not scored | 4 | 1.9 | $3.8M | 188 | Under 3 |
| Nail salons | Not scored | Not scored | 4 | 1.9 | $4.7M | 282 | Under 3 |
| Optometrists and eye care | Not scored | Not scored | 4 | 1.9 | $6.7M | 215 | Under 3 |
| Physical therapy | Not scored | Not scored | 4 | 1.9 | $6.7M | 281 | Under 3 |
| Property management | Not scored | Not scored | 4 | 1.9 | Index only | 123 | 3 |
| Home inspectors | Not scored | Not scored | 2 | 1.0 | Index only | Too few | Under 3 |
| Pest control | Not scored | Not scored | 2 | 1.0 | $11.7M | Too few | Under 3 |
| Dry cleaners | Not scored | Not scored | 1 | 0.5 | $36.9M | Too few | Under 3 |
| Mortgage brokers and lenders | Not scored | Not scored | 1 | 0.5 | Index only | Too few | Under 3 |
| Oil change and quick lube | Not scored | Not scored | 1 | 0.5 | $23.4M | Too few | Under 3 |
| Urgent care and walk-in clinics | Not scored | Not scored | 1 | 0.5 | $27M | Too few | Under 3 |
Household spending in the Ashland area
What households here spend in a year on each line, in total and per household, with the index against the U.S. average (100).
| Spending line | A year, all households | Per household | Index vs. U.S. (100) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Vehicle maintenance and repairs | $23.4M | $1,130 | 118 |
| Gasoline and other fuels | $60.6M | $2,923 | 113 |
| Food away from home | $72.9M | $3,518 | 86 |
| Groceries | $119.1M | $5,749 | 91 |
| Personal care products and services | $18.9M | $910 | 91 |
| Child care and other personal services | $6.7M | $325 | 56 |
| Memberships, classes and admissions | $15.2M | $732 | 74 |
| Medical and dental services | $27M | $1,302 | 101 |
| Pets | $15.5M | $750 | 82 |
| Clothing, shoes and related services | $36.9M | $1,781 | 87 |
| Vehicle insurance | $37M | $1,787 | 91 |
| Home repairs, maintenance and insurance | $51.9M | $2,502 | 83 |
| Lawn care, cleaning and other household services | $23.4M | $1,131 | 80 |
| Rent and homeowner costs | $272.3M | $13,140 | 79 |
Household spending is estimated from the incomes of the households in each neighborhood, using what households at each income spent nationally in 2024, adjusted for the region. It counts what residents spend, wherever they spend it.
Population and households in the Ashland area
- Population, 2025 estimate
- 52,523+0.1% since 2020
- Households
- 20,720
- Median age
- 42.2
- Homes lived in by their owners
- 78%
- Vehicles per household
- 2.0
- Land area
- 423 sq. mi.
- People per square mile
- 124
- Median household income
- $69,860+32.3% vs. 2015–2019, before inflation
- Average household income
- $82,890
- Median home value
- $186,800
- Jobs located here
- 18,646
- Daytime population
- 47,965Residents who don’t work, plus everyone whose job is here
Looking at a specific site in the Ashland area?
These figures cover the whole small-town market. A site report draws rings around one address and counts what’s inside them: households, spending, jobs, and the competitors on map listings by name and distance, for any of the 56 business types.
Or open the report at the center of the Ashland area. Signed out, you see a blurred preview; on an account, each report is one action.
Free10 actions over 3 days, no cardRelated markets
Counties in the Ashland area 1
- Ashland County, OH52,256 people
Other markets based in Ohio 12
- Cincinnati, OH-KY-IN metro area2,270,706 people
- Columbus, OH metro area2,175,788 people
- Cleveland, OH metro area2,171,526 people
- Dayton-Kettering-Beavercreek, OH metro area816,080 people
- Akron, OH metro area699,820 people
- Toledo, OH metro area602,322 people
- Youngstown-Warren, OH metro area427,420 people
- Canton-Massillon, OH metro area400,372 people
- Springfield, OH metro area135,158 people
- Mansfield, OH metro area125,099 people
- Sandusky, OH metro area114,575 people
- Lima, OH metro area101,348 people
Questions
How fast is the Ashland, OH area growing?
Population estimates put the Ashland area at 52,523 people in 2025, up 0.1% since 2020, slower than the U.S. (+3.1%). It has 20,720 households. Median household income rose 32.3% from the 2015–2019 survey, before inflation.
How much do households in the Ashland, OH area spend?
Households in the Ashland area spend about $272.3M a year on rent and homeowner costs, $119.1M on groceries and $72.9M on food away from home. Set against the U.S., households in the Ashland area spend the most on vehicle maintenance and repairs (an index of 118, where 100 is the U.S. average) and the least on child care and other personal services (56).
Which business types have the highest market scores in the Ashland, OH area?
The highest Groundwork market scores in the Ashland area are for collision repair and body shops (78), dentists and orthodontists (77) and clothing and shoe stores (76). The Ashland area ranks #26 of 387 scored small-town markets for collision repair and body shops.
How does the Ashland, OH area compare with the U.S.?
The median household income in the Ashland area is $69,860 a year, 13% below the U.S. median of $80,734. The population rose 0.1% from 2020 to 2025, against +3.1% for the U.S. The median home value is $186,800, against $332,700 for the U.S. For its number of households, the Ashland area has the most map listings, relative to the U.S., for pet grooming and boarding businesses (89% above the U.S. rate) and the fewest for dentists and orthodontists (60% below the U.S. rate).
What is the Groundwork market score?
The Groundwork market score runs from 0 to 100 and compares a market with others of its kind for one business type: states with states, metro areas with metro areas, small-town markets and counties with their own. A small-town market is a town of 10,000 to 50,000 people and the county or counties tied to it by commuting. It weighs household spending per competitor (35%), households per business with payroll (25%), population growth (20%) and spending power (20%), each ranked against those peers. A higher score means that, taken together, the market has more household spending and more households for each business already there, faster population growth and more spending per household than similar markets. It describes a market, not any one site or deal. 43 of the 56 business types have a score in the Ashland area, each ranked against other small-town markets.
How can I see the market around a specific site?
Run a Groundwork site report on an address in the Ashland area. It maps the competitors on map listings near the site and sizes the households and spending within the distance you choose. New accounts get 10 actions over 3 days, no card.
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Screening a site or an acquisition in the Ashland area?
A site report maps the competitors on map listings near an address and sizes the households and spending around it.
The button opens the report at the center of the Ashland area. Signed out, you see a blurred preview; on an account, each report is one action.
This product uses the Census Bureau Data API but is not endorsed or certified by the Census Bureau.
Figures are estimates for research only. Not investment or real estate advice.