County profile · Wisconsin
Ashland County, WI market data
Population, household spending and competition for 56 business types in Ashland County, each scored against other counties.
- Population, 2025
- 16,203
- +1.1% since 2020
- Households
- 6,832
- Median household income
- $62,462
- +46.9% vs. 2015–2019, before inflation
- Median home value
- $170,300
- Jobs located here
- 7,396
- Highest market score
- 66
- Dentists and orthodontists, #377 of 1,886 scored counties
A site report maps the competitors on map listings around any address in Ashland County by name and distance, and the households and spending within reach. Or open the report at the center of Ashland County. 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
An estimated 16,203 people live in Ashland County, in 6,832 households. Between 2020 and 2025, the population of Ashland County grew 1.1%, slower than the U.S. (+3.1%). The median household income in Ashland County is $62,462 a year, 23% below the U.S. median of $80,734. That rose 46.9% from the 2015–2019 survey, before inflation.
Set against the U.S., households in Ashland County spend the most on vehicle maintenance and repairs (an index of 107, where 100 is the U.S. average) and the least on child care and other personal services (56).
The highest Groundwork market scores in Ashland County are for dentists and orthodontists (66), medical and dental practices (55) and fast food and sandwich shops (54). Ashland County ranks #377 of 1,886 scored counties for dentists and orthodontists.
For its number of households, Ashland County has the most map listings, relative to the U.S., for grocery stores (2.2 times the U.S. rate) and the fewest for real estate agents and brokers (42% below the U.S. rate).
All 56 business types in Ashland County
Highest Groundwork market score first. Each score compares Ashland County with other counties 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 counties | Listings | Per 10k households | Spending per listing | Spending per listing vs. U.S. (100) | Official establishments |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dentists and orthodontists | 66 | #377 of 1,886 | 5 | 7.3 | $1.7M | 175 | 4 |
| Doctors, dentists and clinics | 55 | #966 of 2,394 | 40 | 58.5 | $216K | 141 | 14 |
| Fast food and sandwich shops | 54 | #975 of 2,222 | 7 | 10.2 | $3.3M | 109 | 12 |
| Salons, barbers and spas | 53 | #974 of 2,385 | 20 | 29.3 | $300K | 141 | 6 |
| Clothing and shoe stores | 48 | #1,130 of 2,087 | 9 | 13.2 | $1.3M | 105 | 3 |
| Real estate | 46 | #1,296 of 2,229 | 16 | 23.4 | Index only | 126 | 3 |
| Auto repair and car care | 46 | #1,380 of 2,401 | 27 | 39.5 | $259K | 96 | 11 |
| Auto repair shops | 44 | #1,474 of 2,378 | 16 | 23.4 | $437K | 98 | 9 |
| Clothing, shoes and laundry | 43 | #1,389 of 2,210 | 15 | 22.0 | $797K | 91 | 3 |
| Hair salons | 40 | #1,642 of 2,339 | 15 | 22.0 | $400K | 93 | 4 |
| Bakeries and dessert shops | 38 | #1,358 of 1,889 | 6 | 8.8 | $3.9M | 94 | Under 3 |
| Pizza | 34 | #1,677 of 2,090 | 9 | 13.2 | $2.6M | 51 | 12 |
| Real estate agents and brokers | 34 | #1,887 of 2,176 | 12 | 17.6 | Index only | 133 | Under 3 |
| Lawn, cleaning and pest control | 32 | #1,510 of 1,771 | 6 | 8.8 | $1.2M | 74 | 9 |
| Gyms, studios and classes | 30 | #1,786 of 2,088 | 10 | 14.6 | $476K | 72 | Under 3 |
| Convenience stores | 30 | #1,805 of 2,261 | 10 | 14.6 | $3.8M | 49 | Under 3 |
| Pet businesses | 30 | #1,882 of 2,200 | 15 | 22.0 | $333K | 38 | 3 |
| Gas stations | 29 | #1,984 of 2,358 | 11 | 16.1 | $1.7M | 69 | 13 |
| Gyms | 24 | #1,613 of 1,792 | 7 | 10.2 | $679K | 52 | Under 3 |
| Coffee shops and cafes | 24 | #1,912 of 2,063 | 11 | 16.1 | $2.1M | 57 | Under 3 |
| Restaurants and cafes | 23 | #2,235 of 2,405 | 102 | 149.3 | $229K | 62 | 34 |
| Sit-down restaurants | 22 | #2,272 of 2,405 | 46 | 67.3 | $507K | 76 | 20 |
| Grocery and convenience stores | 21 | #2,205 of 2,402 | 27 | 39.5 | $1.4M | 42 | 7 |
| Grocery stores | 19 | #1,904 of 2,070 | 10 | 14.6 | $3.8M | 41 | 5 |
| Insurance agencies | 18 | #2,116 of 2,272 | 12 | 17.6 | $917K | 73 | 11 |
| Veterinarians | 16 | #1,427 of 1,485 | 8 | 11.7 | $624K | 23 | 3 |
| HVAC and plumbing | 15 | #1,682 of 1,707 | 6 | 8.8 | $2.7M | 57 | 11 |
| Home repair trades | 15 | #2,038 of 2,057 | 12 | 17.6 | $1.4M | 56 | 18 |
| Electricians | 13 | #1,142 of 1,160 | 5 | 7.3 | $3.3M | 27 | 7 |
| Chiropractors | Not scored | Not scored | 4 | 5.9 | $2.2M | 90 | Under 3 |
| Nail salons | Not scored | Not scored | 4 | 5.9 | $1.5M | 90 | Under 3 |
| Child care and preschools | Not scored | Not scored | 3 | 4.4 | $742K | 74 | 7 |
| Funeral homes | Not scored | Not scored | 3 | 4.4 | $365K | 54 | 3 |
| Landscaping and lawn care | Not scored | Not scored | 3 | 4.4 | $2.5M | 85 | 6 |
| Laundromats | Not scored | Not scored | 3 | 4.4 | $4M | 32 | Under 3 |
| Martial arts and dance studios | Not scored | Not scored | 3 | 4.4 | $1.6M | 79 | Under 3 |
| Pet stores | Not scored | Not scored | 3 | 4.4 | $1.7M | 37 | Under 3 |
| Physical therapy | Not scored | Not scored | 3 | 4.4 | $2.9M | 120 | 6 |
| Primary care and pediatrics | Not scored | Not scored | 3 | 4.4 | $2.9M | 161 | 4 |
| Car washes and detailing | Not scored | Not scored | 2 | 2.9 | $3.5M | Too few | Under 3 |
| Collision repair and body shops | Not scored | Not scored | 2 | 2.9 | $3.5M | Too few | 3 |
| Home inspectors | Not scored | Not scored | 2 | 2.9 | Index only | Too few | Under 3 |
| House cleaning | Not scored | Not scored | 2 | 2.9 | $3.7M | Too few | 3 |
| Mortgage brokers and lenders | Not scored | Not scored | 2 | 2.9 | Index only | Too few | Under 3 |
| Oil change and quick lube | Not scored | Not scored | 2 | 2.9 | $3.5M | Too few | Under 3 |
| Barbershops | Not scored | Not scored | 1 | 1.5 | $6M | Too few | Under 3 |
| Optometrists and eye care | Not scored | Not scored | 1 | 1.5 | $8.6M | Too few | Under 3 |
| Pest control | Not scored | Not scored | 1 | 1.5 | $7.5M | Too few | Under 3 |
| Pet grooming and boarding | Not scored | Not scored | 1 | 1.5 | $5M | Too few | Under 3 |
| Roofing and gutters | Not scored | Not scored | 1 | 1.5 | $16.3M | Too few | Under 3 |
| Tire shops | Not scored | Not scored | 1 | 1.5 | $7M | Too few | Under 3 |
| Dry cleaners | Not scored | Not scored | 0 | 0.0 | None listed | None listed | Under 3 |
| Property management | Not scored | Not scored | 0 | 0.0 | None listed | None listed | Under 3 |
| Spas and skin care | Not scored | Not scored | 0 | 0.0 | None listed | None listed | Under 3 |
| Urgent care and walk-in clinics | Not scored | Not scored | 0 | 0.0 | None listed | None listed | Under 3 |
| Yoga, Pilates and fitness studios | Not scored | Not scored | 0 | 0.0 | None listed | None listed | Under 3 |
Household spending in Ashland County
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 | $7M | $1,023 | 107 |
| Gasoline and other fuels | $18.2M | $2,658 | 102 |
| Food away from home | $23.3M | $3,414 | 84 |
| Groceries | $38.3M | $5,609 | 89 |
| Personal care products and services | $6M | $878 | 87 |
| Child care and other personal services | $2.2M | $326 | 56 |
| Memberships, classes and admissions | $4.8M | $696 | 71 |
| Medical and dental services | $8.6M | $1,263 | 98 |
| Pets | $5M | $731 | 80 |
| Clothing, shoes and related services | $12M | $1,750 | 85 |
| Vehicle insurance | $11M | $1,611 | 82 |
| Home repairs, maintenance and insurance | $16.3M | $2,385 | 79 |
| Lawn care, cleaning and other household services | $7.5M | $1,098 | 78 |
| Rent and homeowner costs | $87.1M | $12,742 | 76 |
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 Ashland County
- Population, 2025 estimate
- 16,203+1.1% since 2020
- Households
- 6,832
- Median age
- 43.0
- Homes lived in by their owners
- 73%
- Vehicles per household
- 1.9
- Land area
- 1,045 sq. mi.
- People per square mile
- 15
- Median household income
- $62,462+46.9% vs. 2015–2019, before inflation
- Average household income
- $76,270
- Median home value
- $170,300
- Jobs located here
- 7,396
- Daytime population
- 16,304Residents who don’t work, plus everyone whose job is here
Looking at a specific site in Ashland County?
These figures cover the whole county. 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 Ashland County. Signed out, you see a blurred preview; on an account, each report is one action.
Free10 actions over 3 days, no cardRelated markets
Nearest counties in Wisconsin 8
- Bayfield County, WI16,575 people
- Iron County, WI6,210 people
- Sawyer County, WI18,476 people
- Price County, WI14,092 people
- Douglas County, WI44,229 people
- Washburn County, WI16,854 people
- Vilas County, WI23,647 people
- Rusk County, WI14,179 people
Questions
How fast is Ashland County, WI growing?
Population estimates put Ashland County at 16,203 people in 2025, up 1.1% since 2020, slower than the U.S. (+3.1%). It has 6,832 households. Against the 2015–2019 survey, median household income rose 46.9%, before inflation.
How much do households in Ashland County, WI spend?
Households in Ashland County spend about $87.1M a year on rent and homeowner costs, $38.3M on groceries and $23.3M on food away from home. Relative to the U.S., household spending in Ashland County runs highest on vehicle maintenance and repairs (an index of 107, where 100 is the U.S. average) and lowest on child care and other personal services (56).
Which business types have the highest market scores in Ashland County, WI?
Of the business types scored in Ashland County, dentists and orthodontists (66), medical and dental practices (55) and fast food and sandwich shops (54) have the highest Groundwork market scores. For dentists and orthodontists, that ranks #377 of 1,886 scored counties.
How does Ashland County, WI compare with the U.S.?
Median household income in Ashland County is $62,462, 23% below the U.S. median of $80,734. The population rose 1.1% from 2020 to 2025, against +3.1% for the U.S. The median home value is $170,300, against $332,700 for the U.S. Against the U.S., map listings per household run highest for grocery stores (2.2 times the U.S. rate) and lowest for real estate agents and brokers (42% 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. 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. 29 of the 56 business types have a score in Ashland County, each ranked against other counties.
How can I see the market around a specific site?
Run a Groundwork site report on an address in Ashland County. 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.
All markets in Wisconsin · Every U.S. market · How we measure
Screening a site or an acquisition in Ashland County?
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 Ashland County. 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.