Ashland-Benton-County-Courthouse-ms, 2018
Ashland’s story
156 years in pictures
Census counts: 174 in 1880, 551 in 2020. The archive holds 5 old photos and papers going back to 2018 and 3 maps from 1950 on.
- 1870Ashland is settled
AshlandMS
A town of 527, settled in 1870.
Photo: Brian Stansberry · CC BY 4.0
Population
527
2025 Census estimate · −5.2% since 2020
Typical home
$135K
+4.6% in a year
Household income
$38K
median
Median age
34.9
years
Jobs based here
485
A job hub
Is Ashland a good place to live?
28% of residents live below the poverty line in Ashland, above both the Mississippi town median (21%) and the median of U.S. towns (9.6%). Among 102 Mississippi towns, just 3 have a lower January low than Ashland. Ashland has fewer than 1,000 residents, too few for fair grades; the figures below are still real.
What makes Ashland stand out
Where Ashland beats most towns.
Small town
527 people, and everyone knows the way
In a town this size, neighbors are the best guide. Ask them anything.
Nearby towns
Getting set up
The full setup list →Moving to Ashland: who provides what
Who provides power, water and the rest in Ashland, and how to reach them.
PowerCity of Holly Springs12.6¢/kWh · EIA 2025HIFLD · EIA
WaterTown of Ashland water systemNo health-based violations in 5 years · EPAEPA
Internet4 providers96% of addresses get 100/20 MbpsFCC
Trash & dumpNot on file yetWe don’t have Ashland’s trash rules yet
Register to voteIn personMississippi has no online registration; you can register in person until 30 days before Election Day or by mail (postmarked 30 days before).vote.govWho runs elections hereBenton County RegistrarBenton County; contacts on the Handbook page.FVAP, Sep 2023
ZIP code3860338603 100%Census 2020
EPA SDWIS (Oct 9, 2026) · HIFLD + EIA-861 2025 · Census 2020 ZCTAs · NCES 2024–25 · registration: vote.gov, updated Nov 18, 2024.
The data
Ordered by what stands out in Ashland.
Work & commute
A job hub: Ashland has 2.0 jobs for every working resident and draws in 470 commuters
The share of working residents in Ashland who work locally: 6.3%. In Ashland, the mean commuting time is 30 minutes, where Mississippi’s towns sit at 23 minutes and U.S. towns at 25 minutes. Jobs in Ashland grew by 100 from 2013 to 2023, reaching 485. The median household income in the town is $38,000.
6%work in town
| Ashland | Mississippi towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average trip to work | 30 minutes | 23 minutes | 25 minutes |
| Median household income | $38,000 | $50,000 | $80,000 |
| Working residents who work in town | 6.3% | 19% | 8% |
Where working residents work
In Ashland6%
Memphis12%
Olive Branch9%
Collierville5%
Tupelo5%
35 mi
median commute distance
485
jobs based in Ashland
A job hub
jobs vs. working residents
Census LEHD 2023 · ACS
Schools
The schools Ashland’s kids attend
Its one school is below. Public schools: the Benton County School District. Enrollment at Ashland’s public school: 212 students.
| School | Level | Students | Letter |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ashland High SchoolLargest public high schoolGrades 7–12 | Grades 7–12 | 212 | C |
NCES · EDFacts
Housing
The typical home in Ashland: about $135K
Among households in Ashland, 81% own their home. Values rose 4.6% in the 12 months to September 2026. In Ashland, the rent at the middle of the market is $713 a month.
$135KZillow home value
| Ashland | Mississippi towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Households that own their home | 81% | 62% | 73% |
| Median rent | $713 a month | $905 a month | $1,185 a month |
Typical home value
Ashland$135K
Mississippi$195K
+4.6%
value change, 1 year
Census ACS, 2020–24 · Zillow Home Value Index · Redfin Data Center
Climate
Mild winters and hot summers in Ashland
Expect July afternoons of 90° and January nights of 31°, with about 2 inches of snow a winter.
2″snow a winter
Typical low → high °F
Winter33–52°
Spring49–72°
Summer68–89°
Fall50–73°
Nov 6
typical first frost
Mar 29
typical last frost
+0.6°
vs. the 20th-century average
NOAA U.S. Climate Normals, 1991–2020
Health
How healthy Ashland is
For adults in Ashland, the share who had a checkup this year is 82%. On the CDC’s 31 measures, Ashland is ahead of Mississippi on 5 and behind on 6. 17% of adults in Ashland report frequent physical distress; 17% have diabetes.
| Ashland | Mississippi towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| High blood pressure (CDC PLACES) | 49% | 45% | 35% |
| Frequent physical distress (CDC PLACES) | 17% | 16% | 14% |
| Diabetes (CDC PLACES) | 17% | 16% | 12% |
| Binge drink (CDC PLACES) | 13% | 13% | 16% |
31 measures vs. Mississippi
5 better20 too close to call6 worse
| What stands out | Ashland | MS |
|---|---|---|
| Fewer adults facing a utility shut-off | 7.9% | 11.2% |
| Fewer adults facing housing insecurity | 12.4% | 16.8% |
| More adults who have had cancer | 11.3% | 7.6% |
Tippah County Hospital
14.5 mi away · emergency room
3 of 3
care shortages: primary care, dental, mental health
CDC PLACES 2025 · modeled estimates for adults · CMS · HRSA
Natural hazards
The biggest natural risk in Ashland is earthquakes, at a moderate overall level
FEMA expects less storm and flood damage in Ashland than in 52% of U.S. communities. Expected losses in Ashland break down as 27% from earthquakes and 26% from inland flooding. Households locally have drawn federal disaster aid in 3 declared disasters, most recently in 2026.
48risk score of 100
FEMA risk score
EarthquakesInland floodingTornadoes
3
federal disasters paid out here
FEMA disaster declarations and aid · FEMA National Risk Index · OpenFEMA
Outdoors
0% of Ashland is conserved land
1.2 miles of trail. Ashland’s trail density comes in at 0.7 miles per square mile.
0%conserved
0%
conserved · 0 of 1,161 acres
1.2 mi
of trails · 0.7 per sq mi
Trails & parks © OpenStreetMap contributors · Conserved land: USGS PAD-US
Keep exploring
Everything we know about Ashland
19pages on Ashland
The big questions
Out and about
The story
After high school
Colleges nearby
1 within 15 miles of the center of Ashland
About 5 of every 100 Ashland residents are enrolled in college, about the same as Mississippi.
A job hub
Every workday, about 470 people come to Ashland for work
Where Ashland’s working residents go each day. Line width shows the share.
485jobs based in Ashland
6%of working residents work in town
35 mimedian commute distance
Census LEHD 2023
About Ashland
Town in Mississippi, United States
Ashland is a town in Benton County, Mississippi, United States and the county seat. The population was 551 at the 2020 census, down from 569 at the 2010 census. Ashland was incorporated on March 8, 1871, and has a Mayor-Aldermen form of government.
From Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0 · facts via Wikidata (CC0)
- Area
- 1.8 sq mi
- Elevation
- 643 ft
- ZIP code
- 38603
- Area code
- 662
Questions about Ashland
Short answers, built from the data on this page.
Is Ashland, MS a good place to live?
Ashland has fewer than 1,000 residents, too few for fair grades; the figures below are still real.