Ashland: Demographics & People
Ashland is home to 2,324 people, in 1,157 households. Population shrank 6.8% from 2,495 (2022) to 2,324 (2024). Median age 50.4 years. (6.7y older than Schuylkill County; 13.6y older than Pennsylvania). Children under 18 are 14% of the population. Population is 96% White (non-Hispanic) and 2% Hispanic or Latino. 58% of households are family-led. County is gaining 629 residents per year (2022-2023). County health: 37% adult obesity, 18% smoke.
- 2.0 people per household (vs Pennsylvania avg 2.4).
- 42% non-family households (singles, roommates) (vs Pennsylvania 44%).
- 44 dependents per 100 working-age (youth + seniors / 18-64) (vs Pennsylvania 66).
Population & Trend
Population shrank 6.8% from 2,495 (2022) to 2,324 (2024). Estimated 2026 population: ~2,167 (extrapolated at -3.4%/yr trend). Census Bureau Vintage estimate: 1,969.
| Census data vintage | 2024 |
|---|---|
| Population | 64,727 people |
| Annual growth rate · Population change | -6.8% |
| Annual growth rate · Population (2022) | 2,495 |
| Annual growth rate · Population (2024) | 2,324 |
| Annual growth rate · Trend category | shrinking |
| Population | 2,324 people (vs Pennsylvania 12,317) |
| Population Estimate | 1,969 |
Sources: Census ACS 5-Year 2023, Table B01003 · Refreshed 2026-04-12
Age Distribution
Median age 50.4y is 11.5 years older than the U.S. median (38.9y). Children under 18 make up 14% — below the U.S. share of ~22%.
| Age Summary · Median age | 50.4 years (vs Pennsylvania 36.8y) |
|---|---|
| Age Summary · Children Pct | 13.6% |
| Age Summary · Character | retirement community |
| Age Summary · Total Pop | 2,324 |
| Age Summary · Under 18 | 316 |
| Age Summary · 18 To 34 | 429.0× |
| Age Summary · 35 To 64 | 1,188.0× |
| Age Summary · 65 Plus | 391 |
| Population under 18 | 316 |
| Median age | 50.4 years (vs Pennsylvania 36.8y) |
Sources: Census ACS 5-Year 2024 — place-level B01001 query · Census ACS 5-Year 2023 · Refreshed 2026-04-29
Race, Ethnicity & Diversity
Of 2,324 residents, race / ethnicity breaks down by Census ACS counts (a person can identify with one or more groups).
| White residents | 2,444 |
|---|---|
| Black residents | 3 |
| Hispanic or Latino residents | 8 |
| Diversity Index · Simpson Index | -0.11 |
| Diversity Index · Interpretation | less diverse |
| Black population | 0.2% (vs Pennsylvania 7.7%) |
| Hispanic or Latino population | 2.0% (vs Pennsylvania 8.1%) |
| White (non-Hispanic) population | 95.7% (vs Pennsylvania 71.2%) |
Sources: Census ACS 5-Year 2023 · Refreshed 2026-04-12
Ancestry
Self-reported ancestry from Census ACS — what residents report as their ethnic origin, separate from race. Counts can exceed population because people can list multiple ancestries.
Top (8)
Citizenship & Origin
Where residents were born and their citizenship status (Census ACS). 0.2% are foreign-born — below the U.S. average of 13.9%. 1% have naturalized to U.S. citizenship.
| Residents born in this state | 2,165 |
|---|---|
| Residents born in another state | 131 |
| Share born in this state | 93.2% |
| Share born in another state | 6.8% |
| Native-born U.S. citizens | 5.6% |
| Foreign-born residents | 0.2% |
| Naturalized citizens | 1.0% |
| Total foreign-born residents | 1,524 |
Households & Family Composition
1,157 households. Averaging 2.1 people each — smaller than the U.S. average of 2.5. 58% are family households — below the U.S. share of ~65%. Of 660 families, 13% are married couples with children.
| Children under 18 | 384 |
|---|---|
| Total families | 660 |
| Married couples with children | 83 |
| Single-parent households | 99 |
| Average household size | 2.13 |
| Women who gave birth (past year) | 18.4% |
| Grandparents living with grandchildren | 12 |
| Grandparents responsible for grandchildren | 6 |
| Family households | 666 households (vs Pennsylvania 2,885) |
| Households that are families | 57.6% (vs Pennsylvania 55.6%) |
| Total households | 1,157 households (vs Pennsylvania 5,038) |
Sources: Census ACS 5-Year 2023 · Refreshed 2026-04-12
Residential Stability & Migration
How long residents have lived here and where they came from. 10.2% moved within the county in the past year — the U.S. baseline is roughly 8–10%. The surrounding county is gaining 629 residents per year on net (IRS migration data).
| Moved within the county (past year) | 10.2% |
|---|---|
| Migration · People moving in (annual) | 55,807 |
| Migration · People moving out (annual) | 55,178 |
| Migration · Net migration (in − out) | 629 |
| Migration · Population growing | Yes |
| Migration · Year | 2022-2023 |
Sources: IRS SOI Migration 2021-2022 · Refreshed 2026-04-12
Disability
Census ACS measures self-reported functional limitations — vision, hearing, mobility, cognitive, self-care, or independent-living. The U.S. baseline disability rate is about 12–13%; rates trend higher with median age.
| Residents with a disability | 198 |
|---|---|
| Disability rate | 7.9% |
Group Quarters
Group quarters are non-household living arrangements counted by the Census — college dormitories, nursing homes, military barracks, group homes, correctional facilities, and similar institutional or shared housing. 3 residents live in group quarters (0.1% of population).
| Living in group quarters | 3 |
|---|
Other
| Congressional District · District | 9 |
|---|---|
| Congressional District · Congress | 118th |
| Cdc Birth Rate · Fips | 42037 |
| Cdc Birth Rate · State Fips | 42 |
| Cdc Birth Rate · County Fips | 037 |
| Cdc Birth Rate · County | Columbia |
| Cdc Birth Rate · Birth Rate | 8.1% |
| Cdc Birth Rate · Lower Ci | 6.60 |
| Cdc Birth Rate · Upper Ci | 9.70 |
| Cdc Mortality · Fips | 42037 |
| Cdc Mortality · County | Columbia County |
| Cdc Mortality · Urban Rural | Small metro |
| Cdc Mortality · Total Deaths 2020 2023 | 1,960 |
| Cdc Vaccination · Fips | 42037 |
| Cdc Vaccination · County | Columbia County |
| Cdc Vaccination · Dose1 Pop Pct | 76.4% |
| Cdc Vaccination · Series Complete Pct | 64.9% |
| Cdc Vaccination · Booster Pct | 54.4% |
| Cdc Vaccination · Population 2019 | 64,964 |
| Cdc Vaccination · Metro Status | Metro |
| Family Score · Score | 3.10 |
| Family Score · Schools | 2 |
| Family Score · Childcare Centers | 2 |
| Family Score · Youth Sports Orgs | 1 |
| Family Score · Children Pct | 13.6% |
| Family Score · Rating | fair |
| Town Summary · Key Facts | population 2,324, shrinking, retirement community, middle-class, blue collar |
| Town Summary · Population | 2,324 people (vs Pennsylvania 12,317) |
| Town Summary · County | Columbia County |
Sources: NCES school congressional district assignment · federal dataset cascade