RANK #284 / 1001 NAT · #19 / 49 OH · POP 52,256
1YR FORECAST: +4.1%
5YR OUTLOOK: +20%
Ashland County, Ohio, is often recognized by locals for its annual BalloonFest, a tradition celebrating the city's past as the "balloon capital of the world" due to its history in rubber product manufacturing. Located in northeastern Ohio, roughly 60 miles southwest of Cleveland and 80 miles northeast of Columbus, the county offers a blend of small-town atmosphere and access to larger urban amenities. Commutes within the county are generally short, with an average one-way trip of under 20 minutes. The area features extensive outdoor recreation, including Mohican State Park and Forest, offering thousands of acres for hiking, birdwatching, and other activities. The Ashland County Park District also maintains 18 parks and numerous trails.
Life in Ashland County offers a community-focused environment with above-average public schools, including the Ashland City School District and Mapleton Local School District. Ashland University, a private institution, contributes to the local culture and provides educational opportunities. The economy, historically rooted in manufacturing, has seen recent developments, including an e-commerce company establishing a regional hub and ongoing housing projects. These initiatives aim to expand housing options, potentially attracting families and workers to the area. The county also benefits from its location with convenient access to interstates.
Ashland County is one of 145 U.S. counties in this market profile — weaker than typical on the BoomTown Index. Within this cohort, its recent home-price change of +4.8% matches the profile's typical +4.9%.
See all 145 Heartland Steady Growth counties →Overvalued relative to economy
Below-average climate & terrain
Above national median (15x)
Housing looks overvalued at 10.4x — home prices are high relative to local economic output. The typical U.S. county is 4–6x.
Estimated local headcount ranges. Larger employers shown as floor + "+"; smaller employers show exact counts where reported.
Bars show trailing 12-month growth. The dashed Forecast bars are the model's next-12-month projection; the whisker marks the ±1% range (cooling–accelerating).
Source: Redfin · Census BPS — Browse sales on Redfin →
Source: Homicide rates from CDC/NCHS vital-statistics mortality data — a multi-year average that stabilizes counts in smaller counties — compiled in the County Health Rankings 2025 release. Rates per 100,000 population; U.S. average ≈ 6.5. Grade reflects homicide rate relative to the national average. Learn more →
See where Ashland County stands nationally: safest large counties in America · highest homicide-rate counties.
| PROJECT | AMOUNT | STATUS |
|---|---|---|
|
PumpHouse District Redevelopment (Apartments & Hotel)
Vision Development
|
$50M | Under Construction |
Source: public records, news, corporate announcements. Amounts are estimates where noted.
Bars show percentile rank among all 1001 counties.
With a Boom Town Index score of 71/100, Ashland County sits in the upper half of all 1001 ranked counties. and median household income stands at $69,860 — indicators that suggest solid fundamentals even if it's not among the fastest-growing counties in OH.
By national standards, Ashland County is quite affordable. Homes here have a median value of $186,800, and the income-to-home-value ratio of 0.37 is well above the U.S. average — especially with median rent at just $888/month. Residents can generally buy a home without being cost-burdened.
Ashland County's job market is contracting (-1.5% YoY) while population is roughly stable (-0.1% change). Home values are +4.8% over the past 12 months. Hiring headwinds without an offsetting exodus — residents are staying, but local employers are shedding payroll.
There's a moderate stream of newcomers. About 3.97% of residents moved from another state, which is above average and suggests Ashland County has appeal as a relocation destination — though it's not among the highest-inflow counties nationally.