Population 5,291 · Census ACS 2020–24
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Population and households in Ashville
Household size in Ashville
| Period | Ashville | Birmingham area | Alabama | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 2.75 | 2.56 | 2.55 | 2.68 |
| 2010–14 | 2.77 | 2.59 | 2.58 | 2.73 |
| 2015–19 | 2.81 | 2.59 | 2.58 | 2.71 |
| 2020–24 | 2.62 | 2.57 | 2.56 | 2.65 |
| Change | −0.12 | +0.01 | +0.00 | −0.03 |
At 2.62 people per household, Ashville sits close to the national average of 2.65. Household size has dropped from 2.75 in 2006–10, a much bigger shift than nationally. Households are largest in the southwest and smallest in the east.
Household size: the average number of people living in each occupied home. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25010).
Median age in Ashville
| Period | Ashville | Birmingham area | Alabama | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 38.5 | 37.9 | 38.2 | 37.7 |
| 2010–14 | 39.8 | 39.1 | 39.1 | 38.6 |
| 2015–19 | 41.6 | 39.9 | 40.1 | 39.6 |
| 2020–24 | 47.2 | 40.0 | 40.2 | 40.1 |
| Change | +8.7 | +2.1 | +2.0 | +2.3 |
With a median age of 47.2, Ashville is noticeably older than the country as a whole (40.1), an age mix that tilts toward empty nesters and retirees. Since 2006–10, the median age has climbed from 38.5, a much bigger shift than nationally. Of the 186 Alabama cities with 5,000+ people, only 12 are older.
Median age: the age that splits residents into two equal halves. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B01002).
Single-parent households in Ashville
| Period | Ashville | Birmingham area | Alabama | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 14.6% | 12.1% | 12.5% | 12.3% |
| 2010–14 | 18.0% | 12.0% | 12.5% | 12.3% |
| 2015–19 | 8.4% | 11.2% | 11.8% | 11.6% |
| 2020–24 | 11.3% | 12.0% | 12.2% | 11.6% |
| Change | −3.3 pts | −0.1 pts | −0.3 pts | −0.6 pts |
Single parents head nearly one in eight households in Ashville (11.3%), close to the national share of 11.6%. Since 2006–10, the single-parent share has fallen 3.3 points, a much bigger shift than nationally.
Single-parent households: households where one adult with no spouse present lives with children under 18. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B11003).
Housing in Ashville
Renters in Ashville
| Period | Ashville | Birmingham area | Alabama | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 17.3% | 27.9% | 28.9% | 33.3% |
| 2010–14 | 17.1% | 30.4% | 30.8% | 35.6% |
| 2015–19 | 19.9% | 30.6% | 31.2% | 36.0% |
| 2020–24 | 13.0% | 29.2% | 29.8% | 34.8% |
| Change | −4.3 pts | +1.3 pts | +0.9 pts | +1.5 pts |
Ashville is overwhelmingly a place of homeowners: only 13.0% of households rent, far below the national share of 34.8%. Owner-heavy areas like this tend to see less turnover. Among homeowners, 53.5% have no mortgage at all, well above the national share of 39.8%. The renter share has fallen 4.3 points since 2006–10, even as the national share rose.
Renters: occupied homes that are rented rather than owned. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25003).
Vacant homes in Ashville
| Period | Ashville | Birmingham area | Alabama | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 16.3% | 12.5% | 14.0% | 11.4% |
| 2010–14 | 12.1% | 12.8% | 14.6% | 11.4% |
| 2015–19 | 17.5% | 13.6% | 15.7% | 11.1% |
| 2020–24 | 15.6% | 11.6% | 13.5% | 9.6% |
| Change | −0.7 pts | −1.0 pts | −0.5 pts | −1.8 pts |
Vacancy is high in Ashville: 15.6% of homes are empty, far above the national rate of 9.6%. In resort and lake areas that usually means seasonal and vacation homes; elsewhere it can point to weak demand. Vacancy is down 0.7 points from 2006–10, in line with the national trend.
Vacant homes: homes with no one living in them, including vacation homes and homes for sale or rent. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25002).
Age of homes in Ashville
| Period | Ashville | Birmingham area | Alabama | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 1983 | 1979 | 1980 | 1974 |
| 2010–14 | 1987 | 1981 | 1982 | 1975 |
| 2015–19 | 1990 | 1982 | 1983 | 1977 |
| 2020–24 | 1991 | 1984 | 1986 | 1980 |
| Change | +8 | +5 | +6 | +6 |
Ashville has newer housing than the country as a whole: the median home was built in 1991, versus 1980 nationally. The median year built has moved up from 1983 in 2006–10, a sign of steady new building. Newer construction is concentrated in the northeast, while the west has the oldest housing.
Age of homes: the year that splits the housing stock into older and newer halves. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25035).
Rent in Ashville
| Period | Ashville | Birmingham area | Alabama | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | $646 | $827 | $716 | $965 |
| 2010–14 | $679 | $903 | $785 | $1,040 |
| 2015–19 | $937 | $984 | $858 | $1,213 |
| 2020–24 | $700 | $1,238 | $1,091 | $1,571 |
| Change | +$54 | +$412 | +$375 | +$606 |
A typical rental in Ashville costs $700 a month with utilities, well below the national median of $1,571. Rents are up $54 a month from 2006–10, an 8% rise, a slower climb than the nation's. Rent takes 30.0% of the typical renter's income, just over the 30% mark often used to define affordable rent. The priciest rents are in the southwest; the most affordable are in the southeast.
Rent: monthly rent plus the utilities renters pay themselves. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25064).
Education in Ashville
Bachelor's degrees in Ashville
| Period | Ashville | Birmingham area | Alabama | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 10.8% | 28.3% | 23.3% | 28.4% |
| 2010–14 | 8.4% | 29.1% | 24.3% | 29.6% |
| 2015–19 | 8.3% | 31.1% | 26.2% | 32.1% |
| 2020–24 | 10.8% | 34.7% | 29.0% | 35.6% |
| Change | +0.0 pts | +6.4 pts | +5.7 pts | +7.2 pts |
College degrees are relatively uncommon in Ashville: 10.8% of adults 25 and older hold a bachelor's or higher, well below the national share of 35.6%. Of the 186 Alabama cities with 5,000+ people, only six have a lower share of college graduates.
Bachelor's degrees: adults 25 and older with a bachelor's degree or higher. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B15003).
High school graduates in Ashville
| Period | Ashville | Birmingham area | Alabama | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 73.5% | 85.7% | 82.3% | 84.9% |
| 2010–14 | 74.9% | 86.8% | 84.3% | 86.1% |
| 2015–19 | 80.3% | 88.9% | 86.4% | 87.7% |
| 2020–24 | 86.0% | 90.5% | 88.7% | 89.3% |
| Change | +12.5 pts | +4.9 pts | +6.4 pts | +4.3 pts |
About one in seven adults in Ashville never finished high school, more than nationally: 86.0% have a diploma or equivalent, against 89.3% across the U.S. Since 2006–10, the share with a diploma has risen 12.5 points, in line with the national trend.
High school graduates: adults 25 and older with a high school diploma, GED or more. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B15003).
Jobs in Ashville
| Period | Ashville | Birmingham area | Alabama | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 9.2% | 8.0% | 8.6% | 8.1% |
| 2010–14 | 11.5% | 9.2% | 10.2% | 9.4% |
| 2015–19 | 6.5% | 5.9% | 6.1% | 5.6% |
| 2020–24 | 3.5% | 4.4% | 4.9% | 5.4% |
| Change | −5.7 pts | −3.6 pts | −3.7 pts | −2.7 pts |
Jobs have been easier to find in Ashville than nationally: unemployment was 3.5%, against 5.4%. Unemployment has fallen 5.7 points since 2006–10, in line with the national trend. Each figure pools five years of surveys (2020–24), so it describes that whole stretch rather than today's job market.
Unemployment: people looking for work as a share of everyone working or looking. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B23025).
Ashville compared with nearby cities
| City | Household size | Median age | Single parents | Renters | Vacant homes | Median year built | Median rent | Bachelor's degree | High school diploma | Unemployment |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ashville | 2.62 | 47.2 | 11.3% | 13.0% | 15.6% | 1991 | $700 | 10.8% | 86.0% | 3.5% |
| Pinedale Shores | 2.90 | 45.7 | 8.1% | 3.7% | 20.6% | 1988 | $696 | 11.7% | 94.6% | 5.1% |
| Whitney | 3.18 | 35.8 | 16.9% | 14.8% | 12.9% | 1991 | $872 | 11.9% | 95.6% | 4.3% |
| Cool Springs | 3.25 | 48.1 | 10.4% | 8.2% | 9.5% | 2003 | $929 | 7.1% | 79.0% | 8.6% |
| Steele | 2.98 | 38.1 | 15.0% | 14.4% | 15.9% | 1988 | $844 | 12.3% | 93.7% | 4.4% |
| Ragland | 2.29 | 44.2 | 11.2% | 20.7% | 14.1% | 1988 | $806 | 11.9% | 86.4% | 5.3% |
| Straight Mountain | 3.02 | 49.1 | 2.7% | 36.7% | 19.2% | 1986 | $865 | 6.3% | 84.8% | 7.4% |
| St. Clair Springs | 2.50 | 37.4 | 5.2% | 12.7% | 4.0% | 2005 | $1,492 | 22.7% | 84.1% | 3.0% |
| Highland Lake | 2.49 | 58.3 | 6.0% | 8.5% | 27.1% | 1978 | $585 | 30.2% | 84.5% | 1.9% |
| Springville | 2.68 | 41.3 | 4.2% | 12.6% | 7.9% | 1998 | $816 | 25.4% | 89.9% | 3.7% |
| Macon | 2.63 | 46.3 | 22.7% | 6.4% | 9.8% | 1991 | $836 | 16.0% | 89.1% | 18.0% |
All figures 2020–24.
Cities with similar populations: Calistoga, CA · Woods Creek, WA · Bayville, NY · Gulf Park Estates, MS · New Boston, NH · Eureka, IL · Woodville, TX · Hainesport, NJ · Lucerne Valley, CA · Ona, WV
About these numbers
Every figure on this page is a BestNeighborhood calculation from the Census Bureau's American Community Survey (ACS), built up from the Census block groups that make up Ashville. Each ACS 5-year release pools five years of responses; this page shows the last 15 releases, 2006–10 through 2020–24. Neighboring releases share four of their five years, so they move gradually and small changes between them are within the survey's margin of error; in small places the lines can jump from one release to the next for the same reason. The maps show the same measures for each neighborhood, ranked against the whole country.
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