Ashland: Demographics & People
Ashland's population stands at 7,772 people, in 2,809 households. Population grew 1.4% from 7,667 (2022) to 7,772 (2024). Median age 30.6 years. (12.1y younger than Hanover County; 7.2y younger than Virginia). Children under 18 are 17% of the population. Population is 64% White (non-Hispanic) and 19% Black. The community is moderately diverse (Simpson index 0.51). 56% of households are family-led. County is gaining 2,383 residents per year (2022-2023). County health: 38% adult obesity, 15% smoke.
- 2.8 people per household (vs Virginia avg 2.6).
- 44% non-family households (singles, roommates) (vs Virginia 35%).
- 55 dependents per 100 working-age (youth + seniors / 18-64) (vs Virginia 62).
Population & Trend
Population grew 1.4% from 7,667 (2022) to 7,772 (2024) — about 2.3× the recent U.S. annual rate of ~0.6%/yr. Estimated 2026 population: ~7,878 (extrapolated at 0.7%/yr trend). Census Bureau Vintage estimate: 8,022.
| Census data vintage | 2024 |
|---|---|
| Population | 109,979 people |
| Annual growth rate · Population change | 1.4% |
| Annual growth rate · Population (2022) | 7,667 |
| Annual growth rate · Population (2024) | 7,772 |
| Annual growth rate · Population growing | Yes |
| Annual growth rate · Trend category | growing |
| Population | 7,772 people (vs Virginia 42,214) |
| Population Estimate | 8,022 |
Sources: Census ACS 5-Year 2023, Table B01003 · Refreshed 2026-04-12
Age Distribution
Median age 30.6y is 8.3 years younger than the U.S. median (38.9y). Children under 18 make up 17% — below the U.S. share of ~22%.
| Age Summary · Median age | 30.6 years (vs Virginia 37.8y) |
|---|---|
| Age Summary · Children Pct | 17.4% |
| Age Summary · Character | young professional |
| Age Summary · Total Pop | 7,772 |
| Age Summary · Under 18 | 1,353 |
| Age Summary · 18 To 34 | 2,897.0× |
| Age Summary · 35 To 64 | 2,114.0× |
| Age Summary · 65 Plus | 1,408 |
| Population under 18 | 1,353 |
| Median age | 30.6 years (vs Virginia 37.8y) |
Sources: Census ACS 5-Year 2024 — place-level B01001 query · Census ACS 5-Year 2023 · Refreshed 2026-04-29
Race, Ethnicity & Diversity
Of 7,772 residents, race / ethnicity breaks down by Census ACS counts (a person can identify with one or more groups). The Simpson diversity index is 0.51 (0 = single group, 1 = perfectly even distribution); this is read as moderately diverse.
| White residents | 4,938 |
|---|---|
| Black residents | 1,549 |
| Asian residents | 131 |
| Hispanic or Latino residents | 840 |
| Diversity Index · Diversity index (Simpson) | 50.5% |
| Diversity Index · Diversity label | moderately diverse |
| Diversity Index · Groups counted | 4 |
| Diversity Index · Largest group share | 66.2% |
| Asian population | 1.2% (vs Virginia 5.6%) |
| Black population | 19.2% (vs Virginia 18.2%) |
| Hispanic or Latino population | 11.3% (vs Virginia 10.1%) |
| White (non-Hispanic) population | 64.2% (vs Virginia 53.8%) |
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). 0.8% are foreign-born — below the U.S. average of 13.9%. 7% have naturalized to U.S. citizenship.
| Residents born in this state | 4,560 |
|---|---|
| Residents born in another state | 2,589 |
| Share born in this state | 58.7% |
| Share born in another state | 41.3% |
| Native-born U.S. citizens | 33.3% |
| Foreign-born residents | 0.8% |
| Naturalized citizens | 7.2% |
| Total foreign-born residents | 628 |
| From Europe | 13 |
| From Africa | 109 |
| From Latin America | 17 |
Households & Family Composition
2,809 households. Averaging 2.2 people each — smaller than the U.S. average of 2.5. 56% are family households — below the U.S. share of ~65%. Of 1,558 families, 20% are married couples with children.
| Children under 18 | 1,276 |
|---|---|
| Total families | 1,558 |
| Married couples with children | 314 |
| Single-parent households | 80 |
| Average household size | 2.25 |
| Women who gave birth (past year) | 15.3% |
| Grandparents living with grandchildren | 97 |
| Grandparents responsible for grandchildren | 42 |
| Family households | 1,586 households (vs Virginia 9,367) |
| Households that are families | 56.5% (vs Virginia 65.0%) |
| Total households | 2,809 households (vs Virginia 14,324) |
Sources: Census ACS 5-Year 2023 · Refreshed 2026-04-12
Residential Stability & Migration
How long residents have lived here and where they came from. 24.6% moved within the county in the past year — the U.S. baseline is roughly 8–10%. The surrounding county is gaining 2,383 residents per year on net (IRS migration data).
| Moved within the county (past year) | 24.6% |
|---|---|
| Migration · People moving in (annual) | 114,186 |
| Migration · People moving out (annual) | 111,803 |
| Migration · Net migration (in − out) | 2,383 |
| 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 | 303 |
|---|---|
| Disability rate | 4.1% |
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. 1,532 residents live in group quarters (19.7% of population).
| Living in group quarters | 1,532 |
|---|
Other
| Congressional District · District | 1 |
|---|---|
| Congressional District · Congress | 118th |
| Cdc Birth Rate · Fips | 51085 |
| Cdc Birth Rate · State Fips | 51 |
| Cdc Birth Rate · County Fips | 085 |
| Cdc Birth Rate · County | Hanover |
| Cdc Birth Rate · Birth Rate | 5.2% |
| Cdc Birth Rate · Lower Ci | 4.20 |
| Cdc Birth Rate · Upper Ci | 6.30 |
| Cdc Mortality · Fips | 51085 |
| Cdc Mortality · County | Hanover County |
| Cdc Mortality · Urban Rural | Large fringe metro |
| Cdc Mortality · Total Deaths 2020 2023 | 5,275 |
| Cdc Vaccination · Fips | 51085 |
| Cdc Vaccination · County | Hanover County |
| Cdc Vaccination · Dose1 Pop Pct | 66.7% |
| Cdc Vaccination · Series Complete Pct | 60.3% |
| Cdc Vaccination · Booster Pct | 35.3% |
| Cdc Vaccination · Population 2019 | 107,766 |
| Cdc Vaccination · Metro Status | Metro |
| Family Score · Score | 5.80 |
| Family Score · Schools | 5 |
| Family Score · Childcare Centers | 6 |
| Family Score · Youth Sports Orgs | 1 |
| Family Score · Children Pct | 17.4% |
| Family Score · Rating | good |
| Town Summary · Key Facts | population 7,772, growing, young professional, middle-class, mixed |
| Town Summary · Population | 7,772 people (vs Virginia 42,214) |
| Town Summary · County | Hanover County |
Sources: NCES school congressional district assignment · federal dataset cascade