Ashland is a town in Hanover County, Virginia, United States, located 16 miles (26 km) north of Richmond along Interstate 95 and U.S. Route 1. As of the 2020 census it had a population of 7,565, up from 7,225 at the 2010 census. Ashland is named after the Lexington, Kentucky estate of Hanover County native and statesman Henry Clay. It is the only incorporated town in Hanover County. Although comprising only one square mile when originally incorporated in 1858, today Ashland has grown through several annexations to a size of 7.16 square miles (18.5 km2).

Official town website ↗

From Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0 · facts via Wikidata (CC0)

How Ashland ranks

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#7Highest graduation rate in VA #59Shortest commute in VA #79Cheapest rent in VA All VA rankings →

Town numbers

ZIP code23005

Area code804

Living in Ashland

Housing in Ashland

$468K▲ 4.3% in a year Typical home value · Zillow

The typical Ashland home is worth about $468,000, up 4.3% in a year, 13% above the Virginia typical home.

A strong seller's market

Buyer’sBalancedSeller’s

Days on market12

Sale-to-list98.7%

Sold in May7

Zillow Home Value Index · Redfin Data CenterHousing market →

Safety in Ashland

C⁻

Safety Grade C-

Ashland reports more crime per resident than most U.S. towns we grade: about 83% report less.

Violent crime per 1,000

Ashland 4.5

Virginia 2.1

U.S. 3.3

Property crime per 1,000

Ashland 14.1

Virginia 13.9

U.S. 15.5

FBI crime data, 2025 · crimes reported to policeCrime & safety →

Work & commute in Ashland

Full picture →

Most working residents leave Ashland for work: only 14% work in town. The top destinations are Richmond (13%), Mechanicsville (3%) and Innsbrook (3%). Half commute less than 14 miles.

Richmond

13%

Mechanicsville

Innsbrook

Laurel

14%Work in townlive and work in Ashland 14 miWhere do people commute?the commute map 10,735Jobs based herea job hub

Census LEHD 2023 · ACSWork & commute in Ashland →

Health in Ashland

Health Grade B

Healthier than 61% of U.S. towns on seven CDC estimates, and 86% of towns with similar incomes.

Compared with Virginia

1better than VA·1worse

of 32 measures CDC estimates. The other 30 are too close to call.

Conditions all close Habits all close Care 1▲ 1▼ 5 close Mind all close Everyday needs all close

BetterToo close to callWorse

What stands out

72.3%More adults screened for colon cancerVA 67.4% · better 84.1%Fewer adults getting cholesterol checkedVA 87.5% · worse

Care nearby

Bon Secours Memorial Regional Medical CenterMechanicsville · 10.2 mi · ER

Hamhds Woodman CenterGlen Allen · 7.4 mi · sliding-scale fees

Primary careNo shortage

DentalNo shortage

Mental healthShortage · county-wide

CDC PLACES 2025 · modeled estimates for adults · CDC's estimate for Ashland · CMS · HRSAHealth in Ashland →

Natural hazards in Ashland

Very low

Expected storm and flood damage is higher than in 10% of U.S. communities.

🌊 Inland flooding🏚️ Earthquakes🌪️ Tornadoes

5Does Ashland flood?paid flood claims since 1985 2Disasters that paid out herefederal disasters sent FEMA money to Ashland

FEMA National Risk Index December 2025 · OpenFEMANatural hazards in Ashland →

Climate in Ashland

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Ashland has chilly winters and warm summers. A typical July afternoon reaches 89°, a January night drops to 27°, and about 15 inches of snow falls in a normal winter.

50° / 28°Winter

69° / 45°Spring

87° / 65°Summer

70° / 47°Fall

How much snow does Ashland get?About 15 inches a winter.Rain & snow →When is the first frost?Around Oct 29, with the last in spring around Apr 10.Frost dates →Is it warmer than it used to be?+1.1° vs. the 20th century.Then & now →

NOAA U.S. Climate Normals, 1991–2020Climate in Ashland →

Schools in Ashland

All Ashland schools →

A⁺

School Grade A+

The public schools Ashland’s kids attend, from kindergarten through graduation, outperform 98% of Virginia’s districts on state tests and graduation. Among towns with similar incomes, they rank near the top.

DistrictHanover County Public SchoolsSchools1

Ashland ElementaryElementary · Grades PK–5 · 675 students

School data from the U.S. Department of Education (NCES, EDFacts). The School Grade is our own summary of state test results and graduation rates, graded within VA. Ratings are from neighbors.