Ashland County is located in far northern Wisconsin along the south shore of Lake Superior, bordering Michigan’s Upper Peninsula to the east. The county lies within the Lake Superior lowlands and the northern forests region, with extensive woodlands, rivers, and wetlands, and includes part of the Chequamegon–Nicolet National Forest. Established in the late 19th century during an era of lumbering and iron-ore development around Chequamegon Bay, it later diversified as forestry, public-sector services, and tourism and recreation grew in importance. Ashland County is small in population, with roughly 16,000 residents, and is predominantly rural, with most settlement concentrated in the city of Ashland and smaller communities inland. Its landscape features a mix of shoreline, bay and river habitats, and glacially influenced terrain. The county also has a significant Native presence through the Bad River Band of Lake Superior Chippewa and associated reservation lands. The county seat is Ashland.

Ashland County Local Demographic Profile

Ashland County is located in far northern Wisconsin along the south shore of Lake Superior, within the state’s Northwoods region. The county seat is the City of Ashland; official county information is available on the Ashland County official website.

Population Size

According to the U.S. Census Bureau QuickFacts for Ashland County, Wisconsin, the county’s total population (and related population measures such as annual estimates when available) are published by the Census Bureau on that profile page.

Age & Gender

The U.S. Census Bureau QuickFacts profile reports county-level age structure (including key age brackets and median age) and sex composition (male/female shares) for Ashland County. These figures are drawn from standard Census Bureau demographic products (primarily the American Community Survey for non-decennial measures).

Racial & Ethnic Composition

County-level racial categories and Hispanic/Latino ethnicity shares for Ashland County are reported on the U.S. Census Bureau QuickFacts profile, including major race groups and the Hispanic or Latino (of any race) measure.

Household & Housing Data

Household and housing indicators for Ashland County—such as number of households, average household size, housing unit counts, owner-occupied vs. renter-occupied rates, and selected housing characteristics—are reported on the U.S. Census Bureau QuickFacts profile.

Email Usage

Ashland County, Wisconsin is largely rural with low population density and extensive forest/lakeshore terrain, factors that generally increase last‑mile network costs and can constrain reliable home internet—key for routine email access.

Direct county-level email-usage statistics are not typically published, so broadband and device access are used as proxies for email adoption. The U.S. Census Bureau (American Community Survey) provides indicators such as household broadband subscription and computer ownership for Ashland County; higher broadband and computer access generally correspond to more consistent email use for work, school, billing, and government services. Age structure also shapes adoption: ACS county age distributions can be used to assess the share of older adults, who on average have lower rates of some online activities, including email-intensive workflows, than prime working-age groups. Gender composition is available in ACS but is less predictive of email access than broadband, devices, and age.

Connectivity limitations are reflected in availability and service quality measures published by the FCC National Broadband Map, which can highlight gaps in fixed broadband coverage and speed options in remote areas of the county.

Mobile Phone Usage

Ashland County is located in far northern Wisconsin on the south shore of Lake Superior, bordering Michigan’s Upper Peninsula. The county is predominantly rural, with extensive forest cover (including the Chequamegon–Nicolet National Forest), scattered small communities, and long travel distances between population centers. These characteristics—low population density, heavy vegetation, and variable terrain near lake and river valleys—tend to increase the cost and complexity of building dense cellular networks and can contribute to coverage gaps outside towns and along secondary roads.

Key distinction: network availability vs. adoption

  • Network availability (supply-side): Whether mobile providers offer service (voice/LTE/5G) in an area and the predicted coverage strength.
  • Household adoption (demand-side): Whether residents actually subscribe to mobile service and/or rely on mobile for internet access. Adoption is influenced by income, age distribution, device affordability, and whether fixed broadband is available.

County-level “adoption” statistics for mobile subscriptions are limited; most official datasets provide stronger county detail for fixed broadband than for mobile subscription rates.

Mobile penetration or access indicators (where available)

  • Direct county-level mobile subscription penetration: Not consistently published as an official county statistic in the same way as fixed broadband. National surveys (such as the American Community Survey) measure some household connectivity traits but do not provide a clean “mobile penetration rate” for every county in a single, standardized table focused on mobile subscriptions.
  • Proxy indicators commonly used at local level:
    • Households with a cellular data plan / smartphone presence are captured in some national survey products, but county-level estimates may be suppressed or have high margins of error in sparsely populated areas.
    • Mobile-only internet reliance (households using cellular data as their primary internet source) is measured in some survey contexts, but published county-level breakouts are not consistently available for all rural counties.
  • Where official connectivity indicators are typically sourced:
    • The U.S. Census Bureau’s household survey programs provide internet subscription and device concepts, with varying geographic detail and reliability in rural counties (see Census.gov population and survey topics and the data.census.gov portal for available tables and margins of error).
    • Wisconsin’s statewide broadband planning resources provide context on connectivity challenges, but mobile subscription penetration is often described qualitatively rather than as a county “penetration rate” (see the Wisconsin Public Service Commission broadband program).

Limitation: Publicly accessible, county-specific “mobile penetration” (subscriptions per capita) is not typically released as an official statistic for Ashland County in the same way that some other infrastructure metrics are reported.

Network availability (coverage): 4G LTE and 5G

Primary authoritative source for consumer-facing coverage reporting in the U.S.: the FCC’s mobile broadband coverage data and maps.

  • The FCC’s National Broadband Map provides provider-reported mobile broadband availability by location and can be explored for Ashland County to view LTE/5G coverage patterns and participating carriers (see the FCC National Broadband Map).
  • The FCC’s mobile data methodology and dataset notes describe important constraints (provider-reported propagation models, outdoor vs. indoor expectations, and update cadence), which matter in forested, low-density counties where modeled coverage can overstate usable service in practice (see the FCC’s materials linked from the FCC National Broadband Map).

Typical availability pattern in rural northern Wisconsin (availability, not adoption):

  • 4G LTE is generally the baseline mobile broadband layer across most populated corridors, with stronger service expected near the City of Ashland and along major routes, and weaker or absent service in remote forested areas.
  • 5G availability in rural counties is often uneven, frequently concentrated near population centers and along main transportation corridors, with large areas remaining LTE-only. The FCC map is the appropriate source for the current footprint by provider and technology generation.

Limitation: County-specific, independently measured drive-test performance (signal strength, throughput) is not routinely published as an official public dataset at full county coverage. The FCC map indicates availability, not guaranteed indoor performance or consistent speeds.

Actual household adoption and internet use (what is known and what is limited)

What can be stated with strong sourcing at county scale:

  • Many rural northern Wisconsin counties face constraints in fixed broadband availability, which can lead some households to rely on mobile networks for internet access. County-level fixed-broadband availability and access gaps can be reviewed using:

What is often not available in definitive county form:

  • A single official statistic for “percentage of households using mobile as their primary home internet” specifically for Ashland County, published regularly with robust precision.
  • A definitive county share of smartphone vs. feature phone ownership from an official dataset, updated frequently.

Where household technology adoption is tabulated, it is typically derived from Census household survey questions about internet subscriptions and device types. The availability of a precise Ashland County estimate depends on whether the relevant table is published for that geography and the margin of error (see data.census.gov).

Mobile internet usage patterns (practical implications)

  • On-network behavior in rural areas: In counties with substantial rural territory, mobile users often experience variable performance outside towns due to fewer cell sites, longer distances to towers, and obstructions from forests and terrain. This affects:
    • Consistency of LTE/5G data rates along secondary roads and in interior forest areas.
    • Indoor coverage reliability, especially in buildings with metal roofing or in heavily wooded areas.
  • Technology mix: LTE commonly serves as the primary wide-area layer; 5G—where present—may improve capacity in limited footprints but is not synonymous with universal coverage. Confirmed coverage footprints are best taken from the FCC map rather than generalized claims (see the FCC National Broadband Map).

Common device types (smartphones vs. other devices)

  • Smartphones: Most mobile broadband use is smartphone-centered nationally, and the same device ecosystem (Android and iOS smartphones) is typically dominant for everyday connectivity, messaging, navigation, and app-based services in Wisconsin. However, a definitive smartphone share for Ashland County specifically is not routinely published in a county-level official table.
  • Non-phone devices: Rural households and seasonal residents commonly use:
    • Mobile hotspots (standalone or phone-based tethering) where fixed broadband is limited.
    • Tablets with cellular service for portability.
    • IoT devices (security cameras, tracking devices) in areas where LTE signal is adequate.

Limitation: Public county-level breakdowns of device categories (smartphone vs. hotspot vs. tablet) are not commonly available as official statistics for Ashland County.

Demographic and geographic factors influencing mobile usage and connectivity

  • Population distribution and density: Ashland County’s dispersed settlement pattern concentrates stronger coverage and capacity near the City of Ashland and smaller communities, with more limited infrastructure deep in rural areas.
  • Land cover and terrain: Forest canopy and rolling terrain increase signal attenuation and complicate line-of-sight propagation, which can reduce usable coverage compared with modeled availability.
  • Economic factors: Rural counties often have wider income dispersion and higher sensitivity to monthly service costs; these factors influence adoption levels and the likelihood of mobile-only internet use where fixed broadband is expensive or unavailable. County-level income and age structure can be referenced via the U.S. Census Bureau (see data.census.gov for Ashland County demographic tables).
  • Seasonal population and tourism: Lake Superior recreation and seasonal occupancy can create localized demand spikes, which affects network loading in specific areas and seasons. This is a usage dynamic rather than a published county adoption statistic.
  • Cross-border and remote travel corridors: Proximity to Michigan’s Upper Peninsula and long rural highways can make continuous coverage along travel routes a practical concern, particularly for emergency communications.

Local and state reference points for context

Summary (availability vs. adoption)

  • Availability: LTE is generally the foundational mobile broadband technology across rural northern Wisconsin, with 5G typically concentrated near more populated areas. The FCC’s map is the primary source to identify current provider-reported 4G/5G availability in Ashland County.
  • Adoption: Definitive, regularly published county-level mobile penetration (subscriptions per capita), smartphone ownership shares, and mobile-only household internet reliance are limited. Adoption patterns must be inferred using broader survey-based internet/device tables (where available with acceptable precision) and local context such as fixed-broadband gaps, income distribution, and rural settlement patterns.

Social Media Trends

Ashland County is in far northern Wisconsin along the south shore of Lake Superior, with the City of Ashland as the main population center and gateway to outdoor recreation and tourism. The county also includes significant Bad River Band of Lake Superior Chippewa presence and large rural areas, factors that tend to correlate with heavier reliance on mobile connectivity, community-oriented Facebook use, and local information sharing through groups and messaging rather than dense, city-centric creator economies.

User statistics (penetration and active use)

  • County-level social media penetration: Public, county-specific social media penetration estimates are not consistently published by major survey organizations; most reputable sources report at the state or national level rather than by county.
  • Best-available benchmark (U.S. adults): About 7 in 10 U.S. adults (≈69%) report using at least one social media site, based on Pew Research Center’s Social Media Fact Sheet.
  • Implication for Ashland County context: Given Ashland County’s rural mix and older age profile typical of many Northwoods counties, overall social media penetration is generally expected to be at or below the national adult average, driven primarily by age composition rather than lack of access alone. (This describes demographic influence; it does not substitute for a county-measured estimate.)

Age group trends (who uses social media most)

National age gradients are strong and are the most reliable proxy for county age-pattern expectations:

  • 18–29: highest usage (Pew reports very high adoption across major platforms among younger adults).
  • 30–49: high usage, typically the next-highest cohort.
  • 50–64: moderate usage; adoption remains substantial but lower than under-50 adults.
  • 65+: lowest overall usage, though Facebook remains comparatively strong within this group.
    Source: Pew Research Center platform-by-age distributions.

Gender breakdown

  • Overall social media use by gender (U.S. benchmark): Pew generally finds small differences in “any social media” usage between men and women, with clearer gaps emerging by platform (for example, higher use among women on Pinterest; higher use among men on some discussion- or video/game-adjacent communities depending on platform).
    Source: Pew Research Center social media use by demographic group.

Most-used platforms (percentages where available)

County-specific platform shares are not routinely measured; the most defensible reference point is national adult usage, which also aligns with many rural-county patterns (Facebook/YouTube strong; TikTok/Instagram skew younger):

Behavioral trends (engagement patterns and preferences)

  • Community information and local networks: Rural and small-city counties commonly concentrate activity in Facebook News Feed and Groups for local events, road/weather updates, school and youth sports, buy/sell/trade, and community alerts. This maps to Facebook’s broad reach across adult ages in Pew’s data and its group-centric design.
  • Video-first consumption: YouTube’s high penetration supports routine use for how-to content, local recreation planning (fishing, hunting, snowmobile/ATV trails), and entertainment; video is typically more “lean-back” consumption than commenting-heavy engagement.
  • Age-skewed platform split:
    • Younger adults: higher likelihood of frequent use on Instagram, TikTok, and Snapchat, with heavier engagement via short-form video, DMs, and creator content.
    • Older adults: higher likelihood of using Facebook as the primary social platform, with engagement concentrated in shares, comments on local posts, and group participation rather than following large creator accounts.
      Source for age-platform relationships: Pew Research Center demographic breakdowns by platform.
  • Messaging as a primary behavior: Across platforms, private or small-group messaging (Messenger, Instagram DMs, WhatsApp) is a central engagement mode nationally; in lower-density areas it often substitutes for in-person coordination and serves as the default channel for community ties.
  • News and civic information exposure: Social platforms remain a significant pathway for exposure to news and public information nationally, though patterns vary by platform and demographic group; Facebook and YouTube are especially prominent because of their reach. Reference context: Pew Research Center’s social media and news fact sheet.

Family & Associates Records

Ashland County maintains vital and family-related records through the Register of Deeds, including birth and death records and other vital events recorded under Wisconsin vital records administration. Adoption records are not open public records; related files are generally handled through the courts and state systems and are subject to statutory confidentiality.

Public-facing databases for “family and associates” research are primarily indirect: recorded real estate documents, land records, and court case information that may list spouses, relatives, co-owners, or other associates. Ashland County land and recorded document access is provided through the county Land Records/Real Property Lister resources and the Register of Deeds office. Court records are available through the Wisconsin Circuit Court Access portal (CCAP), which includes searchable case summaries for Ashland County.

Residents access records online via county and state portals or in person at the county offices. Requests for certified vital records are typically handled by the Register of Deeds; noncertified informational access depends on the record type and eligibility rules.

Privacy restrictions apply to many personal records. Wisconsin limits access to birth records for a set period after the event and restricts certain details in vital records; adoption and some family court matters are commonly sealed or confidential.

Links: Ashland County Register of Deeds; Ashland County Land Records; Wisconsin Circuit Court Access (CCAP); Wisconsin Vital Records.

Marriage & Divorce Records

Record types maintained in Ashland County, Wisconsin

  • Marriage records

    • Marriage license / marriage certificate record (county-level vital record): Created when a couple applies for and receives a marriage license from the county clerk and returns the completed license for recording after the ceremony.
    • Certified copies and “vital records” copies: Issued from the county’s recorded marriage record (or from the state vital records office).

  • Divorce records

    • Divorce case file (court record): Includes the judgment of divorce and associated filings maintained by the circuit court.
    • Divorce certificate / divorce record (state vital record): A vital-records abstract derived from the court’s report of the divorce.

  • Annulment records

    • Annulment case file (court record): Annulments are handled as circuit court actions and maintained in the court record system similar to other family cases.
    • State vital record of annulment: Wisconsin maintains vital-records reporting for certain court actions affecting marital status; availability is governed by state vital records rules and confidentiality provisions in the case.

Where records are filed and how they are accessed

  • Ashland County Register of Deeds (vital records)

    • Maintains recorded marriage records for events occurring in Ashland County and issues certified copies consistent with Wisconsin vital records law.
    • Access is generally by requesting a certified copy from the Register of Deeds; requests typically require identification and payment of statutory fees.

  • Ashland County Clerk (licensing function)

    • The County Clerk issues marriage licenses and receives the completed license for recording. The official recorded record is maintained as a vital record through the county vital-records system (commonly handled with the Register of Deeds for certified copies).

  • Ashland County Circuit Court / Clerk of Circuit Court (court records)

    • Maintains divorce and annulment case files, including judgments, orders, and related pleadings.
    • Court records are accessed through the Clerk of Circuit Court in accordance with Wisconsin court records access rules. Many case entries are also accessible through Wisconsin’s online court records system (CCAP) for nonconfidential information.

  • Wisconsin Department of Health Services, Vital Records Office (state vital records)

    • Maintains statewide marriage and divorce vital records (state-level copies/abstracts) and issues certified copies under Wisconsin law.

Typical information included in the records

  • Marriage license / recorded marriage record

    • Parties’ full names (including prior names as reported)
    • Date and place of marriage (and date of license issuance)
    • Ages/birth information as reported, and residence addresses at the time of application
    • Parents’ names and related application data (as required by Wisconsin forms at the time)
    • Officiant information and certification/return details
    • Witness information where required by the form in use

  • Divorce decree / judgment of divorce (court record)

    • Names of the parties and case number
    • Date of judgment and court findings
    • Terms regarding legal custody/placement and child support (when applicable)
    • Property division and debt allocation
    • Maintenance (spousal support) orders (when applicable)
    • Any name-change provisions ordered by the court
    • Related orders (temporary orders, injunctions, contempt findings) as applicable

  • Annulment judgment (court record)

    • Names of the parties, case number, and date of judgment
    • Court findings establishing grounds and the effect on marital status
    • Orders addressing children, support, property, or other relief as applicable

Privacy and legal restrictions

  • Vital records (marriage/divorce vital records)

    • Wisconsin treats vital records as regulated records; certified copies are typically limited to eligible requesters and require identity verification, with statutory fees.
    • Some data elements may be restricted or redacted depending on state rules and the format of the record.

  • Court records (divorce/annulment files)

    • Wisconsin court records are generally subject to public access rules, but confidential information is protected by statute and court rule.
    • Common restrictions include sealed records/orders and protected personal identifiers (for example, certain financial account numbers and other sensitive identifiers) and confidential case types or documents.
    • Records involving minors and certain sensitive matters may have additional access limitations or redactions under Wisconsin law and court rules.

Education, Employment and Housing

Ashland County is in far northern Wisconsin on the south shore of Lake Superior, bordering Michigan’s Upper Peninsula region. The county is centered on the City of Ashland and includes significant rural and forested areas (including parts of the Chequamegon–Nicolet National Forest). Population is small and dispersed outside the Ashland urban area, and the local economy reflects a mix of public-sector employment, services anchored by the city, and resource- and recreation-linked activity.

Education Indicators

Public schools (count and names)

Public K–12 education is primarily provided by three public school districts serving Ashland County communities. District-operated school rosters and names are maintained by each district and the state directory; the most consistent public listings are in the Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction (DPI) school/district directories and district websites.

  • School District of Ashland
    • Public schools commonly listed include Lake Superior Elementary School, Ashland Middle School, and Ashland High School (district listings via Wisconsin DPI and district publications).
  • Mellen School District
    • Typically a single-campus model with Mellen School (PK–12) (district listings via Wisconsin DPI).
  • Butternut School District (serves students in southern Ashland County and adjacent areas)
    • Typically Butternut School (PK–12) (district listings via Wisconsin DPI).

Proxy note: A single authoritative “number of public schools in the county” count varies by whether alternative programs, charter arrangements, or virtual options are included. The most defensible approach is to use DPI’s current school directory for an official count at the time of publication.

Student–teacher ratios and graduation rates

  • Student–teacher ratio (proxy): County-specific ratios by district and school are best taken from DPI report cards and district profiles. A commonly used proxy is the ACS “pupil/teacher ratio” for the county’s school enrollment environment, published by the U.S. Census Bureau; this is not identical to staffing ratios by district.
  • Graduation rates (best source): Wisconsin DPI publishes 4-year and extended-year graduation rates for each high school (e.g., Ashland High School; Mellen School; Butternut School) in its accountability/report card systems and high school completion datasets. These are the most current standardized measures available statewide. See Wisconsin School Report Cards.

Data availability note: Specific ratios and graduation percentages are not reliably stated in a single countywide figure because Ashland County has small school systems and outcomes are reported at the district/school level; DPI is the authoritative source for the most recent year.

Adult educational attainment (county level)

Adult education levels are most consistently measured through the U.S. Census Bureau’s American Community Survey (ACS) 5-year estimates:

  • Key indicators used for county profiles:

Notable programs (STEM, vocational, AP)

  • Career and Technical Education (CTE): Wisconsin districts commonly offer CTE pathways aligned to state standards (construction/manufacturing, business/IT, agriculture, family and consumer sciences). District course catalogs and DPI CTE frameworks document these offerings. Reference: Wisconsin DPI Career and Technical Education.
  • Advanced Placement (AP) / dual credit (proxy): Smaller rural districts in Wisconsin often rely on a mix of AP, transcripted credit, and dual enrollment partnerships. Program availability varies by district and year; district course guides provide definitive lists.
  • Regional technical college access: Postsecondary technical education for the area is linked to the regional Wisconsin Technical College System (availability and program mix vary by campus/outreach). Reference: Wisconsin Technical College System.

Proxy note: Program inventories (AP course counts, specific STEM academies, and vocational labs) are not consistently aggregated at the county level; district course catalogs are the definitive sources.

School safety measures and counseling resources

  • Safety planning: Wisconsin public schools follow state requirements for emergency preparedness, incident reporting, and coordination with local law enforcement and emergency management; district safety plans and policies are locally adopted and not always fully public. State context: Wisconsin DPI School Safety.
  • Student services: Counseling, psychological services, and school social work capacity is typically documented in district staffing reports and student services pages. Mental health supports and referral protocols vary by district size, with smaller districts often sharing services or using regional partnerships.

Employment and Economic Conditions

Unemployment rate (most recent year available)

The most defensible “most recent year” unemployment rate for county comparisons comes from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) Local Area Unemployment Statistics (LAUS), which provides annual average unemployment rates for Wisconsin counties:

Data note: The annual unemployment rate changes year to year and is best cited with the specific year from LAUS; county rates can be volatile in small labor markets.

Major industries and employment sectors

County employment patterns are typically dominated by:

  • Health care and social assistance
  • Educational services and public administration (including county/city/school district employment)
  • Retail trade and accommodation/food services (influenced by tourism and the Ashland service hub)
  • Manufacturing and construction (smaller base than metro counties, but present)
  • Forestry, recreation, and natural resources-related activity (including supporting services)

Primary source for industry employment and “share of jobs by sector”:

Common occupations and workforce breakdown

Common occupational groupings in rural northern Wisconsin counties typically include:

  • Service occupations (food service, personal care)
  • Office and administrative support
  • Sales and related
  • Production, transportation, and material moving
  • Management, business, and financial operations
  • Education, training, and library; healthcare practitioners and support

Definitive occupational distribution is published in ACS occupation tables for Ashland County (share of employed residents by occupation group): ACS occupation profiles on data.census.gov.

Commuting patterns and mean commute time

  • Mean travel time to work (minutes): Published by ACS for Ashland County (commute-time tables), representing employed residents’ reported one-way commute.
  • Mode of commute: ACS also reports shares driving alone, carpooling, working from home, walking, etc. Source: ACS commuting characteristics.

Local context: Commuting is shaped by a small county seat labor market (Ashland) and rural residences; trips often concentrate along US-2 and regional connectors to nearby job centers in neighboring counties.

Local employment vs out-of-county work

The best available measure of “work in county vs work outside county” comes from ACS “place of work” tables (county of residence vs county of work). These tables quantify:

  • Employed residents working in Ashland County
  • Employed residents commuting to other counties Source: ACS place-of-work tables.

Proxy note: More detailed commuting flows (origin–destination pairs) are available from the Census “OnTheMap” LEHD tool, though coverage can vary by dataset and year: Census OnTheMap.

Housing and Real Estate

Homeownership rate and rental share

Home tenure is published by the ACS for Ashland County:

  • Owner-occupied housing unit share (homeownership rate)
  • Renter-occupied housing unit share Source: ACS housing tenure tables.

Median property values and recent trends

  • Median value of owner-occupied housing units: Published in ACS (5-year estimate) and commonly used for county benchmarking.
  • Trend proxy: Year-over-year changes are better captured by comparing successive ACS 5-year releases rather than relying on a single point estimate. Local market “recent trend” descriptions are often influenced by limited inventory, seasonal demand near Lake Superior, and price variation between the City of Ashland and rural lake/woodland properties. Source: ACS median home value tables.

Proxy note: MLS-based median sale prices can differ from ACS median values; ACS is the most consistent public, countywide source.

Typical rent prices

  • Median gross rent: Reported by ACS and used as the standard countywide rent benchmark (includes utilities where applicable). Source: ACS median gross rent tables.

Types of housing

Ashland County’s housing stock is typically characterized by:

  • Single-family detached homes (dominant in many rural tracts and established neighborhoods)
  • Smaller multifamily buildings and apartments concentrated in the City of Ashland and village centers
  • Seasonal/recreational housing and rural lots/cabins in lake-adjacent and forested areas

Definitive structural type shares (single-unit, multi-unit, mobile home, etc.) are provided by ACS “Units in structure” tables: ACS housing structure type.

Neighborhood characteristics (proximity to schools or amenities)

  • City of Ashland: More walkable access to schools, the public library, medical services, and retail corridors; higher concentration of rentals and multifamily units relative to the county overall.
  • Outlying towns/rural areas: Larger lots, greater distances to schools and services, and higher car dependence; housing includes older farm/forestry-era homes and seasonal properties.

Data note: “Proximity to amenities” is not directly measured in ACS; it is inferred from settlement patterns and land use (city vs rural townships).

Property tax overview (average rate and typical homeowner cost)

  • Effective property tax rate and typical bill: Wisconsin property taxes vary by municipality, school district, and assessed value. Countywide “average rate” is not a single uniform figure; the most defensible public references are:
    • Wisconsin Department of Revenue (DOR) property tax and levy reports (mill rates, levies, and assessed values by jurisdiction): Wisconsin DOR property tax data.
    • Average annual property taxes paid (proxy): ACS reports “Median real estate taxes paid” for owner-occupied housing units, which functions as a comparable countywide proxy for typical homeowner tax burden: ACS real estate taxes paid.

Proxy note: “Median real estate taxes paid” reflects reported payments and differs from statutory mill rates; it is commonly used for cross-county comparisons when jurisdiction-level rates vary widely.

Table of Contents

Other Counties in Wisconsin