Ashland offers small-town living alongside world-renowned entertainment
Nestled in the foothills of the southern Rogue Valley, Ashland is a laid-back, idyllic city home to a stable population of about 21,000. From college students at Southern Oregon University to retirees living in 55-plus communities, the town attracts residents from all walks of life. “Ashland has always been uniquely Ashland; it doesn't really reflect a lot of the rest of southern Oregon culture,” says Katherine Soditus, an Ashland native and a principal broker with Real Estate Alliance & Lease. Some of the city’s biggest draws include the local parks, an established downtown area and the Oregon Shakespeare Festival, a world-renowned repertory theatre comprised of three performing arts venues. Robynne Whitaker, a local Realtor with Millen Property Group, notes that there are also historic structures throughout the city, including a one-of-a-kind public drinking fountain in the downtown plaza. “Back at the turn of the century, when Ashland was a mill town, people thought drinking from the local mineral springs could improve their health. The water from the springs, now known as “Lithia” water, is still pumped through our public drinking fountains,” Whitaker says. “One thing locals like to do is watch tourists drink the water for the first time because it’s got kind of a funky taste to it.” Situated a dozen miles south of Medford and 16 miles north of the California state line, Ashland offers convenient access to larger urban areas and a distinctly rural atmosphere.
Northwest Ashland residents visit Downtown Ashland for a bite and a visit.
A wooden sign is featured at the entrance to the Shakespeare Festival near Mountain Meadows.
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Median home price hovers around $600,000
“Ashland has a very eclectic assortment of homes being offered – everything from a small downtown condo to a rural high-end estate,” says Justin Donovan, a broker with Ashland Homes Real Estate, Inc. “As a whole, the market has historically been very strong. Ashland does not believe in much expansion-type development; development that does get approved is generally within the city limits and is more in line with high density.” The median home price in Ashland is around $600,000; single-family homes can range anywhere from $300,000 to $1.2 million, while most townhouses and condo units cost between $200,000 and $500,000. Most of the city’s older Craftsman homes from the early 20th century are in Central Ashland and the historic Railroad District ; generally speaking, the farther away from these two neighborhoods, the newer the housing developments.
Quiet streets and large homes are common in Northwest Ashland.
A mid-century home is perched on the hill of Northwest Ashland.
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Students zoned for the Ashland School District
Approximately 2,5000 students in kindergarten through 12th grade are served by the Ashland School District, which receives an overall B-plus rating from Niche. Primary students are split between three elementary schools, while intermediate students can attend Ashland Middle and secondary students funnel into Ashland High School. The district also includes the TRAILS Outdoor School, an alternative K-8 institution focused on environmental education and community-based learning.
With a campus that spans over 175 acres in southern Ashland, Southern Oregon University is a public four-year college with approximately 6,000 undergraduate and graduate students. SOU offers over 35 areas of study and degree programs, including an award-winning performing arts program boasting celebrity alums like Ty Burrell and Kim Rhodes.
Ashland High School has a beautiful campus in Ashland
Walker Elementary School focuses on the higher education of its students.
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Seasonal outdoor recreation in and around Ashland
The City of Ashland encompasses more than 800 acres of outdoor space spread across 20 community parks. The largest and most popular is 100-acre Lithia Park, which is frequently referred to as the “crown jewel” of Ashland. Across these parks and throughout the immediate area surrounding the city are approximately 53 miles of trails. “You can spend your life hiking and mountain biking, but with a lower cost of living,” Whitaker says. Reservable sporting facilities are available at North Mountain Park and Hunter Park for league games and team practices. Located in southern Ashland, Oak Knoll Golf Course has been open since 1927 and remains the only municipal golf course in Southern Oregon. During the warmer months, locals frequently make the 6-mile trip south of the city to Emigrant Lake, while in the wintertime, they head 20 miles into the Siskiyou Mountains to enjoy the snow at the Mount Ashland Ski Area.
People play pickleball in Northwest Ashland at Lithia Park.
Lithia Park has a rock climbing wall for all ages.
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Shows at the Oregon Shakespeare Festival
Downtown Ashland has dozens of boutiques, small businesses and local restaurants lining a pedestrian-friendly stretch of Main Street in the Lithia Park neighborhood. Also in the downtown area is the Oregon Shakespeare Festival, a globally recognized repertory theatre comprised of three venues: the outdoor Allen Elizabethan Theatre, the Angus Bowmer Theatre and the Thomas Theatre. “The Oregon Shakespeare Festival brings in culture from around the world,” Soditus says. Whitaker says that OSF is the “largest repertory theatre west of the Mississippi” and a major tourist destination for Southern Oregon. The OSF was founded in 1935 and currently offers an array of classic and contemporary plays, some Shakespeare and some not. Shows usually run from late April through December, although there are occasional off-season performances. The festival has also attracted other performing arts venues to downtown Ashland, including the Varsity Theatre and the Oregon Cabaret Theatre. Commercial pockets in Croman Mill and South Ashland house grocery stores and suburban shopping malls.
Another significant draw to the Ashland area is its proximity to some of Southern Oregon’s most famous wineries and vineyards. Typically tucked away into the rolling hills of the Rogue Valley countryside, these wineries have become exceedingly popular for their tasting rooms and wine tours. Some of the most notable venues in the area include Irvine & Roberts Vineyards and Belle Fiore, an opulent estate winery and chateau influenced by Italian winemaking practices and aesthetics.
The Shakespeare Festival near Mountain Meadows in Ashland offers performances all year long.
The Varsity Theatre is another option available to Northwest Ashland.
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Commuting through the Rogue Valley
Oregon Route 99 runs directly through the middle of Ashland, splitting the city into two halves referred to as “above the boulevard” and “below the boulevard” by locals. Interstate 5, a major west coast highway, runs parallel to Route 99 along the city’s outskirts. The Rogue Valley Transportation Authority operates bus services throughout the city and surrounding valley, and the Rogue Valley International Medford Airport is a 16-mile drive north.
Crime and safety in Ashland
In 2022, Ashland was named one of Oregon’s top 20 safest cities based on FBI crime data, as reported on by Safewise. Between 2020 and 2021, the Ashland Police Department reported a 27.5% increase in violent crime and an 8.4% increase in property crime. According to the department’s 2021 report, property crime makes up approximately 90% of all reported crimes throughout the city, the vast majority of which are larceny offenses. Despite the slight increase in property crime in 2021, the city experienced an overall 31% decrease in property-related offenses since 2016.
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Disclaimer: Certain information contained herein is derived from information provided by parties other than Homes.com. Our sources include: Accuweather, Public Records and Neustar. All information provided is deemed reliable, but is not guaranteed to be accurate and should be independently verified.
