Located in Houston County, Alabama, Ashford is the 169th largest city in Alabama and the 7200th largest city in the United States. The population of Ashford is increasing at a rate of 0.90% per year, and has grown 4.33% since the 2010 census. The city spans 6 square miles and is home to a population density of 361 people per square mile. Ashford is a medium-sized community that is home to a variety of ethnic groups. The majority of Ashford residents report being White, while the next-most common race is Black or African-American.
The city is comprised of three major commercial centers, one of which includes a restaurant and a motel. The east portion of Ashford is characterized by two subdivisions, Echo Valley and High Echo. In Echo Valley, there are 305 small lots. Over half of these lots are vacant. The west part of the city is comprised of the Village Center, which consists of a mix of commercial and residential uses. High Echo is a medium-sized subdivision, with 55 small lots.
In 1990, there were 469 homes in the plan area. Eighty-two percent of the population were homeowners, while the rest were renters. The vacancy rate, then, was 16.6 percent, while the remaining homes were used for recreational purposes. In other words, the city had a relatively high vacancy rate, despite the town's low level of density. The population is largely white, and only a small number of residents of color are present.