Young people
LONG-TERM CHANGE
Children, students and births
Vertical scale is fitted to the displayed series and does not start at zero. Reference period: 2000/2001 = 100. Children, ASD and births use 2000; SOU uses its first verified count in 2001. A value of 80 means 20% below that series’ baseline.
Baseline values, definitions & sources
| Measure | Baseline | Count | Latest count |
|---|---|---|---|
| People under 18 | 2000 | 3,676 | 2,611 · 2024 |
| ASD enrollment | 2000 | 3,330 | 2,364 · 2025 |
| SOU enrollment | 2001 | 5,475 | 5,206 · 2025 |
| Births · ZIP 97520 | 2000 | 188 | 161 · 2009 |
City child-population benchmarks use the 2000, 2010 and 2020 Census plus the 2020–24 ACS estimate. The Population tab has all annual ACS releases, kept separate from Census counts. Births cover maternal residence in ZIP 97520 within Jackson County. ASD totals include nonresidents. SOU’s overall fourth-week headcount includes nonadmitted students; a 2010 reporting change moved Advanced Southern Credit enrollment from winter to fall. These measures are not added together.
2000 Census · Latest ACS · OHA births · SOU 2001–06 · SOU 2007–14 · HECC 2015–25
ASD 2025–26 uses the June 2026 board report: 2,364 full-time students, with 38 part-time students listed separately. The school year is plotted at its starting year (2025). Earlier actuals retain the user-designated spreadsheet series. June 2026 ASD report.
| Fall year | SOU overall | SOU admitted undergraduate + graduate |
|---|---|---|
| 2001 | 5,475 | — |
| 2002 | 5,483 | — |
| 2003 | 5,506 | — |
| 2004 | 5,162 | — |
| 2005 | 4,977 | — |
| 2006 | 5,002 | — |
| 2007 | 4,836 | — |
| 2008 | 5,082 | — |
| 2009 | 5,104 | — |
| 2010 | 6,443 | — |
| 2011 | 6,744 | — |
| 2012 | 6,481 | — |
| 2013 | 6,140 | — |
| 2014 | 6,203 | — |
| 2015 | 6,215 | — |
| 2016 | 6,088 | — |
| 2017 | 6,139 | 4,702 |
| 2018 | 6,119 | 4,415 |
| 2019 | 5,966 | 4,261 |
| 2020 | 5,041 | 3,964 |
| 2021 | 5,056 | 3,732 |
| 2022 | 5,156 | 3,380 |
| 2023 | 5,175 | 3,360 |
| 2024 | 5,129 | 3,208 |
| 2025 | 5,206 | 3,140 |
CITY OF ASHLAND · REPORTED CENSUS & ACS DATA
Residents under 18
Vertical scale does not start at zero. Annual ACS releases are included for 2009–2024. Each covers five years: “2024” means 2020–2024. Gold diamonds show the separate 2000, 2010 and 2020 Census counts.
Values, survey periods & sources
Overlapping ACS windows are not independent annual headcounts. Survey estimates and Census counts use different periods and methods, so they are not joined into one series. No city ACS five-year release exists before 2009. Dotted projections extend the 2014–2024 ACS slope from the latest estimate, floored at zero; they are not an official demographic forecast. Approximate 90% margins of error for age sums use the root sum of squared component margins.
| Period | Under 18 | Ages 5–17 | Under-18 MOE | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000 decennial Census | 3676 | 2874 | — | Census |
| 2010 decennial Census | 3197 | 2485 | — | Census |
| 2020 decennial Census | 3051 | 2419 | — | Census |
| 2005–2009 ACS five-year | 3,918 | 2,888 | ±475 | ACS B01001 |
| 2006–2010 ACS five-year | 3,968 | 2,900 | ±500 | ACS B01001 |
| 2007–2011 ACS five-year | 3,663 | 2,790 | ±444 | ACS B01001 |
| 2008–2012 ACS five-year | 3,436 | 2,644 | ±452 | ACS B01001 |
| 2009–2013 ACS five-year | 3,521 | 2,856 | ±471 | ACS B01001 |
| 2010–2014 ACS five-year | 3,520 | 2,862 | ±441 | ACS B01001 |
| 2011–2015 ACS five-year | 3,413 | 2,773 | ±454 | ACS B01001 |
| 2012–2016 ACS five-year | 3,460 | 2,848 | ±449 | ACS B01001 |
| 2013–2017 ACS five-year | 3,141 | 2,522 | ±392 | ACS B01001 |
| 2014–2018 ACS five-year | 3,368 | 2,740 | ±415 | ACS B01001 |
| 2015–2019 ACS five-year | 3,115 | 2,389 | ±431 | ACS B01001 |
| 2016–2020 ACS five-year | 2,846 | 2,115 | ±435 | ACS B01001 |
| 2017–2021 ACS five-year | 2,757 | 2,084 | ±441 | ACS B01001 |
| 2018–2022 ACS five-year | 2,797 | 1,995 | ±424 | ACS B01001 |
| 2019–2023 ACS five-year | 2,509 | 1,742 | ±457 | ACS B01001 |
| 2020–2024 ACS five-year | 2,611 | 1,939 | ±377 | ACS B01001 |
Age composition and the growing older population
CITY LIMITS · CENSUS & ACS AGE HISTORY
Age composition across a generation
Residents aged 55+: 4,632 → 8,865 · +91.4% (2000–2024). Their share rose from 23.7% to 41.7% (+18.0 percentage points).
2000, 2010 and 2020 are Census counts; 2024 represents the 2020–24 ACS estimate, not a single-year count. Annual points between reported benchmarks are modeled interpolation. Dotted boundaries reflect this modeling. Projections extend each age band’s 2010–2024 annual change to 2040, floored at zero; shares are recalculated from the sum. This is an exploratory continuation, not a cohort-survival demographic forecast: it does not separately model aging, births, deaths or migration. 55+ includes 65+; these lines must not be added together. Detailed 2025 age data were not verified. Source revisions replace earlier rounded QuickFacts-derived child counts.
Decade benchmarks, latest estimates, projections and sources
| Year / method | Under 5 | 5–17 | 18–24 | 25–44 | 45–54 | 55–64 | 65+ | 55+ subtotal |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000 · 2000 decennial Census | 802 | 2,874 | 3,413 | 4,552 | 3,249 | 1,736 | 2,896 | 4,632 |
| 2010 · 2010 decennial Census | 712 | 2,485 | 3,119 | 4,128 | 2,593 | 3,509 | 3,532 | 7,041 |
| 2020 · 2020 decennial Census | 632 | 2,419 | 3,077 | 4,473 | 2,206 | 2,566 | 5,987 | 8,553 |
| 2024 · 2020–2024 ACS five-year estimate | 672 | 1,939 | 2,927 | 4,519 | 2,337 | 2,503 | 6,362 | 8,865 |
2000 decennial Census · source ↗
2010 decennial Census · source ↗
2020 decennial Census · source ↗
2020–2024 ACS five-year estimate · source ↗
ACS summed-band margins of error are approximately ±229 under 5, ±300 ages 5–17, ±478 ages 18–24, ±465 ages 25–44, ±415 ages 45–54, ±417 ages 55–64, ±579 ages 65+. Projection uncertainty is not quantified by these sampling margins.
CITY LIMITS · CENSUS & ACS AGE HISTORY
Fewer young residents, a larger older share
Residents aged 55+: 4,632 → 8,865 · +91.4% (2000–2024). Their share rose from 23.7% to 41.7% (+18.0 percentage points).
2000, 2010 and 2020 are Census counts; 2024 represents the 2020–24 ACS estimate, not a single-year count. Annual points between reported benchmarks are modeled interpolation. Dotted boundaries reflect this modeling. Projections extend each age band’s 2010–2024 annual change to 2040, floored at zero; shares are recalculated from the sum. This is an exploratory continuation, not a cohort-survival demographic forecast: it does not separately model aging, births, deaths or migration. 55+ includes 65+; these lines must not be added together. Detailed 2025 age data were not verified. Source revisions replace earlier rounded QuickFacts-derived child counts.
Decade benchmarks, latest estimates, projections and sources
| Year / method | Under 5 | 5–17 | 18–24 | 25–44 | 45–54 | 55–64 | 65+ | 55+ subtotal |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000 · 2000 decennial Census | 802 | 2,874 | 3,413 | 4,552 | 3,249 | 1,736 | 2,896 | 4,632 |
| 2010 · 2010 decennial Census | 712 | 2,485 | 3,119 | 4,128 | 2,593 | 3,509 | 3,532 | 7,041 |
| 2020 · 2020 decennial Census | 632 | 2,419 | 3,077 | 4,473 | 2,206 | 2,566 | 5,987 | 8,553 |
| 2024 · 2020–2024 ACS five-year estimate | 672 | 1,939 | 2,927 | 4,519 | 2,337 | 2,503 | 6,362 | 8,865 |
2000 decennial Census · source ↗
2010 decennial Census · source ↗
2020 decennial Census · source ↗
2020–2024 ACS five-year estimate · source ↗
ACS summed-band margins of error are approximately ±229 under 5, ±300 ages 5–17, ±478 ages 18–24, ±465 ages 25–44, ±415 ages 45–54, ±417 ages 55–64, ±579 ages 65+. Projection uncertainty is not quantified by these sampling margins.
ASD enrollment
Actual enrollment retains the user-designated series. The 2025–26 value is June 2026 full-time enrollment (2,364); 38 part-time students are separate. School years are plotted at their starting year. Dotted lines are the November 2022 FLO scenarios through 2032–33; no additional extrapolation is added. Vertical scale is fitted to the data and does not start at zero.
Values & sources
| Period | Measure | Value | Geography | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2022–23 | FLO preferred | 2,576 | ASD enrollment | Original source |
| 2022–23 | FLO low | 2,576 | ASD enrollment | Original source |
| 2023–24 | FLO preferred | 2,541 | ASD enrollment | Original source |
| 2023–24 | FLO low | 2,481 | ASD enrollment | Original source |
| 2024–25 | FLO preferred | 2,515 | ASD enrollment | Original source |
| 2024–25 | FLO low | 2,434 | ASD enrollment | Original source |
| 2025–26 | FLO preferred | 2,492 | ASD enrollment | Original source |
| 2025–26 | FLO low | 2,389 | ASD enrollment | Original source |
| 2026–27 | FLO preferred | 2,455 | ASD enrollment | Original source |
| 2026–27 | FLO low | 2,329 | ASD enrollment | Original source |
| 2027–28 | FLO preferred | 2,433 | ASD enrollment | Original source |
| 2027–28 | FLO low | 2,284 | ASD enrollment | Original source |
| 2028–29 | FLO preferred | 2,394 | ASD enrollment | Original source |
| 2028–29 | FLO low | 2,228 | ASD enrollment | Original source |
| 2029–30 | FLO preferred | 2,367 | ASD enrollment | Original source |
| 2029–30 | FLO low | 2,182 | ASD enrollment | Original source |
| 2030–31 | FLO preferred | 2,353 | ASD enrollment | Original source |
| 2030–31 | FLO low | 2,146 | ASD enrollment | Original source |
| 2031–32 | FLO preferred | 2,332 | ASD enrollment | Original source |
| 2031–32 | FLO low | 2,103 | ASD enrollment | Original source |
| 2032–33 | FLO preferred | 2,344 | ASD enrollment | Original source |
| 2032–33 | FLO low | 2,092 | ASD enrollment | Original source |
| 1993 | Actual | 3,564 | ASD enrollment | User-designated enrollment series; private file |
| 1994 | Actual | 3,460 | ASD enrollment | User-designated enrollment series; private file |
| 1995 | Actual | 3,450 | ASD enrollment | User-designated enrollment series; private file |
| 1996 | Actual | 3,465 | ASD enrollment | User-designated enrollment series; private file |
| 1997 | Actual | 3,410 | ASD enrollment | User-designated enrollment series; private file |
| 1998 | Actual | 3,347 | ASD enrollment | User-designated enrollment series; private file |
| 1999 | Actual | 3,361 | ASD enrollment | User-designated enrollment series; private file |
| 2000 | Actual | 3,330 | ASD enrollment | User-designated enrollment series; private file |
| 2001 | Actual | 3,255 | ASD enrollment | User-designated enrollment series; private file |
| 2002 | Actual | 3,141 | ASD enrollment | User-designated enrollment series; private file |
| 2003 | Actual | 3,008 | ASD enrollment | User-designated enrollment series; private file |
| 2004 | Actual | 2,892 | ASD enrollment | User-designated enrollment series; private file |
| 2005 | Actual | 2,778 | ASD enrollment | User-designated enrollment series; private file |
| 2006 | Actual | 2,764 | ASD enrollment | User-designated enrollment series; private file |
| 2007 | Actual | 2,717 | ASD enrollment | User-designated enrollment series; private file |
| 2008 | Actual | 2,767 | ASD enrollment | User-designated enrollment series; private file |
| 2009 | Actual | 2,819 | ASD enrollment | User-designated enrollment series; private file |
| 2010 | Actual | 2,737 | ASD enrollment | User-designated enrollment series; private file |
| 2011 | Actual | 2,720 | ASD enrollment | User-designated enrollment series; private file |
| 2012 | Actual | 2,759 | ASD enrollment | User-designated enrollment series; private file |
| 2013 | Actual | 2,765 | ASD enrollment | User-designated enrollment series; private file |
| 2014 | Actual | 2,782 | ASD enrollment | User-designated enrollment series; private file |
| 2015 | Actual | 2,883 | ASD enrollment | User-designated enrollment series; private file |
| 2016 | Actual | 2,921 | ASD enrollment | User-designated enrollment series; private file |
| 2017 | Actual | 2,950 | ASD enrollment | User-designated enrollment series; private file |
| 2018 | Actual | 2,874 | ASD enrollment | User-designated enrollment series; private file |
| 2019 | Actual | 2,766 | ASD enrollment | User-designated enrollment series; private file |
| 2020 | Actual | 2,476 | ASD enrollment | User-designated enrollment series; private file |
| 2021 | Actual | 2,463 | ASD enrollment | User-designated enrollment series; private file |
| 2022 | Actual | 2,557 | ASD enrollment | User-designated enrollment series; private file |
| 2023 | Actual | 2,506 | ASD enrollment | User-designated enrollment series; private file |
| 2024 | Actual | 2,443 | ASD enrollment | User-designated enrollment series; private file |
| 2025–26 · June 2026 | Actual | 2,364 | ASD enrollment | Original source |
Births to residents of ZIP 97520
Final OHA calendar-year counts for maternal residence in ZIP 97520 within Jackson County. The ZIP differs from the city and school district. Vertical scale is fitted to the data and does not start at zero.
Values & sources
| Period | Measure | Value | Geography | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2010 | Calendar-year births | 142 | ZIP 97520 in Jackson County | Original source |
| 2011 | Calendar-year births | 165 | ZIP 97520 in Jackson County | Original source |
| 2012 | Calendar-year births | 148 | ZIP 97520 in Jackson County | Original source |
| 2013 | Calendar-year births | 147 | ZIP 97520 in Jackson County | Original source |
| 2014 | Calendar-year births | 141 | ZIP 97520 in Jackson County | Original source |
| 2015 | Calendar-year births | 151 | ZIP 97520 in Jackson County | Original source |
| 2016 | Calendar-year births | 140 | ZIP 97520 in Jackson County | Original source |
| 2017 | Calendar-year births | 165 | ZIP 97520 in Jackson County | Original source |
| 2018 | Calendar-year births | 147 | ZIP 97520 in Jackson County | Original source |
| 2019 | Calendar-year births | 132 | ZIP 97520 in Jackson County | Original source |
| 2020 | Calendar-year births | 125 | ZIP 97520 in Jackson County | Original source |
| 2021 | Calendar-year births | 132 | ZIP 97520 in Jackson County | Original source |
| 2022 | Calendar-year births | 123 | ZIP 97520 in Jackson County | Original source |
| 2023 | Calendar-year births | 118 | ZIP 97520 in Jackson County | Original source |
| 2024 | Calendar-year births | 114 | ZIP 97520 in Jackson County | Original source |
| 2025 | Calendar-year births | 108 | ZIP 97520 in Jackson County | Original source |
| 2000 | Calendar-year births | 188 | ZIP 97520 / Jackson County | Original source |
| 2001 | Calendar-year births | 175 | ZIP 97520 / Jackson County | Original source |
| 2002 | Calendar-year births | 181 | ZIP 97520 / Jackson County | Original source |
| 2003 | Calendar-year births | 175 | ZIP 97520 / Jackson County | Original source |
| 2004 | Calendar-year births | 155 | ZIP 97520 / Jackson County | Original source |
| 2005 | Calendar-year births | 169 | ZIP 97520 / Jackson County | Original source |
| 2006 | Calendar-year births | 151 | ZIP 97520 / Jackson County | Original source |
| 2007 | Calendar-year births | 171 | ZIP 97520 / Jackson County | Original source |
| 2008 | Calendar-year births | 170 | ZIP 97520 / Jackson County | Original source |
| 2009 | Calendar-year births | 161 | ZIP 97520 / Jackson County | Original source |
SOU: how much teaching activity?
Credit hours reflect both how many students enroll and how much coursework they take. A student taking one course and a full-time student each count as one person in headcount, but contribute different amounts of course activity.
SOU academic-year credit hours
Fall, winter and spring totals fell 12.4%, from 136,394 in 2020–21 to 119,472 in 2024–25. Years on the axis mark the start of the academic year. These totals measure course activity, not people. Vertical scale is fitted to the data and does not start at zero.
Values & sources
| Period | Measure | Value | Geography | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2020–2021 | SOU academic-year credit hours | 136,394 | Southern Oregon University | Original source |
| 2021–2022 | SOU academic-year credit hours | 127,893 | Southern Oregon University | Original source |
| 2022–2023 | SOU academic-year credit hours | 123,372 | Southern Oregon University | Original source |
| 2023–2024 | SOU academic-year credit hours | 122,649 | Southern Oregon University | Original source |
| 2024–2025 | SOU academic-year credit hours | 119,472 | Southern Oregon University | Original source |
SOU fall-term credit hours
Fall term only: 56,326.5 in 2007 and 48,445 in 2023, a 14.0% decline. The 2010 reporting change included Advanced Southern Credit in fall. The 2022 value is missing; fall totals are not combined with academic-year totals. Vertical scale is fitted to the data and does not start at zero.
Values & sources
| Period | Measure | Value | Geography | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2007 | SOU fall-term credit hours | 56,326.5 | Southern Oregon University | Original source |
| 2008 | SOU fall-term credit hours | 57,962 | Southern Oregon University | Original source |
| 2009 | SOU fall-term credit hours | 58,579.5 | Southern Oregon University | Original source |
| 2010 | SOU fall-term credit hours | 67,771.5 | Southern Oregon University | Original source |
| 2011 | SOU fall-term credit hours | 70,722.5 | Southern Oregon University | Original source |
| 2012 | SOU fall-term credit hours | 68,883.25 | Southern Oregon University | Original source |
| 2013 | SOU fall-term credit hours | 65,112.5 | Southern Oregon University | Original source |
| 2014 | SOU fall-term credit hours | 65,237.5 | Southern Oregon University | Original source |
| 2015 | SOU fall-term credit hours | 65,865 | Southern Oregon University | Original source |
| 2016 | SOU fall-term credit hours | 63,933 | Southern Oregon University | Original source |
| 2017 | SOU fall-term credit hours | 64,910 | Southern Oregon University | Original source |
| 2018 | SOU fall-term credit hours | 62,388 | Southern Oregon University | Original source |
| 2019 | SOU fall-term credit hours | 59,583 | Southern Oregon University | Original source |
| 2020 | SOU fall-term credit hours | 51,856 | Southern Oregon University | Original source |
| 2021 | SOU fall-term credit hours | 49,162 | Southern Oregon University | Original source |
| 2023 | SOU fall-term credit hours | 48,445 | Southern Oregon University | Original source |