According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 0.64 square miles (1.66 km2), all land.

[9] Ashley has a warm-summer humid continental climate (Köppen Dfb), with an annual precipitation average of 20.74 inches (526.8 mm).

Winters are frigid and dry with moderate snowfall, while summers are wetter and very warm with pleasant mornings.

45.5% of all households were made up of individuals, and 31% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older.

The racial makeup of the city was 98.41% White, 0.34% Native American, 0.91% Asian, and 0.34% from two or more races.

The top 6 ancestry groups in the city are German (66.9%), Russian (15.1%), Norwegian (7.1%), United States (3.3%), English (2.3%), French (1.9%).

39.4% of all households were made up of individuals, and 25.7% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older.