1st Advantage MortgageAbout 74% of Adair County homes are owner-occupied, and the median household income is $68,092. Those figures describe the county, not you: compare at least three written offers by APR and total cost, and confirm the lender's license before you apply.
On this page
- Getting oriented in Adair County
- How much Adair County households make
- Housing costs in Adair County
- Jobs and commutes in Adair County
- The communities that make up Adair County
- How Adair County compares with nearby counties
- What a median Adair County budget can carry
- Before borrowing in Adair County
- People and households in Adair County
- Iowa rules that apply in Adair County
- Checklist for Adair County applicants
- More guides for Adair County
- Frequently asked questions
Getting oriented in Adair County
Roughly 7,460 residents live in Adair County, Iowa, 88th by population among the state's 99 counties and county equivalents. Spread over 569 square miles, that works out to roughly 13.1 residents per square mile. It sits outside every metropolitan statistical area in the July 2023 OMB delineation. The Census Bureau counts 5 places in the county (5 incorporated, 0 census-designated); the largest is Greenfield, with about 1,894 residents, or 25% of the county. With so few households sampled, Adair County estimates can move a lot between releases.
How much Adair County households make
The median household income in Adair County is $68,092; statewide it is $75,059, so Adair County runs 9% below Iowa as a whole. In the state ranking that is 64th of 99.
| Household income | Adair County | vs Iowa |
|---|---|---|
| Under $35,000 | 22.8% | +1.7 pts |
| $35,000 to $99,999 | 45.6% | +2.7 pts |
| $100,000 to $199,999 | 24.1% | -3.4 pts |
| $200,000 or more | 7.5% | -1.1 pts |
The spread is wide: 32% of Adair County households make $100,000 or more, and 23% make less than $35,000. The poverty rate is 9.5%, 2 points lower than the state's 11.1%. None of these numbers decides a Adair County application. Lenders weigh your own documented income against your own debts.
Housing costs in Adair County
Median gross rent, utilities included, comes to $799 in Adair County versus $972 statewide. 33% of renting households spend 30% or more of income on rent, and 21% spend half or more. Home values center on $160,400, or 2.4 years of median income. 74% of Adair County households own their home and 26% rent.
| Housing | Adair County | Iowa statewide | Typical U.S. county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median gross rent | $799/mo | $972/mo | $877/mo |
| Median home value | $160,400 | $208,000 | $185,300 |
| Owners | 74% | 72% | 75% |
| Rent-burdened renters | 33% | 44% | 45% |
| Burdened owners | 23% | 20% | n/a |
| Mobile homes | 1.8% | 3.2% | n/a |
| Vacant units | 9% | 8% | n/a |
Owners with equity have a second option. Weigh a secured line against an unsecured loan by risk as well as cost before you choose (how they compare).
Jobs and commutes in Adair County
The biggest employer of Adair County residents, by industry, is education and health care at 20% of workers, followed by agriculture, forestry and mining (16%). The sharpest difference from the state is in agriculture, forestry and mining, at 16% locally and 4% for Iowa. ACS puts five-year average unemployment at 4.0% in Adair County. About 80% drive to work alone and 15% have trips of 45 minutes or more. 4.4% of households have no vehicle.
| Top industries | Adair County share | +/- vs Iowa |
|---|---|---|
| Education and health care | 20.2% | -4.0 pts |
| Agriculture, forestry and mining | 16.4% | +12.7 pts |
| Manufacturing | 14.9% | +0.2 pts |
| Construction | 10.1% | +3.1 pts |
| Retail trade | 9.1% | -2.4 pts |
| Finance, insurance and real estate | 5.4% | -2.2 pts |
Shorter commutes usually mean lower vehicle costs, which can leave more room for a payment, or for paying a loan off early.
The communities that make up Adair County
Here are the 5 most populous of the county's 5 Census places, with income and rent from the same 2020 to 2024 survey. About 63% of Adair County residents live in one of the 5. Fontanelle has the highest median household income on the list ($67,750) and Greenfield the lowest ($56,607), counting places with at least 500 residents. This guide covers each of the 5 places and the rural areas around them.
| Place | Type | Population | Median income | Median rent | From county center |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Greenfield | city | 1,894 | $56,607 | $624 | 2 mi |
| Stuart | city | 1,655 | $65,000 | $717 | 14 mi |
| Fontanelle | city | 615 | $67,750 | $867 | 5 mi |
| Orient | city | 448 | $73,750 | $950 | 9 mi |
| Bridgewater | city | 124 | $59,167 | $625 | 11 mi |
How Adair County compares with nearby counties
Cass County is closest, 24 miles from center to center; the sixth, Audubon County, is 33 miles off. Income ranges from $57,772 in Union County to $90,855 in Madison County; 3 of these neighbors top Adair County's median.
| County | Distance | Median income | Median rent | Owners |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Adair County | - | $68,092 | $799/mo | 74% |
| Cass County, IA | 24 mi | $63,013 | $777/mo | 72% |
| Union County, IA | 24 mi | $57,772 | $721/mo | 72% |
| Madison County, IA | 24 mi | $90,855 | $1,036/mo | 80% |
| Adams County, IA | 24 mi | $71,875 | $893/mo | 77% |
| Guthrie County, IA | 25 mi | $77,711 | $845/mo | 84% |
| Audubon County, IA | 33 mi | $58,229 | $759/mo | 76% |
What a median Adair County budget can carry
The debt-to-income ratio is the main affordability test lenders use. Applied to Adair County's medians:
- Monthly gross at the median, Adair County: $5,674
- Housing at the median rent of $799 uses 14%
- 36% debt-to-income limit: $1,244 left for all other debt payments
If your rent is above $799, the room shrinks dollar for dollar.
Before borrowing in Adair County
Where the Adair County numbers stand out, and why it matters for a loan:
- Know your credit. Review all three bureau reports for free (AnnualCreditReport.com).
- Consolidating cards in Adair County. Compare the total repaid, not the monthly figure (how).
- Advance-fee offers. No legitimate lender asks a Adair County borrower to pay first (scam signs).
People and households in Adair County
Degree holders: 20% of adults over 25. The uninsured rate is 5.3%, against 5.0% for Iowa.
| Residents | Adair County | Iowa | Middle U.S. county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 42.4 | 38.6 | 41.5 |
| Bachelor's or higher | 19.9% | 31.4% | 22.2% |
| No high school diploma | 5.1% | 6.7% | n/a |
| No health insurance | 5.3% | 5.0% | 7.8% |
| No vehicle | 4.4% | 5.4% | 5.4% |
| Work from home | 11.2% | 11.3% | 8.7% |
| Poverty rate | 9.5% | 11.1% | 13.2% |
| Unemployment (ACS) | 4.0% | 3.6% | 4.4% |
| Commute length | Adair County |
|---|---|
| Under 15 min | 49.0% |
| 15 to 29 min | 22.7% |
| 30 to 44 min | 13.3% |
| 45 to 59 min | 6.3% |
| 60+ min | 8.6% |
Iowa rules that apply in Adair County
The Iowa Division of Banking is the place to verify any lender's Iowa license. Banks and credit unions have their own regulators, and the CFPB takes complaints about any lender. Statewide data and rules: Iowa guide.
Checklist for Adair County applicants
Before you apply, wherever you live in Adair County:
- Borrow the amount the job needs; extra cash adds interest.
- Shop at least three lenders, including one Adair County-area credit union.
- Confirm the lender is licensed in Iowa.
- Never pay a fee up front to get a loan.
More guides for Adair County
The Iowa guide covers the whole state.
Frequently asked questions
Is Adair County a high-income county?
Its $68,092 median ranks 64th of 99 Iowa counties and compares with $65,681 for the median U.S. county.
Is Adair County expensive for renters?
Median rent is $799 against $972 statewide, and 33% of renter households are cost-burdened.
I own my home in Adair County. Personal loan or HELOC?
A HELOC uses the house as collateral; a personal loan usually does not. With 74% of homes owner-occupied here, many readers can compare both in writing.
I live in a small Adair County town. Is this my guide?
Yes. If your town has no city guide, this county page is the local one; it covers Greenfield, Stuart, Fontanelle, Orient, Bridgewater.
Does living in Adair County change what I qualify for?
Not in our fit check, which uses only the amount, credit range, income and payments you enter, the same for a Adair County resident as anyone. Lenders decide under fair-lending law.