1st Advantage MortgageIn Adams County, Iowa, the typical household earns $71,875 a year and the typical rent is $893. 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
- Adams County at a glance
- Household income in Adams County
- Housing costs in Adams County
- Work, industries and travel time in Adams County
- Adams County towns compared
- The counties around Adams County
- Adams County residents: age, schooling, coverage
- Reading the Adams County data as a borrower
- Debt-to-income at Adams County's medians
- Lender oversight for Adams County
- Four steps for Adams County borrowers
- Related local guides
- Frequently asked questions
Adams County at a glance
With an estimated 3,622 residents (ACS 2020 to 2024), Adams County ranks 99th of 99 in Iowa for population. It covers 423 square miles of land, or about 9 people 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 Lenox, with about 1,569 residents, or 43% of the county. With so few households sampled, Adams County estimates can move a lot between releases.
Household income in Adams County
Adams County households have a median income of $71,875 (ACS 2020 to 2024), which ranks 43rd of 99 in Iowa.
| Household income | Adams County | vs Iowa |
|---|---|---|
| Under $35,000 | 24.7% | +3.6 pts |
| $35,000 to $99,999 | 40.7% | -2.1 pts |
| $100,000 to $199,999 | 26.0% | -1.5 pts |
| $200,000 or more | 8.6% | 0.0 pts |
About 25% of households earn under $35,000, while 35% clear $100,000. 9.1% of residents fall below the federal poverty line (statewide: 11.1%). A household earning below the $71,875 median should test any payment carefully; one earning above it should still pick the shortest term it can manage.
Housing costs in Adams County
A typical Adams County rental runs $893 a month including utilities, which is 8% below Iowa. By the Census definition, 39% of Adams County renters are cost-burdened. With a median value of $131,600, a typical Adams County house costs 1.8 times what the median household earns in a year. Owners occupy 77% of homes. Median construction year: 1955.
| Housing | Adams County | Iowa statewide | Typical U.S. county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median gross rent | $893/mo | $972/mo | $877/mo |
| Median home value | $131,600 | $208,000 | $185,300 |
| Owners | 77% | 72% | 75% |
| Rent-burdened renters | 39% | 44% | 45% |
| Burdened owners | 24% | 20% | n/a |
In an owner-heavy county like Adams County, many borrowers can also choose a home equity loan or line of credit. Those can price lower but put the house on the line, so compare the two in writing; our personal loan vs. HELOC guide walks through it.
Work, industries and travel time in Adams County
Education and health care employs 29% of working residents, the largest share; manufacturing is next with 14%. Compared with Iowa, the county leans toward agriculture, forestry and mining (11% against 4%). Averaged over the five survey years, 3.9% of the labor force was out of work and looking. 10% of commuters travel 45 minutes or more each way, and 10% work from home.
| Industry (employed residents 16+) | Adams County | Gap to Iowa |
|---|---|---|
| Education and health care | 29.0% | +4.9 pts |
| Manufacturing | 13.9% | -0.8 pts |
| Agriculture, forestry and mining | 11.5% | +7.8 pts |
| Finance, insurance and real estate | 7.9% | +0.3 pts |
| Construction | 6.3% | -0.6 pts |
| Professional and administrative services | 6.3% | -1.3 pts |
If your hours swing with the season or with overtime, size a loan payment against your base pay, not your best month.
Adams County towns compared
5 Census places fall mainly inside Adams County; the 5 biggest are below. They account for 3,468 residents, leaving about 4% of the county in unincorporated, unnamed areas. This guide covers each of the 5 places and the rural areas around them.
| Community | Type | Residents | Household income (median) | Rent (median) | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lenox | city | 1,569 | $61,000 | $1,003 | 12 mi |
| Corning | city | 1,567 | $64,773 | $754 | 3 mi |
| Prescott | city | 213 | $65,000 | $950 | 4 mi |
| Nodaway | city | 73 | $58,125 | n/a | 12 mi |
| Carbon | city | 46 | $48,750 | n/a | 7 mi |
The counties around Adams County
Six nearby counties, 20 to 30 miles away by the straight-line distance between their centers. Adair County leads the group on income ($68,092), Union County trails ($57,772), and Adams County out-earns 6 of the six.
| Adjacent area | How far | HH income (median) | Rent (median) | Owner share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Adams County | - | $71,875 | $893/mo | 77% |
| Taylor County, IA | 20 mi | $67,740 | $765/mo | 78% |
| Union County, IA | 24 mi | $57,772 | $721/mo | 72% |
| Montgomery County, IA | 24 mi | $63,666 | $814/mo | 69% |
| Adair County, IA | 24 mi | $68,092 | $799/mo | 74% |
| Cass County, IA | 25 mi | $63,013 | $777/mo | 72% |
| Page County, IA | 30 mi | $57,953 | $705/mo | 71% |
Adams County residents: age, schooling, coverage
Degree holders: 27% of adults over 25. About 3% go without health insurance.
| Indicator | Adams County | All of Iowa | U.S. county median |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 46.3 | 38.6 | 41.5 |
| Bachelor's or higher | 27.0% | 31.4% | 22.2% |
| No high school diploma | 6.1% | 6.7% | n/a |
| No health insurance | 3.3% | 5.0% | 7.8% |
| No vehicle | 5.5% | 5.4% | 5.4% |
| Work from home | 10.0% | 11.3% | 8.7% |
| Poverty rate | 9.1% | 11.1% | 13.2% |
| Unemployment (ACS) | 3.9% | 3.6% | 4.4% |
| Minutes to work | Adams County workers |
|---|---|
| Under 15 min | 41.1% |
| 15 to 29 min | 33.1% |
| 30 to 44 min | 16.4% |
| 45 to 59 min | 5.5% |
| 60+ min | 4.0% |
Reading the Adams County data as a borrower
A few patterns in the Adams County data, and the practical point behind each:
- Benefit income. With half of residents older than 46, lenders often see pension and Social Security income, which counts like wages.
- Scams. A fee demanded before funding is a red flag; report it at ReportFraud.ftc.gov (spotting scams).
- Combining balances. It helps when total cost falls and the cards stay paid down (consolidation).
Debt-to-income at Adams County's medians
Lenders compare monthly debt payments with gross monthly income, the debt-to-income ratio. For a Adams County household at the medians it works out like this; treat it as an illustration only.
- Start: $5,990 gross per month ($71,875 / 12)
- Median rent: $893, or 15 cents of every gross dollar
- 40% debt-to-income limit: $1,503 left for all other debt payments
Subtract what you already pay on other debts. A new payment should fit in what remains, with some to spare.
Lender oversight for Adams County
Adams County borrowers fall under statewide rules, enforced by the Iowa Division of Banking. Banks and credit unions have their own regulators, and the CFPB takes complaints about any lender. The Iowa guide covers state rules in more detail.
Four steps for Adams County borrowers
Before you apply, wherever you live in Adams County:
- Know the exact dollar figure you need before talking to a lender.
- Ask each lender for the APR and all fees in writing.
- Verify the Iowa license before giving out your Social Security number.
- Keep a small cushion so one surprise bill does not mean another loan.
Related local guides
The Iowa guide covers the whole state.
Frequently asked questions
Is Adams County a high-income county?
Its $71,875 median ranks 43rd of 99 Iowa counties and compares with $65,681 for the median U.S. county.
How much is rent in Adams County?
Median gross rent, utilities included, is $893 a month; 39% of renters spend 30% or more of income on it.
Does this page cover Lenox?
Yes, along with the other 4 Census places in Adams County, such as Corning, Prescott, Nodaway.
Are Adams County applicants treated differently?
No. Everyone answers the same questions and is screened on the same objective points; lending partners set their own criteria under fair-lending laws.
Where can someone in Adams County check a lender's license?
With the Iowa Division of Banking. If a lender is unlicensed or asks for a fee before funding, walk away.