1st Advantage MortgageIn Adams County, Illinois, the typical household earns $66,220 a year and the typical rent is $828. 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
- A quick profile of Adams County
- Income in Adams County compared with Illinois
- The Adams County job picture
- Renting and owning in Adams County
- Adams County next to its neighbors
- Cities, towns and CDPs in Adams County
- Debt-to-income at Adams County's medians
- What the numbers mean for Adams County borrowers
- Who lives in Adams County, in numbers
- Illinois rules that apply in Adams County
- Before you sign
- Nearby and statewide guides
- Frequently asked questions
A quick profile of Adams County
Roughly 64,754 residents live in Adams County, Illinois, 23rd by population among the state's 102 counties and county equivalents. It covers 855 square miles of land, or about 76 people per square mile. Under the July 2023 OMB definitions, Adams County is not part of any metropolitan area. The Census Bureau counts 25 places in the county (14 incorporated, 11 census-designated); the largest is Quincy, with about 39,109 residents, or 60% of the county.
Income in Adams County compared with Illinois
Adams County households have a median income of $66,220 (ACS 2020 to 2024), which ranks 55th of 102 in Illinois.
| Households earning | Adams County | +/- vs Illinois |
|---|---|---|
| Under $35,000 | 26.9% | +6.0 pts |
| $35,000 to $99,999 | 42.9% | +5.8 pts |
| $100,000 to $199,999 | 24.7% | -3.4 pts |
| $200,000 or more | 5.5% | -8.3 pts |
The spread is wide: 30% of Adams County households make $100,000 or more, and 27% make less than $35,000. The poverty rate is 12.8%, 1 point higher than the state's 11.8%. Income inequality, measured by the Gini index, comes to 0.454 here. A household earning below the $66,220 median should test any payment carefully; one earning above it should still pick the shortest term it can manage.
The Adams County job picture
The biggest employer of Adams County residents, by industry, is education and health care at 26% of workers, followed by manufacturing (14%). Retail trade stands out: 13% of workers here, versus 10% statewide. ACS puts five-year average unemployment at 3.9% in Adams County. About 79% drive to work alone and 5% have trips of 45 minutes or more. 7.5% of households have no vehicle.
| Industry (employed residents 16+) | Adams County | Gap to Illinois |
|---|---|---|
| Education and health care | 26.0% | +2.4 pts |
| Manufacturing | 13.7% | +2.2 pts |
| Retail trade | 12.9% | +2.5 pts |
| Arts, lodging and food service | 7.4% | -0.8 pts |
| Professional and administrative services | 6.8% | -6.0 pts |
| Finance, insurance and real estate | 6.0% | -1.4 pts |
Industry shapes paperwork. Salaried and public jobs are easy to verify, while hourly, tipped, commission or contract earners in Adams County should have bank statements and tax returns ready.
Renting and owning in Adams County
A typical Adams County rental runs $828 a month including utilities, which is 35% below Illinois. By the Census definition, 41% of Adams County renters are cost-burdened. The median owner-occupied home is valued at $162,600, about 2.5 times the median household income. The ownership rate is 72%.
| Measure | Adams County | Illinois | Median U.S. county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median gross rent | $828/mo | $1,274/mo | $877/mo |
| Median home value | $162,600 | $263,300 | $185,300 |
| Owners | 72% | 67% | 75% |
| Rent-burdened renters | 41% | 48% | 45% |
| Burdened owners | 19% | 27% | n/a |
Because most Adams County households own, home repairs are a frequent reason to borrow. An unsecured personal loan leaves the house out of the deal, while a HELOC uses it as collateral.
Adams County next to its neighbors
Nearest neighbors first, measured between county centers (24 to 33 miles). Income ranges from $59,777 in Pike County to $67,917 in Brown County; 1 of these neighbors top Adams County's median. Some neighbors are in Missouri. Lender licensing is state by state, so a loan for a Adams County resident follows Illinois rules.
| Adjacent area | How far | HH income (median) | Rent (median) | Owner share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Adams County | - | $66,220 | $828/mo | 72% |
| Brown County, IL | 24 mi | $67,917 | $698/mo | 72% |
| Marion County, MO | 26 mi | $62,903 | $808/mo | 69% |
| Hancock County, IL | 29 mi | $65,865 | $782/mo | 81% |
| Lewis County, MO | 29 mi | $59,934 | $644/mo | 76% |
| Pike County, IL | 30 mi | $59,777 | $676/mo | 78% |
| Schuyler County, IL | 33 mi | $65,948 | $853/mo | 79% |
Cities, towns and CDPs in Adams County
Here are the 14 most populous of the county's 25 Census places, with income and rent from the same 2020 to 2024 survey. About 72% of Adams County residents live in one of the 25. Incomes vary by place: $66,136 at the median in Clayton, $55,000 in Golden. Rent is cheapest in Mendon ($667) and steepest in Quincy ($837). Live in one of these Adams County communities, or between them? This is your local guide.
| Name | Kind | Pop. | Income | Rent | Miles |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Quincy | city | 39,109 | $56,480 | $837 | 10 mi |
| Camp Point | village | 1,230 | $62,188 | $730 | 8 mi |
| Mendon | village | 1,167 | $65,781 | $667 | 9 mi |
| Payson | village | 1,100 | $60,478 | $768 | 12 mi |
| Ursa | village | 726 | $64,375 | $823 | 11 mi |
| Golden | village | 693 | $55,000 | $760 | 13 mi |
| Clayton | village | 602 | $66,136 | $675 | 13 mi |
| Liberty | village | 409 | $78,977 | n/a | 9 mi |
| Loraine | village | 341 | $58,750 | $673 | 12 mi |
| Lima | village | 224 | $74,375 | n/a | 16 mi |
| Coatsburg | village | 209 | $63,750 | $1,047 | 4 mi |
| Plainville | village | 183 | $76,250 | n/a | 14 mi |
| Paloma | CDP | 161 | n/a | n/a | 3 mi |
| Burton | CDP | 149 | $108,125 | n/a | 6 mi |
A CDP is a named community without its own municipal government.
Debt-to-income at Adams County's medians
Here is the Adams County median household run through a simple DTI check. Your numbers will differ.
- $66,220 a year is $5,518 of gross monthly income
- 15% goes to median rent ($828)
- With a 40% ceiling, about $1,379 remains for car, card, student and any new loan payments
Subtract what you already pay on other debts. A new payment should fit in what remains, with some to spare.
What the numbers mean for Adams County borrowers
What the Adams County figures suggest, and what to check first:
- Scams. A fee demanded before funding is a red flag; report it at ReportFraud.ftc.gov (spotting scams).
- Consolidating cards in Adams County. Compare the total repaid, not the monthly figure (how).
- Credit reports. Pull free reports at AnnualCreditReport.com and dispute errors before applying.
Who lives in Adams County, in numbers
Degree holders: 27% of adults over 25. 4.4% of residents have no health coverage.
| Indicator | Adams County | All of Illinois | U.S. county median |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 41.4 | 39.0 | 41.5 |
| Bachelor's or higher | 27.5% | 37.8% | 22.2% |
| No high school diploma | 6.2% | 9.5% | n/a |
| No health insurance | 4.4% | 6.9% | 7.8% |
| No vehicle | 7.5% | 11.0% | 5.4% |
| Work from home | 7.6% | 15.9% | 8.7% |
| Poverty rate | 12.8% | 11.8% | 13.2% |
| Unemployment (ACS) | 3.9% | 5.8% | 4.4% |
| Trip time | Share |
|---|---|
| Under 15 min | 51.9% |
| 15 to 29 min | 31.7% |
| 30 to 44 min | 11.0% |
| 45 to 59 min | 3.3% |
| 60+ min | 2.2% |
Illinois rules that apply in Adams County
No county office licenses personal lenders. For Adams County, check the Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation. Federal complaints: consumerfinance.gov. Statewide data and rules: Illinois guide.
Before you sign
A short checklist for Adams County borrowers:
- Write down what the expense costs; a smaller loan costs less.
- Line up offers side by side: APR, fees in dollars, total cost.
- Look the lender up with the state regulator first.
- Read the final agreement; it must match the offer.
Nearby and statewide guides
For statewide rules and data, see the Illinois guide.
Frequently asked questions
What is the median household income in Adams County?
$66,220 a year in the 2020 to 2024 Census survey, versus $83,390 for Illinois. It ranks 55th of 102 in the state.
How much is rent in Adams County?
Median gross rent, utilities included, is $828 a month; 41% of renters spend 30% or more of income on it.
I own my home in Adams County. Personal loan or HELOC?
A HELOC uses the house as collateral; a personal loan usually does not. With 72% of homes owner-occupied here, many readers can compare both in writing.
Which towns does the Adams County guide cover?
Every community in the county, unincorporated areas included. The largest of its 25 Census places: Quincy, Camp Point, Mendon, Payson, Ursa.
Is the fit check different in Adams County?
No. It is identical everywhere, and it never looks at your neighborhood.