1st Advantage MortgageIn Adams County, Indiana, the typical household earns $65,289 a year and the typical rent is $833. A loan makes sense only if its total cost beats your alternatives and the payment fits your budget. Check the lender's Indiana license first.
On this page
- Adams County by the numbers
- Jobs and commutes in Adams County
- What Adams County households earn
- What it costs to live in Adams County
- Adams County next to its neighbors
- Adams County towns compared
- A Adams County household budget, worked through
- Reading the Adams County data as a borrower
- Adams County households compared
- Before you sign
- Indiana rules that apply in Adams County
- More guides for Adams County
- Frequently asked questions
Adams County by the numbers
Roughly 36,227 residents live in Adams County, Indiana, 43rd by population among the state's 92 counties and county equivalents. Land area is 339 square miles (2024 Gazetteer), so density runs near 107 per square mile. It sits outside every metropolitan statistical area in the July 2023 OMB delineation. Of the 4 Census places inside Adams County, Decatur leads by population with about 9,811; 4 of the 4 are incorporated.
Jobs and commutes in Adams County
Manufacturing employs 25% of working residents, the largest share; education and health care is next with 21%. Compared with Indiana, the county leans toward manufacturing (25% against 18%). Averaged over the five survey years, 2.8% of the labor force was out of work and looking. About 75% drive to work alone and 15% have trips of 45 minutes or more. Households without a car make up 13.1% of the total (6.2% statewide).
| Industry | Share of Adams County workers | vs Indiana |
|---|---|---|
| Manufacturing | 24.6% | +6.6 pts |
| Education and health care | 21.3% | -2.1 pts |
| Retail trade | 10.3% | -0.5 pts |
| Construction | 9.0% | +2.4 pts |
| Professional and administrative services | 5.6% | -3.6 pts |
| Other services | 5.6% | +1.0 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.
What Adams County households earn
At $65,289, the typical Adams County household income sits near the median U.S. county ($65,681).
| Household income | Adams County | vs Indiana |
|---|---|---|
| Under $35,000 | 20.1% | -2.5 pts |
| $35,000 to $99,999 | 51.6% | +8.2 pts |
| $100,000 to $199,999 | 23.1% | -2.7 pts |
| $200,000 or more | 5.2% | -3.0 pts |
About 20% of households earn under $35,000, while 28% clear $100,000. Census counts 11.2% of Adams County residents in poverty, against 12.3% across Indiana. The Gini index of income inequality is 0.404 (0 is perfect equality). A household earning below the $65,289 median should test any payment carefully; one earning above it should still pick the shortest term it can manage.
What it costs to live in Adams County
Renters in Adams County pay a median of $833 a month, 22% below the Indiana figure of $1,062. By the Census definition, 41% of Adams County renters are cost-burdened. Home values center on $178,400, or 2.7 years of median income. The ownership rate is 83%. The median home was built in 1971, so roofs, wiring and heating systems are a common source of repair bills.
| Cost | Adams County | Indiana figure | Median county, U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median gross rent | $833/mo | $1,062/mo | $877/mo |
| Median home value | $178,400 | $218,200 | $185,300 |
| Owners | 83% | 71% | 75% |
| Rent-burdened renters | 41% | 48% | 45% |
| Burdened owners | 25% | 20% | n/a |
| Mobile homes | 1.4% | 4.4% | n/a |
| Vacant units | 7% | 9% | 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
Wells County is closest, 15 miles from center to center; the sixth, Blackford County, is 28 miles off. 4 of the six report a higher median household income than Adams County; Mercer County is highest at $76,782 and Blackford County lowest at $51,326. The list crosses into Ohio, where different lending rules and regulators apply.
| Neighbor | Distance | Income | Rent | Own |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Adams County | - | $65,289 | $833/mo | 83% |
| Wells County, IN | 15 mi | $71,957 | $813/mo | 76% |
| Van Wert County, OH | 20 mi | $67,917 | $782/mo | 82% |
| Mercer County, OH | 22 mi | $76,782 | $804/mo | 80% |
| Jay County, IN | 22 mi | $54,969 | $770/mo | 80% |
| Allen County, IN | 25 mi | $70,737 | $1,021/mo | 69% |
| Blackford County, IN | 28 mi | $51,326 | $699/mo | 74% |
Adams County towns compared
Here are the 4 most populous of the county's 4 Census places, with income and rent from the same 2020 to 2024 survey. About 44% of Adams County residents live in one of the 4. Among places of 500 or more people, median income runs from $52,500 in Geneva to $74,063 in Monroe. Rent is cheapest in Geneva ($676) and steepest in Decatur ($820). This guide covers each of the 4 places and the rural areas around them.
| Community | Type | Residents | Household income (median) | Rent (median) | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Decatur | city | 9,811 | $58,646 | $820 | 6 mi |
| Berne | city | 3,965 | $62,159 | $792 | 6 mi |
| Geneva | town | 1,347 | $52,500 | $676 | 10 mi |
| Monroe | town | 707 | $74,063 | $699 | 0 mi |
A Adams County household budget, worked through
Here is the Adams County median household run through a simple DTI check. Your numbers will differ.
- $65,289 a year is $5,441 of gross monthly income
- Less median rent of $833, which is 15% of it
- At 35%, room after rent is $1,071 a month
- With a 45% ceiling, about $1,615 remains for car, card, student and any new loan payments
Car, student loan and card payments come out of that room first. Try your own numbers in the calculator.
Reading the Adams County data as a borrower
Where the Adams County numbers stand out, and why it matters for a loan:
- Medical bills. 21% of Adams County residents are uninsured. Before borrowing for care, ask the provider about financial assistance and payment plans.
- Requirements. Lenders weigh credit history, documented income and existing debt (what to gather).
- Check your file. An error fixed before you apply can change the offers a Adams County borrower sees (free reports).
Adams County households compared
16% of Adams County adults 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or more. About 21% go without health insurance.
| Measure | Adams County | Indiana statewide | Typical U.S. county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 33.2 | 38.1 | 41.5 |
| Bachelor's or higher | 16.2% | 29.5% | 22.2% |
| No high school diploma | 11.1% | 9.6% | n/a |
| No health insurance | 20.7% | 7.4% | 7.8% |
| No vehicle | 13.1% | 6.2% | 5.4% |
| Work from home | 6.9% | 10.7% | 8.7% |
| Poverty rate | 11.2% | 12.3% | 13.2% |
| Unemployment (ACS) | 2.8% | 4.3% | 4.4% |
| Minutes to work | Adams County workers |
|---|---|
| Under 15 min | 43.7% |
| 15 to 29 min | 26.0% |
| 30 to 44 min | 15.5% |
| 45 to 59 min | 6.1% |
| 60+ min | 8.8% |
Before you sign
A short checklist for Adams County borrowers:
- Size the loan to the bill, not to the most a lender offers.
- Shop at least three lenders, including one Adams County-area credit union.
- Look the lender up with the state regulator first.
- Pick the shortest term whose payment still fits.
Indiana rules that apply in Adams County
No county office licenses personal lenders. For Adams County, check the Indiana Department of Financial Institutions. The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau accepts complaints nationwide. The Indiana guide covers state rules in more detail.
More guides for Adams County
For statewide rules and data, see the Indiana guide.
Frequently asked questions
Is Adams County a high-income county?
Its $65,289 median ranks 62nd of 92 Indiana counties and compares with $65,681 for the median U.S. county.
What do renters pay in Adams County?
$833 a month at the median, about 15% of median household income.
What are the biggest places in Adams County?
By population: Decatur, Berne, Geneva, Monroe. The county has 4 Census places in all.
Does my county matter to the questionnaire?
Only your state does. Whether you live in Adams County or elsewhere in Indiana, the same rules apply.
Where can someone in Adams County check a lender's license?
With the Indiana Department of Financial Institutions. If a lender is unlicensed or asks for a fee before funding, walk away.