1st Advantage MortgageAdams County households have a median income of $62,500 and median rent of $594 a month (ACS 2020 to 2024). 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 Adams County
- How much Adams County households make
- What it costs to live in Adams County
- Jobs and commutes in Adams County
- Regional comparison for Adams County
- Places inside Adams County
- A Adams County household budget, worked through
- More Adams County figures
- Before borrowing in Adams County
- Steps before you apply in Adams County
- North Dakota rules that apply in Adams County
- More guides for Adams County
- Frequently asked questions
Getting oriented in Adams County
Adams County is home to about 2,145 people, according to the Census Bureau's 2020 to 2024 American Community Survey, which makes it the 45th most populous of 53 county-level areas in North Dakota. Spread over 988 square miles, that works out to roughly 2.2 residents per square mile. No metropolitan area includes Adams County in the 2023 federal delineation, so its numbers stand on their own rather than as part of a metro. Hettinger is the biggest of its 4 Census places, at roughly 1,250 people (58% of the county total). Because Adams County is small, the survey's margins of error are wide; treat the numbers as approximate.
How much Adams County households make
At $62,500, the typical Adams County household income is 5% below the median U.S. county ($65,681). Only 44 North Dakota counties post a higher median.
| Income band | Share in Adams County | Difference from North Dakota |
|---|---|---|
| Under $35,000 | 36.9% | +15.4 pts |
| $35,000 to $99,999 | 32.2% | -9.1 pts |
| $100,000 to $199,999 | 25.7% | -1.8 pts |
| $200,000 or more | 5.1% | -4.5 pts |
About 37% of households earn under $35,000, while 31% clear $100,000. The poverty rate is 14.8%, 4 points higher than the state's 10.8%. The Gini index of income inequality is 0.449 (0 is perfect equality). None of these numbers decides a Adams County application. Lenders weigh your own documented income against your own debts.
What it costs to live in Adams County
Renters in Adams County pay a median of $594 a month, 38% below the North Dakota figure of $954. 31% of renting households spend 30% or more of income on rent, and 18% spend half or more. Home values center on $113,200, or 1.8 years of median income. The ownership rate is 72%. The median home was built in 1964, so roofs, wiring and heating systems are a common source of repair bills.
| Housing | Adams County | North Dakota statewide | Typical U.S. county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median gross rent | $594/mo | $954/mo | $877/mo |
| Median home value | $113,200 | $249,900 | $185,300 |
| Owners | 72% | 63% | 75% |
| Rent-burdened renters | 31% | 39% | 45% |
| Burdened owners | 22% | 21% | n/a |
Jobs and commutes in Adams County
The biggest employer of Adams County residents, by industry, is education and health care at 34% of workers, followed by agriculture, forestry and mining (17%). Compared with North Dakota, the county leans toward agriculture, forestry and mining (17% against 8%). The survey's unemployment rate for Adams County averages 2.2% over 2020 to 2024 (state: 2.8%). About 82% drive to work alone and 9% have trips of 45 minutes or more. 9.4% of households have no vehicle.
| Industry (employed residents 16+) | Adams County | Gap to North Dakota |
|---|---|---|
| Education and health care | 33.5% | +7.8 pts |
| Agriculture, forestry and mining | 16.7% | +8.7 pts |
| Construction | 8.5% | +1.4 pts |
| Professional and administrative services | 8.3% | +0.9 pts |
| Retail trade | 8.1% | -3.2 pts |
| Finance, insurance and real estate | 5.1% | -0.7 pts |
A lender verifies what your own job pays. The county's industry mix tells you about the local economy, not about your application.
Regional comparison for Adams County
Nearest neighbors first, measured between county centers (24 to 51 miles). 5 of the six report a higher median household income than Adams County; Stark County is highest at $84,449 and Grant County lowest at $57,875. Some neighbors are in South Dakota. Lender licensing is state by state, so a loan for a Adams County resident follows North Dakota rules.
| Neighbor | Distance | Income | Rent | Own |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Adams County | - | $62,500 | $594/mo | 72% |
| Hettinger County, ND | 24 mi | $73,026 | $785/mo | 77% |
| Perkins County, SD | 43 mi | $66,908 | $738/mo | 78% |
| Grant County, ND | 46 mi | $57,875 | $675/mo | 83% |
| Bowman County, ND | 47 mi | $72,109 | $765/mo | 83% |
| Stark County, ND | 50 mi | $84,449 | $960/mo | 67% |
| Slope County, ND | 51 mi | $71,250 | $525/mo | 81% |
Places inside Adams County
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 66% of Adams County residents live in one of the 4. This guide covers each of the 4 places and the rural areas around them.
| Place in county | Status | Population (ACS) | Median HH income | Monthly rent | Distance from center |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hettinger | city | 1,250 | $62,750 | $568 | 8 mi |
| Reeder | city | 125 | $36,875 | $850 | 20 mi |
| Haynes | city | 23 | n/a | n/a | 9 mi |
| Bucyrus | city | 22 | $157,750 | n/a | 12 mi |
A Adams County household budget, worked through
How much room does a median Adams County budget have? Take median income, subtract median rent, and check what is left under a few common debt-to-income limits.
- Monthly gross at the median, Adams County: $5,208
- 11% goes to median rent ($594)
- Under a 36% cap, $1,875 total minus rent leaves $1,281
Lenders set their own limits and look beyond the ratio. The DTI calculator uses your figures instead of Adams County's.
More Adams County figures
24% of Adams County adults 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or more. The uninsured rate is 5.3%, against 6.5% for North Dakota.
| People and households | Adams County | North Dakota | Median county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 46.1 | 35.9 | 41.5 |
| Bachelor's or higher | 24.4% | 32.7% | 22.2% |
| No high school diploma | 8.0% | 6.0% | n/a |
| No health insurance | 5.3% | 6.5% | 7.8% |
| No vehicle | 9.4% | 5.9% | 5.4% |
| Work from home | 10.9% | 8.1% | 8.7% |
| Poverty rate | 14.8% | 10.8% | 13.2% |
| Unemployment (ACS) | 2.2% | 2.8% | 4.4% |
| Trip time | Share |
|---|---|
| Under 15 min | 64.1% |
| 15 to 29 min | 20.9% |
| 30 to 44 min | 6.1% |
| 45 to 59 min | 2.7% |
| 60+ min | 6.2% |
Before borrowing in Adams County
A few patterns in the Adams County data, and the practical point behind each:
- Older households. A 46.1 median age means fixed-income borrowing is common; a fixed payment and short term limit risk.
- Scams. A fee demanded before funding is a red flag; report it at ReportFraud.ftc.gov (spotting scams).
- Check your file. An error fixed before you apply can change the offers a Adams County borrower sees (free reports).
Steps before you apply in Adams County
A short checklist for Adams County borrowers:
- Get a written quote for whatever you are paying for in Adams County.
- Collect three written offers and compare APR and total repaid.
- A North Dakota license check takes minutes; do it first.
- Pick the shortest term whose payment still fits.
North Dakota rules that apply in Adams County
Licensing happens at the state level, so a lender working with Adams County borrowers answers to the North Dakota Department of Financial Institutions. Banks and credit unions have their own regulators, and the CFPB takes complaints about any lender. Statewide data and rules: North Dakota guide.
More guides for Adams County
For statewide rules and data, see the North Dakota guide.
Frequently asked questions
What is the median household income in Adams County?
$62,500 a year in the 2020 to 2024 Census survey, versus $76,657 for North Dakota. It ranks 45th of 53 in the state.
How does Adams County rent compare with North Dakota?
$594 locally versus $954 for the state, 38% below.
What are the biggest places in Adams County?
By population: Hettinger, Reeder, Haynes, Bucyrus. The county has 4 Census places in all.
Is the fit check different in Adams County?
No. It is identical everywhere, and it never looks at your neighborhood.
Who do I complain to about a lender in Adams County?
Start with the North Dakota Department of Financial Institutions, then the CFPB complaint portal. Keep copies of every message.