1st Advantage MortgageAdams County households have a median income of $50,264 and median rent of $732 a month (ACS 2020 to 2024). Whatever your own numbers, compare written offers on APR, fees and total cost, and verify the lender is licensed in Ohio before sharing details.
On this page
- Adams County by the numbers
- Income in Adams County compared with Ohio
- How Adams County residents earn a living
- Housing costs in Adams County
- Places inside Adams County
- The counties around Adams County
- Room for a loan payment in Adams County
- Who lives in Adams County, in numbers
- Borrowing situations common in Adams County
- Four steps for Adams County borrowers
- Who licenses lenders for Adams County residents
- Nearby and statewide guides
- Frequently asked questions
Adams County by the numbers
Roughly 27,540 residents live in Adams County, Ohio, 78th by population among the state's 88 counties and county equivalents. Spread over 584 square miles, that works out to roughly 47.2 residents per square mile. Under the July 2023 OMB definitions, Adams County is not part of any metropolitan area. West Union is the biggest of its 8 Census places, at roughly 2,899 people (11% of the county total).
Income in Adams County compared with Ohio
At $50,264, the typical Adams County household income is 23% below the median U.S. county ($65,681). In the state ranking that is 87th of 88.
| Band | Adams County | Compared with Ohio |
|---|---|---|
| Under $35,000 | 35.8% | +12.0 pts |
| $35,000 to $99,999 | 43.0% | +1.3 pts |
| $100,000 to $199,999 | 18.5% | -7.0 pts |
| $200,000 or more | 2.8% | -6.3 pts |
Some 36% of households here live on less than $35,000 a year; 21% have six-figure incomes. The poverty rate is 20.2%, 7 points higher than the state's 13.3%. The Gini index of income inequality is 0.451 (0 is perfect equality). None of these numbers decides a Adams County application. Lenders weigh your own documented income against your own debts.
How Adams County residents earn a living
Education and health care employs 28% of working residents, the largest share; manufacturing is next with 15%. Compared with Ohio, the county leans toward construction (10% against 6%). ACS puts five-year average unemployment at 6.4% in Adams County. About 85% drive to work alone and 30% have trips of 45 minutes or more. Households without a car make up 7.4% of the total (7.5% statewide).
| Where residents work | Adams County | Difference from Ohio |
|---|---|---|
| Education and health care | 27.8% | +3.5 pts |
| Manufacturing | 15.3% | +0.6 pts |
| Retail trade | 14.2% | +3.0 pts |
| Construction | 9.7% | +3.8 pts |
| Transportation, warehousing and utilities | 8.6% | +2.6 pts |
| Arts, lodging and food service | 6.9% | -1.5 pts |
If your hours swing with the season or with overtime, size a loan payment against your base pay, not your best month.
Housing costs in Adams County
Renters in Adams County pay a median of $732 a month, 29% below the Ohio figure of $1,034. Rent takes 30% or more of income for 58% of renter households here. With a median value of $164,200, a typical Adams County house costs 3.3 times what the median household earns in a year. 72% of Adams County households own their home and 28% rent.
| Housing | Adams County | Ohio statewide | Typical U.S. county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median gross rent | $732/mo | $1,034/mo | $877/mo |
| Median home value | $164,200 | $214,800 | $185,300 |
| Owners | 72% | 67% | 75% |
| Rent-burdened renters | 58% | 46% | 45% |
| Burdened owners | 30% | 21% | n/a |
| Mobile homes | 19.8% | 3.4% | n/a |
| Vacant units | 18% | 8% | n/a |
When half or more of renters are already stretched, a new payment needs a stress test: what happens if a paycheck is a week late?
Places inside Adams County
Here are the 8 most populous of the county's 8 Census places, with income and rent from the same 2020 to 2024 survey. About 35% of Adams County residents live in one of the 8. Among places of 500 or more people, median income runs from $29,056 in West Union to $62,500 in Peebles. Median rent ranges from $555 in Winchester to $782 in Seaman. Live in one of these Adams County communities, or between them? This is your local guide.
| Place in county | Status | Population (ACS) | Median HH income | Monthly rent | Distance from center |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| West Union | village | 2,899 | $29,056 | $658 | 5 mi |
| Manchester | village | 1,972 | $29,344 | $670 | 12 mi |
| Peebles | village | 1,944 | $62,500 | $754 | 9 mi |
| Winchester | village | 1,282 | $40,625 | $555 | 12 mi |
| Seaman | village | 1,205 | $46,705 | $782 | 8 mi |
| Bentonville | CDP | 277 | n/a | n/a | 9 mi |
| Cherry Fork | CDP | 61 | n/a | n/a | 8 mi |
| Rome | CDP | 55 | n/a | n/a | 13 mi |
The counties around Adams County
Six nearby counties, 21 to 28 miles away by the straight-line distance between their centers. Brown County leads the group on income ($71,270), Lewis County trails ($46,838), and Adams County out-earns 1 of the six. The list crosses into Kentucky, where different lending rules and regulators apply.
| Neighbor | Distance | Income | Rent | Own |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Adams County | - | $50,264 | $732/mo | 72% |
| Lewis County, KY | 21 mi | $46,838 | $751/mo | 79% |
| Brown County, OH | 22 mi | $71,270 | $817/mo | 77% |
| Highland County, OH | 25 mi | $65,785 | $780/mo | 74% |
| Mason County, KY | 25 mi | $52,178 | $727/mo | 66% |
| Scioto County, OH | 26 mi | $50,609 | $742/mo | 68% |
| Pike County, OH | 28 mi | $52,736 | $907/mo | 68% |
Room for a loan payment in Adams County
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.
- Median income divided by twelve: $4,189 before taxes
- Housing at the median rent of $732 uses 17%
- $943: what a 40% ratio leaves once rent is paid
Car, student loan and card payments come out of that room first. Try your own numbers in the calculator.
Who lives in Adams County, in numbers
College graduates make up 15% of the adult population. 8.2% of residents have no health coverage.
| Residents | Adams County | Ohio | Middle U.S. county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 42.1 | 39.7 | 41.5 |
| Bachelor's or higher | 14.9% | 31.5% | 22.2% |
| No high school diploma | 14.1% | 8.2% | n/a |
| No health insurance | 8.2% | 6.4% | 7.8% |
| No vehicle | 7.4% | 7.5% | 5.4% |
| Work from home | 5.3% | 13.0% | 8.7% |
| Poverty rate | 20.2% | 13.3% | 13.2% |
| Unemployment (ACS) | 6.4% | 4.8% | 4.4% |
| Minutes to work | Adams County workers |
|---|---|
| Under 15 min | 22.6% |
| 15 to 29 min | 28.3% |
| 30 to 44 min | 18.6% |
| 45 to 59 min | 10.8% |
| 60+ min | 19.6% |
Borrowing situations common in Adams County
What the Adams County figures suggest, and what to check first:
- Keeping the car running. At 30% with long commutes, repairs are a frequent Adams County emergency; first decide if the car is worth fixing.
- Repairs on manufactured housing. With 20% of homes here, compare a personal loan with any dealer or park repair program.
- Free help first. 20% of residents live below the poverty line; utility, rent and food programs cost nothing to repay (free options).
- Renters under pressure. When 58% pay 30% or more for rent, the smallest loan that solves the problem is the right size.
Four steps for Adams County borrowers
Steps that save money for Adams County residents:
- Write down what the expense costs; a smaller loan costs less.
- Prequalify with soft pulls where offered, then compare in writing.
- A Ohio license check takes minutes; do it first.
- Ask about early-payoff penalties.
Who licenses lenders for Adams County residents
Before sharing details with a lender, a Adams County resident can confirm its license with the Ohio Division of Financial Institutions. A CFPB complaint gets forwarded to the company for a response. The Ohio guide covers state rules in more detail.
Nearby and statewide guides
For statewide rules and data, see the Ohio guide.
Frequently asked questions
What does a typical Adams County household make?
About $50,264 a year at the median (ACS 2020-24), 30% below the Ohio median.
Is Adams County expensive for renters?
Median rent is $732 against $1,034 statewide, and 58% of renter households are cost-burdened.
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 8 Census places: West Union, Manchester, Peebles, Winchester, Seaman.
Is the fit check different in Adams County?
No. It is identical everywhere, and it never looks at your neighborhood.