1st Advantage MortgageAdams County households have a median income of $66,136 and median rent of $877 a month (ACS 2020 to 2024). County medians do not set your terms. Shop at least three lenders, including a credit union serving Adams County, and confirm each one's Washington license.
On this page
- 20,800 residents: Adams County basics
- The Adams County housing market in figures
- How much Adams County households make
- Adams County industries and commutes
- What stands out in Adams County
- The communities that make up Adams County
- Counties near Adams County
- Room for a loan payment in Adams County
- Adams County residents: age, schooling, coverage
- Reading the Adams County data as a borrower
- Washington rules that apply in Adams County
- Before you sign
- Nearby and statewide guides
- Frequently asked questions
20,800 residents: Adams County basics
With an estimated 20,800 residents (ACS 2020 to 2024), Adams County ranks 31st of 39 in Washington for population. It covers 1,925 square miles of land, or about 11 people per square mile. It sits outside every metropolitan statistical area in the July 2023 OMB delineation. Othello is the biggest of its 5 Census places, at roughly 8,795 people (42% of the county total).
The Adams County housing market in figures
Median gross rent, utilities included, comes to $877 in Adams County versus $1,760 statewide. Rent takes 30% or more of income for 47% of renter households here. Home values center on $273,300, or 4.1 years of median income. The ownership rate is 69%. The median home was built in 1977, so roofs, wiring and heating systems are a common source of repair bills.
| Adams County | Washington | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Owners | 69% | 64% | +5.5 pts |
| Median home value | $273,300 | $564,600 | 52% lower |
| Median gross rent | $877/mo | $1,760/mo | 50% lower |
| Rent-burdened renters | 47% | 50% | -3.1 pts |
| Vacant units | 9% | 7% | +1.9 pts |
| Burdened owners | 28% | 30% | -1.9 pts |
How much Adams County households make
Median household income in Adams County: $66,136 (33% below Washington, $98,141). Only 32 Washington counties post a higher median.
| Band | Adams County | Compared with Washington |
|---|---|---|
| Under $35,000 | 27.4% | +11.3 pts |
| $35,000 to $99,999 | 44.2% | +9.4 pts |
| $100,000 to $199,999 | 20.9% | -9.7 pts |
| $200,000 or more | 7.5% | -11.0 pts |
Six-figure households (28%) outnumber those under $35,000 (27%) in Adams County. Poverty rate, Adams County: 19.5%; Washington: 9.9%. None of these numbers decides a Adams County application. Lenders weigh your own documented income against your own debts.
Adams County industries and commutes
The biggest employer of Adams County residents, by industry, is agriculture, forestry and mining at 30% of workers, followed by education and health care (21%). Relative to Washington (2%), agriculture, forestry and mining is 28 points bigger in Adams County (30%). 3.6% of Adams County's labor force reported being unemployed, averaged across 2020 to 2024. About 69% drive to work alone and 14% have trips of 45 minutes or more. No car: 6.4% of Adams County households.
| Industry (employed residents 16+) | Adams County | Gap to Washington |
|---|---|---|
| Agriculture, forestry and mining | 30.1% | +27.7 pts |
| Education and health care | 20.8% | -1.0 pts |
| Manufacturing | 8.8% | -0.3 pts |
| Arts, lodging and food service | 6.9% | -1.3 pts |
| Construction | 6.6% | -0.5 pts |
| Retail trade | 5.8% | -5.8 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 stands out in Adams County
- The share of workers who work from home: 6.0% in Adams County, the lowest of 39 in Washington. Few remote jobs means most pay stubs come from local employers.
- Few Washington counties match Adams County on the uninsured rate: 16.0% here, 6.3% for the state, ranking the highest of 39. Ask any provider about financial assistance before borrowing for care.
- Few Washington counties match Adams County on the ACS unemployment rate: 3.6% here, 5.1% for the state, ranking 2nd lowest of 39. Low unemployment does not lower your rate; your credit does.
The communities that make up Adams County
The table lists the 5 largest of 5 Census places in Adams County, by population. Together all 5 hold about 11,936 people, so roughly 43% of residents live outside any named place. Gap between richest and poorest larger place: $11,539, Lind over Ritzville. 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Othello | city | 8,795 | $65,849 | $882 | 33 mi |
| Ritzville | city | 1,855 | $56,442 | $1,002 | 10 mi |
| Lind | town | 565 | $67,981 | n/a | 6 mi |
| Hatton | town | 429 | $90,917 | n/a | 22 mi |
| Washtucna | town | 292 | $79,375 | n/a | 20 mi |
Counties near Adams County
Six nearby counties, 38 to 57 miles away by the straight-line distance between their centers. Income ranges from $55,406 in Whitman County to $86,714 in Franklin County; 5 of these neighbors top Adams County's median.
| Neighbor | Distance | Income | Rent | Own |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Adams County | - | $66,136 | $877/mo | 69% |
| Franklin County, WA | 38 mi | $86,714 | $1,198/mo | 71% |
| Lincoln County, WA | 40 mi | $71,512 | $883/mo | 80% |
| Whitman County, WA | 47 mi | $55,406 | $1,049/mo | 47% |
| Grant County, WA | 47 mi | $73,267 | $1,116/mo | 66% |
| Walla Walla County, WA | 52 mi | $74,202 | $1,218/mo | 65% |
| Columbia County, WA | 57 mi | $71,810 | $985/mo | 78% |
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.
- $5,511 a month: gross income for a household at the Adams County median
- Rent at the median, $877, takes 16% of that
- 36% debt-to-income limit: $1,107 left for all other debt payments
- 43% debt-to-income limit: $1,493 left for all other debt payments
Car, student loan and card payments come out of that room first. Try your own numbers in the calculator.
Adams County residents: age, schooling, coverage
Degree holders: 16% of adults over 25. Uninsured, Adams County: 16.0%; Washington: 6.3%.
| Indicator | Adams County | +/- Washington | +/- U.S. county |
|---|---|---|---|
| No high school diploma | 34.1% | +26.4 pts | n/a |
| Bachelor's or higher | 15.7% | -23.9 pts | -6.4 pts |
| Work from home | 6.0% | -13.8 pts | -2.6 pts |
| Poverty rate | 19.5% | +9.6 pts | +6.4 pts |
| No health insurance | 16.0% | +9.6 pts | +8.1 pts |
| Median age | 29.3 | -9.0 yrs | -12.2 yrs |
| Unemployment (ACS) | 3.6% | -1.5 pts | -0.8 pts |
| No vehicle | 6.4% | -0.7 pts | +1.0 pts |
| Minutes to work | Adams County workers |
|---|---|
| Under 15 min | 45.6% |
| 15 to 29 min | 20.4% |
| 30 to 44 min | 20.1% |
| 45 to 59 min | 1.9% |
| 60+ min | 12.0% |
Reading the Adams County data as a borrower
The county's numbers point to a few situations that come up often for Adams County borrowers.
- Health costs. With 16% of the county uninsured, an interest-free hospital payment plan usually beats a loan (medical bills).
- Manufactured housing (23%). Adams County owners should get two written repair quotes before borrowing.
- 20% below poverty. Emergency aid, payment plans and counseling (list) come first.
- Adams County rent burden. 47% of renters are cost-burdened; ask your landlord about a payment plan before borrowing for rent.
Washington rules that apply in Adams County
Licensing happens at the state level, so a lender working with Adams County borrowers answers to the Washington State Department of Financial Institutions. Banks and credit unions have their own regulators, and the CFPB takes complaints about any lender. The Washington page has statewide figures to set beside Adams County's.
Before you sign
Four checks before you sign anything:
- Size the loan to the bill, not to the most a lender offers.
- Line up offers side by side: APR, fees in dollars, total cost.
- Check the license, then the reviews, then the offer.
- Confirm the first due date before setting up autopay.
Nearby and statewide guides
The Washington guide covers the whole state.
Frequently asked questions
What is the median household income in Adams County?
$66,136 a year in the 2020 to 2024 Census survey, versus $98,141 for Washington. It ranks 33rd of 39 in the state.
Is Adams County expensive for renters?
Median rent is $877 against $1,760 statewide, and 47% of renter households are cost-burdened.
I live in a small Adams County town. Is this my guide?
Yes. If your town has no city guide, this county page is the local one; it covers Othello, Ritzville, Lind, Hatton, Washtucna.
Does my county matter to the questionnaire?
Only your state does. Whether you live in Adams County or elsewhere in Washington, the same rules apply.
What agency protects Adams County borrowers?
The Washington State Department of Financial Institutions at the state level and the CFPB federally.