1st Advantage MortgageIn Adams County, Wisconsin, the typical household earns $59,442 a year and the typical rent is $828. Whatever your own numbers, compare written offers on APR, fees and total cost, and verify the lender is licensed in Wisconsin before sharing details.
On this page
- Adams County, WI: the basics
- Income in Adams County compared with Wisconsin
- What it costs to live in Adams County
- Employment and commuting in Adams County
- Adams County next to its neighbors
- Towns and communities in Adams County
- More Adams County figures
- Borrowing situations common in Adams County
- Debt-to-income at Adams County's medians
- Before you sign
- Lender oversight for Adams County
- Related local guides
- Frequently asked questions
Adams County, WI: the basics
Roughly 21,123 residents live in Adams County, Wisconsin, 50th by population among the state's 72 counties and county equivalents. It covers 646 square miles of land, or about 33 people 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. The Census Bureau counts 9 places in the county (2 incorporated, 7 census-designated); the largest is Adams, with about 2,050 residents, or 10% of the county.
Income in Adams County compared with Wisconsin
The median household income in Adams County is $59,442; statewide it is $77,485, so Adams County runs 23% below Wisconsin as a whole. Only 70 Wisconsin counties post a higher median.
| Band | Adams County | Compared with Wisconsin |
|---|---|---|
| Under $35,000 | 27.6% | +7.3 pts |
| $35,000 to $99,999 | 46.2% | +4.1 pts |
| $100,000 to $199,999 | 22.0% | -6.5 pts |
| $200,000 or more | 4.3% | -4.9 pts |
The spread is wide: 26% of Adams County households make $100,000 or more, and 28% make less than $35,000. The poverty rate is 14.1%, 4 points higher than the state's 10.6%. 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
Median gross rent, utilities included, comes to $828 in Adams County versus $1,087 statewide. By the Census definition, 39% of Adams County renters are cost-burdened. Home values center on $200,800, or 3.4 years of median income. The ownership rate is 86%.
| Cost | Adams County | Wisconsin figure | Median county, U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median gross rent | $828/mo | $1,087/mo | $877/mo |
| Median home value | $200,800 | $266,500 | $185,300 |
| Owners | 86% | 68% | 75% |
| Rent-burdened renters | 39% | 44% | 45% |
| Burdened owners | 32% | 22% | n/a |
| Mobile homes | 18.1% | 3.1% | n/a |
| Vacant units | 44% | 11% | 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.
Employment and commuting in Adams County
Manufacturing employs 16% of working residents, the largest share; education and health care is next with 16%. The sharpest difference from the state is in arts, lodging and food service, at 11% locally and 7% for Wisconsin. The survey's unemployment rate for Adams County averages 4.5% over 2020 to 2024 (state: 3.2%). About 79% drive to work alone and 23% have trips of 45 minutes or more. Only 4.2% of homes here go without a vehicle.
| Top industries | Adams County share | +/- vs Wisconsin |
|---|---|---|
| Manufacturing | 15.6% | -2.3 pts |
| Education and health care | 15.6% | -7.8 pts |
| Retail trade | 11.8% | +0.8 pts |
| Arts, lodging and food service | 11.3% | +3.9 pts |
| Public administration | 7.5% | +3.8 pts |
| Professional and administrative services | 7.1% | -2.3 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.
Adams County next to its neighbors
Distances run center to center, from Juneau County at 17 miles out to Sauk County at 39. Income ranges from $65,681 in Marquette County to $79,541 in Sauk County; all six of these neighbors top Adams County's median.
| Adjacent area | How far | HH income (median) | Rent (median) | Owner share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Adams County | - | $59,442 | $828/mo | 86% |
| Juneau County, WI | 17 mi | $67,270 | $879/mo | 78% |
| Marquette County, WI | 21 mi | $65,681 | $800/mo | 81% |
| Waushara County, WI | 28 mi | $67,107 | $796/mo | 84% |
| Wood County, WI | 36 mi | $67,989 | $856/mo | 73% |
| Portage County, WI | 37 mi | $76,070 | $940/mo | 70% |
| Sauk County, WI | 39 mi | $79,541 | $1,018/mo | 72% |
Towns and communities in Adams County
Here are the 9 most populous of the county's 9 Census places, with income and rent from the same 2020 to 2024 survey. About 30% of Adams County residents live in one of the 9. Incomes vary by place: $95,125 at the median in Lake Camelot, $43,364 in Adams. No Adams County place has a separate guide yet; this county page serves all 9.
| Community | Type | Residents | Household income (median) | Rent (median) | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Adams | city | 2,050 | $43,364 | $749 | 3 mi |
| Lake Camelot | CDP | 1,162 | $95,125 | n/a | 17 mi |
| Lake Arrowhead | CDP | 969 | $83,086 | n/a | 16 mi |
| Friendship | village | 813 | $48,631 | $884 | 3 mi |
| Dellwood | CDP | 661 | $43,750 | n/a | 8 mi |
| Lake Sherwood | CDP | 369 | $84,911 | n/a | 16 mi |
| Arkdale | CDP | 186 | $70,417 | n/a | 7 mi |
| Grand Marsh | CDP | 141 | $31,731 | n/a | 7 mi |
| Easton | CDP | 46 | n/a | n/a | 10 mi |
CDPs are unincorporated communities the Census Bureau defines for counting.
More Adams County figures
College graduates make up 18% of the adult population. About 5% go without health insurance.
| Residents | Adams County | Wisconsin | Middle U.S. county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 55.7 | 40.2 | 41.5 |
| Bachelor's or higher | 17.5% | 33.4% | 22.2% |
| No high school diploma | 10.6% | 6.4% | n/a |
| No health insurance | 4.6% | 5.2% | 7.8% |
| No vehicle | 4.2% | 6.4% | 5.4% |
| Work from home | 9.8% | 13.1% | 8.7% |
| Poverty rate | 14.1% | 10.6% | 13.2% |
| Unemployment (ACS) | 4.5% | 3.2% | 4.4% |
| One-way commute | Share of Adams County workers |
|---|---|
| Under 15 min | 24.0% |
| 15 to 29 min | 31.7% |
| 30 to 44 min | 21.5% |
| 45 to 59 min | 10.5% |
| 60+ min | 12.3% |
Borrowing situations common in Adams County
Where the Adams County numbers stand out, and why it matters for a loan:
- Commuter costs. 23% drive 45 minutes or more. Compare shop financing with a loan, and keep a small repair fund.
- Manufactured homes. 18% of Adams County housing units are mobile homes, and their repairs are often paid with unsecured loans. Get the quote in writing.
- Older households. A 55.7 median age means fixed-income borrowing is common; a fixed payment and short term limit risk.
Debt-to-income at Adams County's medians
Lenders compare monthly debt payments with gross monthly income, the debt-to-income ratio. For a Adams County household at the medians it works out like this; treat it as an illustration only.
- Monthly gross at the median, Adams County: $4,954
- Housing at the median rent of $828 uses 17%
- $955: what a 36% ratio leaves once rent is paid
Subtract what you already pay on other debts. A new payment should fit in what remains, with some to spare.
Before you sign
Quick steps for Adams County:
- Price the Adams County expense first and borrow that amount, no more.
- Compare the total repaid on every offer, not just the payment.
- Look the lender up with the state regulator first.
- Pick the shortest term whose payment still fits.
Lender oversight for Adams County
The Wisconsin Department of Financial Institutions is the place to verify any lender's Wisconsin license. Federal complaints: consumerfinance.gov. The Wisconsin guide covers state rules in more detail.
Related local guides
The Wisconsin guide covers the whole state.
Frequently asked questions
Is Adams County a high-income county?
Its $59,442 median ranks 71st of 72 Wisconsin counties and compares with $65,681 for the median U.S. county.
Is Adams County expensive for renters?
Median rent is $828 against $1,087 statewide, and 39% of renter households are cost-burdened.
Should Adams County homeowners use home equity instead?
Maybe, but weigh the risk: 86% of Adams County homes are owner-occupied, and a home-equity loan or line is secured by the house while a personal loan usually is not.
Does this page cover Adams?
Yes, along with the other 8 Census places in Adams County, such as Lake Camelot, Lake Arrowhead, Friendship.
Is the fit check different in Adams County?
No. It is identical everywhere, and it never looks at your neighborhood.