CensusEasy
COUNTY

Adams County

Iowa · 3,617 residents (2025 est.) · 423.433 sq mi
Time machine
COMPARE TO
Compare
The short version

Adams County has lower-than-average household income, with a median household income of $71,875. Population has fallen 19% since 2000, a loss of 860 residents. Median home value has more than doubled since 2000, reaching $131,600. With a median age of 46.3, the population is older than the US median of 38.9. It sits in the top 10% of US counties for household income.

At a glance
Lower income
below the US median
US median: $82,259
Older
median age 46.3
US median: 38.9
Less educated
27% hold a bachelor's degree
US average: 36%
Less affordable
home values up 28%, inflation adjusted
US median home: $376,019
Section 01

Population & growth

Total population
3,622
−19%since 2000
from 4,482 in 2000
1990 – 2025
Population density
9 / sq mi
−11%since 2009
from 10 / sq mi in 2009
US average: 281
Median age
46.3
+11%since 2000
from 41.9 in 2000
US average: 38.9

PEP 2025 EST:3,617 residents (Census Bureau Vintage 2025, released March 2026)

Population, 1990 – 2024
3K4K4K5K5K1990201020202024Adams County
20244K
1990201020202024
Age distribution, 2024
Under 56%(216)
US avg: 5.6%
5 to 96.3%(229)
US avg: 6%
10 to 146.2%(225)
US avg: 6.4%
15 to 195.5%(200)
US avg: 6.6%
20 to 244.1%(150)
US avg: 6.5%
25 to 349.7%(351)
US avg: 13.7%
35 to 4411.3%(410)
US avg: 13.2%
45 to 5410.1%(366)
US avg: 12.2%
55 to 6416.5%(599)
US avg: 12.7%
65 to 7412.8%(465)
US avg: 10.2%
75 to 848%(291)
US avg: 5.1%
85 and over3.3%(120)
US avg: 1.9%
BAR + DOT: THIS PLACE · TICK: US AVERAGE
Section 02

Income & economy

Median household income
$71,875
+30%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $30,453 in 2000
US average: $82,259
1990 – 2024
Per capita income
$44,632
+187%since 2000
from $15,550 in 2000
US average: $44,673
Households earning $100K+
46.7%
+25.0 ptssince 2009
from 21.7% in 2009
US average: 53.3%
Poverty rate
9.1%
−0.2 ptssince 2000
from 9.3% in 2000
US average: 12.5%
Income inequality (Gini)
0.503
+10%since 2010
from 0.458 in 2010
US average: 0.476
Workforce by industry, 2024
Retail trade13.9%
US avg: 9.9%
Agriculture, forestry, fishing11.5%
US avg: 1.6%
Construction11%
US avg: 1.2%
Other services7.9%
US avg: 6.7%
Wholesale trade6.3%
US avg: 6.9%
Public administration6.3%
US avg: 4.8%
Information5.1%
US avg: 10.8%
Finance & insurance2.4%
US avg: 5.9%
Transportation & warehousing2.3%
US avg: 2.2%
Arts, entertainment, food1.7%
US avg: 1.9%
Professional, scientific, technical1.5%
US avg: 5.1%
Education & health services0.9%
US avg: 0.9%
Manufacturing0.5%
US avg: 0.4%
BAR + DOT: THIS PLACE · TICK: US AVERAGE
Section 03

Housing

Median home value
$131,600
+28%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $56,500 in 2000
US average: $376,019
1990 – 2024
Median gross rent
$893
+47%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $333 in 2000
US average: $1,442
Owner-occupied
77.1%
+2.5 ptssince 2000
from 74.7% in 2000
22.9% rent
Vacancy rate
18.5%
+4.7 ptssince 2009
from 13.8% in 2009
US average: 10.0%
Owner cost-burdened
17.3%
−4.2 ptssince 2009
from 21.5% in 2009
US average: 22.9%
Renter cost-burdened
29.3%
+4.3 ptssince 2009
from 25.0% in 2009
US average: 47.4%
Afford Score
1.8
+2%since 2009
from 1.8 in 2009
2009 – 2024
Our index: median home value divided by median household income. Lower is more affordable.
Gentrification Score
75
Our index, 0 to 100. Higher means faster recent growth in incomes, home values, and college degrees.
RELATED:See current rent listings in Adams County on RentDataNow
Section 04

Race & ethnicity

2000
White, non-Hispanic98.5%(4,414)
Black0%(2)
Hispanic / Latino0.6%(26)
Asian0.2%(8)
Other0%
2024
White, non-Hispanic94.5%(3,422)
Black0.3%(11)
Hispanic / Latino1.7%(63)
Asian0%(0)
Other3.5%(126)
Diversity Score
13
+81%since 2009
from 7 in 2009
2009 – 2024
Our index, 0 to 100. Higher means a more even mix of racial and ethnic groups.
Segregation Score
18
−4%since 2020
from 19 in 2020
Our index, 0 to 100. Higher means White and non-White residents are more separated across neighborhoods.
Section 04 · Origins

Detailed origins & ancestry

Hispanic origin
Mexican1.6%(57)
Ancestry
German27.8%(1,006)
English18%(651)
Irish14.3%(519)
American7.3%(264)
Swedish4.3%(156)
Scottish2.5%(90)
Norwegian2.3%(85)
Italian1.4%(50)
Czech1.3%(47)
Dutch1.2%(44)
French1.2%(43)
Polish0.8%(30)
+ 9 more ancestry groups with data
Danish0.6%(20)
Scotch-Irish0.4%(16)
Swiss0.2%(9)
Welsh0.2%(6)
Russian0.1%(4)
Nigerian0.1%(3)
Finnish0%(1)
Slovak0%(1)
RANKED:Largest German population · Largest English population · Largest Irish population · Largest American population · Largest Swedish population
Section 05

Education

Bachelor's degree or higher
27.0%
+15.0 ptssince 2000
from 12.0% in 2000
US average: 35.6%
High school or higher
93.9%
+9.4 ptssince 2000
from 84.5% in 2000
US average: 89.6%
Graduate degree
5.8%
+2.9 ptssince 2000
from 2.9% in 2000
US average: 14.0%
Section 06

Commute & transportation

Average commute
19.1 min
+40%since 2000
from 13.7 min in 2000
US average: 26.5
Drive alone to work
77.1%
+0.3 ptssince 2009
from 76.8% in 2009
US average: 68.9%
Carpooled to work
10.6%
+5.5 ptssince 2009
from 5.0% in 2009
US average: 8.5%
Public transit
0.0%
−0.6 ptssince 2009
from 0.6% in 2009
US average: 3.2%
Worked from home
10.0%
−0.4 ptssince 2009
from 10.3% in 2009
US average: 15.0%
Walked to work
1.7%
−1.9 ptssince 2009
from 3.6% in 2009
US average: 2.4%
Biked to work
0.2%
+0.2 ptssince 2009
from 0.0% in 2009
US average: 0.4%
No vehicle available
5.5%
+1.3 ptssince 2009
from 4.2% in 2009
US average: 8.3%
Section 07

Work & employment

Unemployment rate
3.9%
+0.3 ptssince 2011
from 3.6% in 2011
US average: 5.2%
Labor force participation
60.0%
−3.3 ptssince 2011
from 63.2% in 2011
US average: 63.5%
Self-employed
19.2%
+3.6 ptssince 2009
from 15.6% in 2009
US average: 13.1%
Management & professional
45.6%
−16.3 ptssince 2009
from 61.9% in 2009
US average: 42.5%
Section 08

People & community

Male
50.1%
+1.2 ptssince 2009
from 48.9% in 2009
Female
49.9%
−1.2 ptssince 2009
from 51.1% in 2009
Foreign born
0.5%
+0.3 ptssince 2009
from 0.2% in 2009
US average: 14.1%
Veterans
9.1%
−39.9 ptssince 2009
from 49.0% in 2009
US average: 6.2%
With a disability
13.7%
−0.1 ptssince 2012
from 13.8% in 2012
US average: 13.3%
Uninsured
3.3%
−88.4 ptssince 2013
from 91.7% in 2013
US average: 8.4%
Broadband at home
84.8%
+16.7 ptssince 2017
from 68.1% in 2017
US average: 91.0%
English only at home
97.5%
−1.4 ptssince 2016
from 98.9% in 2016
US average: 77.7%
Spanish at home
1.8%
+0.8 ptssince 2016
from 1.0% in 2016
US average: 13.6%
Marital status
Men 15+
Never married24.4%(357)
Married56.3%(824)
Widowed3.3%(49)
Divorced16%(234)
Women 15+
Never married19.2%(286)
Married57.2%(851)
Widowed10.6%(158)
Divorced13%(193)
SHARE WITHIN EACH SEX · POPULATION 15 AND OVER · 2024
Drill deeper

Places similar to Adams County

Meade County
Pop 3,852
Petersburg
Pop 3,394
Haskell County
Pop 3,599
Aleutians East
Pop 3,479
Places similar to Adams County
Head to head

Compare Adams County to nearby counties

ADAMS COUNTY VS
Taylor County
Income$67,740−6%
Home value$117,200−11%
Population5,835+61%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
ADAMS COUNTY VS
Union County
Income$57,772−20%
Home value$122,000−7%
Population11,829+227%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
ADAMS COUNTY VS
Montgomery County
Income$63,666−11%
Home value$121,400−8%
Population10,002+177%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
ADAMS COUNTY VS
Adair County
Income$68,092−5%
Home value$160,400+22%
Population7,403+105%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
Frequently asked

How many people live in Adams County, Iowa?

Adams County, Iowa has about 3,622 residents according to the 2024 American Community Survey.

What is the median household income in Adams County, Iowa?

The typical household in Adams County, Iowa earns about $71,875 a year. Half of households make more than that, and half make less.

Is Adams County, Iowa expensive?

In Adams County, Iowa, the median home is worth about $131,600, and the typical rent is about $893 a month.

How educated are people in Adams County, Iowa?

About 27.0% of adults age 25 and over in Adams County, Iowa hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

What is the poverty rate in Adams County, Iowa?

About 9.1% of people in Adams County, Iowa live below the federal poverty line.

Has Adams County, Iowa grown since 1990?

Yes, Adams County, Iowa has shrunk since 1990. The population has lost about 1,244 residents, a change of about -26 percent over that period.

Keep going

Explore from here

2 census tracts
Census Tract 9502Census Tract 9501
4 ZIP codes
ZIP 50841ZIP 50859ZIP 50857ZIP 50839
Up the hierarchy
All counties in Iowa
Rankings
Highest income countiesLowest poverty counties

DATA: US CENSUS BUREAU ACS 5-YEAR + DECENNIAL CENSUS · UPDATED 2024

How we source and harmonize this data →