Adams County, Iowa Income Statistics
Adams County Wealth Score
The wealth index reflects the overall economic prosperity and financial well-being of a county's residents based on income levels, employment rates, and income inequality metrics.
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C
Adams County Below averageLess wealthy than 85% of counties in Iowa
Source: Map AI Methodology
Income Statistics Overview
| Metric | Adams County | Iowa Avg | US Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median Household Income | $70,391 | $75,133 | $80,455 |
| Median Personal Income | $48,661 | $57,332 | $60,758 |
| Average Yearly Income Growth | 4.7% | 4.0% | 4.8% |
| Six-Figure Earners | 10.6% | 10.5% | 13.9% |
| $200k+ Households | 8.6% | 8.6% | 13.2% |
The median household income in Adams County is about 6% lower than in Iowa. Income has been growing faster in Adams County (4.7%/yr) than in Iowa (4.0%/yr).
About 11% of adults in Adams County earn six figures ($100,000 or more) a year, about the same as the Iowa average of 11%.
Median Household Income 2009–2024 Trend
Median Household Income Over Time
Median household income in Adams County, Iowa grew by 72.2% from 2009 to 2024, reaching $70,391 in 2024. That's an average of about 4.7% per year.
Income Inequality and the Gender Pay Gap in Adams County
| Metric | Adams County | Iowa Avg | US Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gini Coefficient | 0.508 | 0.510 | 0.552 |
| Male Median Income | $58,725 | $66,524 | $69,667 |
| Female Median Income | $45,968 | $52,524 | $56,850 |
| Gender Pay Gap | 21.7% | 21.0% | 18.4% |
The Gini coefficient measures how evenly income is shared between richer and poorer households, from 0 (everyone earns the same) to 1 (one household earns nearly everything). The lower the number, the more equally income is distributed. In Adams County, it is 0.508, about the same as Iowa's 0.510, so income here is about as evenly distributed as there, and lower than the US's 0.552, so income is more evenly distributed here than there.
Men's income is about 28% more than women's income in Adams County, Iowa. Over a 35-year career, a 28% wage gap accumulates to roughly $446,495 in unearned income for female workers in the area.
Income by Sex Over Time
Since 2009, the income gap between men and women in Adams County, Iowa has narrowed from about 23% to 22% in 2024. Over that period the gap was widest at 31% in 2018, and was narrowest at 19% in 2013. In dollar terms, the gap has widened by $4,757 since 2009.
Employment
| Metric | Adams County | Iowa Avg | US Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Unemployment Rate | 3.9% | 3.6% | 5.2% |
| Working from Home | 10.0% | 11.3% | 15.0% |
| Commute time (minutes) | 18 | 16 | 22 |
Approximately 69 people are unemployed in Adams County, Iowa.
The average commute time in Adams County is 18 minutes, longer than the 16 minutes in Iowa.
Unemployment Rate Over Time
Since 2011, the unemployment rate in Adams County, Iowa has risen from 3.6% to 3.9% in 2024. Over that period the rate peaked at 4.6% in 2013 and fell as low as 2.8% in 2018.
Adams County, IA Wealth Compared With Nearby Counties
Adams County, IA is the smallest of the 6 counties compared here, 3,622 residents against a local median of 10,214. The measure that sets Adams County, IA apart most is unemployment: 3.9%, 33% above the local median of 2.9%. That is the weaker end of the local range on this measure.
The counties themselves spread 2.6% on unemployment, so Adams County, IA sits at one end of an already wide local range rather than apart from it. Adams County, IA has the 4th lowest unemployment of the 6 areas compared here.
| Area | Population | Median household income | Income growthAverage yearly change in median household income since 2016. Each year is measured in its own dollars, so this is growth before inflation. | Unemployment | Income inequalityGini coefficient: 0 would mean every household earns the same, 1 that a single household earns everything. The lower the number, the more equally income is shared here. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Adams County, IA | 3,622 | $70,391 #1/6 | 4.7%/yr #2/6 | 3.9% #4/6 | 0.508 #5/6 |
| Taylor County, IA | 5,868 | $66,404 | 4.6%/yr | 2.9% | 0.475 |
| Adair County, IA | 7,460 | $67,688 | 4.3%/yr | 4.0% | 0.498 |
| Cass County, IA | 13,096 | $64,327 | 4.5%/yr | 1.4% | 0.499 |
| Union County, IA | 11,993 | $58,088 | 3.0%/yr | 4.0% | 0.511 |
| Montgomery County, IA | 10,214 | $67,807 | 6.0%/yr | 2.6% | 0.494 |
Conclusion
Considering all these factors, Adams County, Iowa has an overall wealth index grade of C, making it about on par with Iowa, and about on par with the country as a whole.
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about income and wealth in Adams County, Iowa.
How Wealthy Is Adams County, Iowa?
Adams County has a wealth index grade of C. The wealth index grades areas from A+ (best) to F- by combining income levels, employment rates, and income inequality; a C grade means residents are close to the U.S. average. The median household income is $70,391, about 6% lower than the Iowa average of $75,133.
How has median household income changed in Adams County, Iowa?
Between 2009 and 2024, the median household income in Adams County, Iowa rose 72%, from $40,882 to $70,391. Over the same years, income here outpaced Iowa as a whole: +72% against +56%.
What was the median household income in Adams County in 2023?
In 2023, the median household income in Adams County, Iowa was $67,228, up 6% from $63,327 in 2022. The Iowa median that year was $73,347.
What was the median household income in Adams County in 2020?
In 2020, the median household income in Adams County, Iowa was $53,024. By 2024 it had risen 33% to $70,391.
What is the Gini coefficient in Adams County, Iowa?
The Gini coefficient in Adams County is 0.508. It measures income inequality on a scale from 0 (everyone earns the same) to 1 (one household earns everything). That is lower than the US average of 0.552, so income is distributed more equally than in the country overall.
How has the income gap between men and women changed in Adams County, Iowa?
Since 2009, the income gap between men and women in Adams County, Iowa has narrowed from about 23% to 22% in 2024. Over that period the gap was widest at 31% in 2018, and was narrowest at 19% in 2013. In dollar terms, the gap has widened by $4,757 since 2009.
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