Adams County, Washington 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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D
Adams County Well below averageAmong the 3 least wealthy counties in Washington
Source: Map AI Methodology
Income Statistics Overview
| Metric | Adams County | Washington Avg | US Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median Household Income | $66,281 | $98,224 | $80,455 |
| Median Personal Income | $44,192 | $73,370 | $60,758 |
| Average Yearly Income Growth | 4.5% | 5.6% | 4.8% |
| Six-Figure Earners | 7.7% | 19.3% | 13.9% |
| $200k+ Households | 7.5% | 18.5% | 13.2% |
The median household income in Adams County is about 33% lower than in Washington. Income has been growing slower in Adams County (4.5%/yr) than in Washington (5.6%/yr).
About 8% of adults in Adams County earn six figures ($100,000 or more) a year, lower than the Washington average of 19%.
Median Household Income 2009–2024 Trend
Median Household Income Over Time
Median household income in Adams County, Washington grew by 67.2% from 2009 to 2024, reaching $66,281 in 2024. That's an average of about 4.5% per year.
Income Inequality and the Gender Pay Gap in Adams County
| Metric | Adams County | Washington Avg | US Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gini Coefficient | 0.578 | 0.534 | 0.552 |
| Male Median Income | $52,920 | $86,137 | $69,667 |
| Female Median Income | $40,811 | $68,506 | $56,850 |
| Gender Pay Gap | 22.9% | 20.5% | 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 0.578, higher than Washington's 0.534, so income is less evenly distributed here than there, and higher than the US's 0.552, so income is less evenly distributed here than there.
Men's income is about 30% more than women's income in Adams County, Washington. Over a 35-year career, a 30% wage gap accumulates to roughly $423,815 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, Washington has narrowed from about 24% to 23% in 2024. Over that period the gap was widest at 36% in 2012, and was narrowest at 14% in 2023. In dollar terms, the gap has widened by $3,211 since 2009.
Employment
| Metric | Adams County | Washington Avg | US Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Unemployment Rate | 3.6% | 5.0% | 5.2% |
| Working from Home | 6.0% | 19.8% | 15.0% |
| Commute time (minutes) | 16 | 22 | 22 |
Approximately 309 people are unemployed in Adams County, Washington.
The average commute time in Adams County is 16 minutes, shorter than the 22 minutes in Washington.
Unemployment Rate Over Time
Since 2011, the unemployment rate in Adams County, Washington has fallen from 13.6% to 3.6% in 2024.
Adams County, WA Wealth Compared With Nearby Counties
Adams County, WA is the 4th largest of the 6 counties compared here, 20,799 residents against a local median of 62,160. The measure that sets Adams County, WA apart most is unemployment: 3.6%, 42% below the local median of 6.2%. That is the better end of the local range on this measure.
The counties themselves spread 3.9% on unemployment, so Adams County, WA sits at one end of an already wide local range rather than apart from it. Adams County, WA has the 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, WA | 20,799 | $66,281 #6/6 | 4.5%/yr #6/6 | 3.6% #1/6 | 0.578 #6/6 |
| Franklin County, WA | 98,902 | $86,960 | 5.2%/yr | 5.4% | 0.569 |
| Lincoln County, WA | 11,488 | $71,064 | 5.1%/yr | 7.7% | 0.533 |
| Walla Walla County, WA | 62,160 | $74,258 | 5.4%/yr | 6.2% | 0.560 |
| Grant County, WA | 101,798 | $73,032 | 4.8%/yr | 6.5% | 0.560 |
| Columbia County, WA | 4,012 | $69,757 | 6.7%/yr | 3.9% | 0.505 |
Conclusion
Considering all these factors, Adams County, Washington has an overall wealth index grade of D, making it somewhat worse than Washington, and somewhat worse than the country as a whole.
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about income and wealth in Adams County, Washington.
How Wealthy Is Adams County, Washington?
Adams County has a wealth index grade of D. The wealth index grades areas from A+ (best) to F- by combining income levels, employment rates, and income inequality; a D grade means residents are somewhat worse off than the U.S. average. The median household income is $66,281, about 33% lower than the Washington average of $98,224.
Are incomes growing in Adams County, Washington?
Between 2009 and 2024, the median household income in Adams County, Washington rose 67%, from $39,647 to $66,281. Over the same years, income here lagged behind Washington as a whole: +67% against +73%.
What was the median household income in Adams County in 2023?
In 2023, the median household income in Adams County, Washington was $65,982, up 4% from $63,254 in 2022. The Washington median that year was $95,216.
What was the median household income in Adams County in 2020?
In 2020, the median household income in Adams County, Washington was $52,209. By 2024 it had risen 27% to $66,281.
Is it hard to find a job in Adams County, Washington?
Unemployment in Adams County, Washington is only 3.6%, well below the Washington rate of 5.0%, a sign of a tight labor market where employers compete for workers.
What is the Gini coefficient in Adams County, Washington?
The Gini coefficient in Adams County is 0.578. It measures income inequality on a scale from 0 (everyone earns the same) to 1 (one household earns everything). That is higher than the US average of 0.552, so income is distributed less equally than in the country overall.
How has the income gap between men and women changed in Adams County, Washington?
Since 2009, the income gap between men and women in Adams County, Washington has narrowed from about 24% to 23% in 2024. Over that period the gap was widest at 36% in 2012, and was narrowest at 14% in 2023. In dollar terms, the gap has widened by $3,211 since 2009.
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