Adams County, Wisconsin Demographics 2026

Name: Adams County, Wisconsin Demographics
Creator: U.S. Census Bureau
License: https://www.census.gov/data/developers/about/terms-of-service.html

Adams County, Wisconsin has a population of 21,123, the 50th most populous county in Wisconsin. The median household income is $59,442 and the median home value is $200,800. The poverty rate is 14.1%.

Data vintage: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2020–2024 5-Year Estimates · refreshed July 2026 · Methodology & source notes

Adams County Quick Facts

Population 21,123

Median Household Income $59,442

Median Home Value $200,800

Poverty Rate 14.1%

Unemployment Rate 4.5%

Median Age 55.7 years

Homeownership Rate 86.2%

Affordability Ratio 3.4x

Bachelor's Degree+ 17.5%

High School Graduation 89.4%

Cities/Places 9

Population 21,123 50th of 72

Median Income $59,442 23% lower than state

Poverty Rate 14.1%

Unemployment 4.5%

How Adams County Changed

Change from the 2019–2023 ACS period to 2020–2024. These are rolling five-year estimates, not year-over-year measurements.

Metric	2019–2023	2020–2024	Change
Population	20,928	21,123	+0.9%
Median household income	$59,153	$59,442	+0.5%
Median home value	$184,500	$200,800	+8.8%

Median Household Income

Adams

$59,442

$77,485

National

$80,734

Median Home Value

Adams

$200,800

$266,500

National

$332,700

Economy & Housing

Household Income Distribution

Under $25K 16.6%

$25K-$50K 25.5%

$50K-$100K 31.6%

$100K+ 26.3%

Detailed income brackets

Under $10K

5.7%

$10K-$15K

3.2%

$15K-$20K

3.5%

$20K-$25K

4.2%

$25K-$30K

7.2%

$30K-$35K

3.7%

$35K-$40K

5.3%

$40K-$45K

4.5%

$45K-$50K

4.9%

$50K-$60K

8.3%

$60K-$75K

9.8%

$75K-$100K

13.4%

$100K-$125K

10.7%

$125K-$150K

5.8%

$150K-$200K

5.5%

$200K+

4.3%

Employment

4.5% Unemployment Rate State: 3.3%|National: 5.2%

47.6% Labor Force Participation

Housing Overview

Owner 86.2%

Renter 13.8%

Affordability Index Affordable

3.4x home value to income ratio

Median gross rent $828/mo 16.7% of median household income annually

People & Demographics

Age Distribution

Under 18

13.5%

18-34

13.6%

35-54

22.1%

55-74

38.6%

75+

12.3%

Race & Ethnicity

Diversity Index

Very Low Diversity

A less diverse community where one racial or ethnic group represents a large majority.

State average: 37 | National average: 61

Education

Educational Attainment (Adults 25+)

Cities & Places in Adams County

City	Population	Median Income	Poverty	Home Value
Adams	2,050	$43,364	25.7%	$102,500
Lake Camelot	1,162	$95,125	1.7%	$310,900
Lake Arrowhead	969	$83,086	4.3%	$310,300
Friendship	813	$48,631	34.9%	$115,100
Dellwood	661	$43,750	11.7%	$200,500
Lake Sherwood	369	$84,911	5.1%	$259,400
Arkdale	186	$70,417	8.1%	$123,200
Grand Marsh	141	$31,731	20.6%	$89,400
Easton	46	N/A	37.0%	$246,400

Explore Wisconsin Rankings

Cities by Population All cities ranked by size Richest Cities Ranked by median income Most Educated By bachelor's degree rate Most Affordable By housing affordability

Population Overview

Adams County is located in Wisconsin with a total population of 21,123. It is the 50th most populous county out of 72 in Wisconsin. The county encompasses 9 Census-designated places.

Age Demographics

The median age in Adams County is 55.7 years. This is 39% higher than the state median of 40.2 years. Only 13.5% of residents are under 18, indicating fewer families with children. 12.3% of residents are 75 or older, suggesting a significant retirement-age population with implications for healthcare services and senior housing.

Economy, Income & Housing

The median household income in Adams County is $59,442. This is 23% lower than the state median of $77,485. It is also 26% lower than the national median of $80,734. The poverty rate stands at 14.1%. This is 34% higher than the state poverty rate of 10.5%. The unemployment rate is 4.5%. This is 39% higher than the state rate of 3.3%. The median home value is $200,800. Housing costs are 25% lower than the state median of $266,500. The home-value-to-income ratio is 3.4x. 86.2% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied. This homeownership rate is 27% higher than the state average of 67.8%.

Race & Ethnicity

Adams County has a predominantly White (non-Hispanic) population, comprising 87.6% of all residents. Hispanic or Latino residents account for 4.4%. The Black or African American population (2.0%) is well below the state average of 5.9%. The Asian population (0.6%) is well below the state average of 2.9%.

Education

17.5% of residents aged 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or higher. This is 47% lower than the state rate of 33.4%. Nationally, 35.7% of adults hold at least a bachelor's degree. The high school graduation rate (or equivalent) is 89.4%.

Data Sources & Methodology

All figures for Adams County come from the U.S. Census Bureau's American Community Survey (ACS) 2020–2024 5-Year Estimates, with comparisons drawn against Wisconsin and national averages from the same dataset. See our methodology page for how each metric is defined, or data.census.gov for official tables with margins of error.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the population of Adams County, Wisconsin?

Adams County has a population of 21,123, making it the 50th most populous county in Wisconsin.

What is the median income in Adams County?

The median household income in Adams County is $59,442 with a poverty rate of 14.1%.

How many cities are in Adams County, Wisconsin?

Adams County contains 9 Census-designated places.