Adams County, Wisconsin: commercial real estate data.
Adams County, Wisconsin had an estimated 21,352 residents on July 1, 2024, up 3.4 percent since the 2020 census base of 20,651, across 646 square miles. County output reached $760.9 m in 2024, 346 establishments operate here, and the SBA record carries 18 7(a) approvals worth $10.6 m since FY2020.
Underlined figures are computed by MMCG Analytics, not published by the agency.
Adams County
How many people live in Adams County
- Population, American Community Survey 2020-202421,123
- Households9,517
- Average household size2.22
- Median household income$59,442
- Median age55.7
- Median gross rent$828 per month
- Median owner-occupied home value$200,800
- Home value to household income3.4 times
- Annual rent as a share of median income16.7 percent
- Adults 25 and over with a bachelor degree or higher17.5 percent
- Adults 25 and over with a graduate degree4.3 percent
- Adults 25 and over17,220
- Population under 182,847
- Share under 1813.5 percent
- Population 65 and over6,803
- Share 65 and over32.2 percent
- Working age population, 18 to 6411,473
- Civilian labor force8,895
- Unemployment rate4.5 percent
- Labor force participation, adults 18 and over48.7 percent
- Rank by population among Wisconsin counties50th of 72
- Rank by population among US county-equivalents, Puerto Rico included1813th of 3,222
Adams County is the 50th largest of 72 Wisconsin counties by population. A median home costs 3.4 times median household income, which is moderately unaffordable by national standards. Residents 65 and over outnumber those under 18, at 32.2 percent against 13.5 percent, which points demand at health care, services and single story product rather than schools.
US Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates, 2020-2024 5-year.
Adams County
Is Adams County's population growing?
- Population, July 1, 202421,352
- Census 2020 base population20,651
- Population change since the 2020 census base3.39 percent
- Population change, 2023 to 2024-176
- Births, 2024107
- Deaths, 2024288
- Natural change, 2024-181
- Net domestic migration, 2024-4
- Net international migration, 202411
- Total net migration, 20247
- Cumulative net domestic migration, 2021 to 20241,385
- Rank by growth among US county-equivalents800th of 3,144
The county has grown 3.39 percent since the 2020 census base. Deaths exceeded births in 2024 by more than net migration added, so the population fell even though more people moved in than left.
US Census Bureau, Population Estimates Program, Vintage 2024, Vintage 2024, estimates 2020 to 2024.
Adams County
Where are people moving to Adams County from?
- Tax returns filed by households arriving864
- People arriving, from those returns1,463
- Tax returns filed by households leaving638
- Net household movement226
- Adjusted gross income arriving$65.7 m
- Net adjusted gross income movement$30.6 m
- Average income of an arriving household$75,999
- Average income of a leaving household$54,986
- Largest single originWood County (68 households)
- Largest single destinationWood County (62 households)
| Origin | Households | People | Adjusted gross income |
|---|---|---|---|
| Wood County | 68 | 122 | $6.3 m |
| Columbia County | 65 | 113 | $3.0 m |
| Dane County | 64 | 110 | $9.6 m |
| Sauk County | 57 | 92 | $3.1 m |
| Juneau County | 45 | 67 | $1.4 m |
| Marquette County | 38 | 65 | $2.2 m |
| Milwaukee County | 37 | 62 | $2.3 m |
| Waukesha County | 31 | 52 | $2.4 m |
Households arriving report $21,013 more average income than households leaving, so the migration is raising local spending power rather than just moving it around. The largest single source of arrivals is Wood County, which is the catchment a retail or multifamily study should look at first.
US Internal Revenue Service, Statistics of Income county migration flows, 2021 to 2022 filing years.
Adams County
What is the Adams County economy?
- County GDP, 2024$760.9 m
- County GDP, 2023$723.9 m
- GDP change, 2023 to 20245.1 percent
- GDP change over five years21.8 percent
- Rank by GDP among the Wisconsin areas BEA publishes61st of 72
- Rank by GDP among the US county areas BEA publishes2066th of 3,127
- GDP per resident$36,023
Output grew 5.1 percent in the latest year and 21.8 percent over five, which is the trend line a lender will read behind any single year figure.
US Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional, table CAGDP2, CAGDP2, through 2024.
Adams County
Employment by industry in Adams County
- Covered employment, annual average4,412
- Establishments reporting444
- Average annual pay$46,533
- Average weekly wage$895
- Accommodation and food services, employment771
- Accommodation and food services, average annual pay$23,804
- Agriculture, forestry, fishing and hunting, employment498
- Agriculture, forestry, fishing and hunting, average annual pay$63,021
- Retail trade, employment456
- Retail trade, average annual pay$28,970
- Manufacturing, employment319
- Manufacturing, average annual pay$57,035
- Construction, employment169
- Arts, entertainment and recreation, employment133
| Sector | Employment | Establishments | Average annual pay |
|---|---|---|---|
| Accommodation and food services | 771 | 49 | $23,804 |
| Agriculture, forestry, fishing and hunting | 498 | 25 | $63,021 |
| Retail trade | 456 | 36 | $28,970 |
| Manufacturing | 319 | 13 | $57,035 |
| Construction | 169 | 50 | $49,543 |
| Arts, entertainment and recreation | 133 | 3 | $22,773 |
| Other services, except public administration | 133 | 20 | $29,315 |
| Transportation and warehousing | 113 | 20 | $46,353 |
Accommodation and food services is the largest private sector at 771 jobs, 17.5 percent of covered employment.
US Bureau of Labor Statistics, Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages, 2024 annual averages.
Adams County
How many businesses are in Adams County?
- Establishments, all industries346
- Employment at those establishments3,187
- Annual payroll$129.3 m
- Establishments per 1,000 residents16.4
These are counts of establishments physically operating in the county, not listings, so they are the supply side a feasibility study measures demand against. County Business Patterns counts private establishments with paid employees in March 2023, while the Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages above counts every unemployment-insured employer, public ones included, as a 2024 annual average, so the two establishment and employment counts differ.
US Census Bureau, County Business Patterns, 2023.
Adams County
Building permits in Adams County
- Housing units authorized by permit, 2024127
- Declared construction value permitted$41.9 m
- Single family units authorized127
- Multifamily units authorized0
- Multifamily share of units0.0 percent
- Average declared value per unit$329,572
- Units authorized per 1,000 households13.3
Single-family homes are 100.0 percent of units authorized, so the pipeline is predominantly single-family.
US Census Bureau, Building Permits Survey, 2024 annual.
Adams County
SBA loans in Adams County (7(a) and 504)
- 7(a) approvals recorded18
- 7(a) gross approval dollars$10.6 m
- Average 7(a) approval$591,567
- Median 7(a) approval$282,000
- Largest single approval$4,000,000
- Jobs reported supported, 7(a)245
- Jobs per approval13.6
- Distinct 7(a) lenders active10
- Distinct industries receiving approvals15
- Median 7(a) term180 months
- Share of loans on real estate terms, 240 months or longer50.0 percent
- Loans on real estate terms9
- Loans on working capital terms, 120 months or shorter9
- Franchise loans2
- Franchise share of approvals11.1 percent
- Most active lenderOne Community Bank (4)
- 504 approvals recorded5
- 504 gross approval dollars$2.7 m
- Average 504 approval$532,800
- Median 504 approval$405,000
- Distinct CDCs active1
- 504 jobs per approval4.2
- 504 jobs per million dollars approved7.9
- Most active CDCWBD, Inc. (5)
- Combined SBA approval dollars, 7(a) FY2020 to FY2026 and 504 FY2010 to FY2026$13.3 m
US Small Business Administration, 7(a) FOIA release, FY2020 to FY2026 year to date, as of 2026-06-30. US Small Business Administration, 504 FOIA release, FY2010 to FY2026 year to date, as of 2026-06-30.
Adams County
SBA loan default and charge-off rates in Adams County
Do SBA loans in Adams County get paid back?
- Loans with a final outcome recorded0
- Paid in full0
- Charged off0
- Status: Exempt from disclosure15
- Status: Cancelled3
Only 0 loans have reached a final outcome, fewer than the 30 a charge-off rate needs, so no rate is published.
Compare against the national and state SBA charge-off rates, computed the same way over resolved loans only.
US Small Business Administration, 7(a) FOIA release, FY2020 to FY2026 year to date, as of 2026-06-30.
Adams County
SBA lending by place in Adams County
- Borrower cities with recorded lending8
- Wisconsin Dells, approvals4
- Adams, approvals3
- Friendship, approvals3
- Arkdale, approvals3
- Oxford, approvals2
- Nekoosa, approvals1
| Borrower city | Approvals | Gross approval dollars |
|---|---|---|
| Wisconsin Dells | 4 | $1,216,500 |
| Adams | 3 | $4,522,000 |
| Friendship | 3 | $1,236,700 |
| Arkdale | 3 | $470,000 |
| Oxford | 2 | $655,000 |
| Nekoosa | 1 | $2,050,000 |
| Grand Marsh | 1 | $423,000 |
| Verona | 1 | $75,000 |
US Small Business Administration, 7(a) FOIA release, FY2020 to FY2026 year to date, as of 2026-06-30.
Adams County
How large is Adams County?
- Land area646 sq mi
- Rank by land area among Wisconsin counties43rd of 72
- Width, east to west21.4 mi
- Height, north to south42 mi
- Geographies sharing a boundary6
- Residents per square mile of land33
- Establishments per square mile0.54
US Census Bureau county boundary geometry, TIGER, adjacency computed from shared boundary vertices, TIGER county boundaries. US Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates, 2020-2024 5-year. US Census Bureau, County Business Patterns, 2023.
Adams County
Flood risk in Adams County
- Participation of the county's own NFIP community Adams County, unincorporated areasParticipating, community 550001
- Community Rating System class of the county's own communityClass 7
- Communities in the county in the NFIP Community Status Book4
- Of those, participating in the NFIP4
- NFIP participation rate100.0 percent
- Best Community Rating System class in the county A lower CRS class is a larger flood insurance premium discount.Class 7
- Communities carrying a CRS class1
- Radon levels in Adams County, EPA zone predicted average indoor radon screening level from 2 to 4 pCi/LZone 2
The county's own community in the status book, unincorporated Adams County (community 550001), participates in the National Flood Insurance Program and carries Community Rating System class 7, a flood insurance premium discount for policies written there. The EPA places Adams County in radon zone 2, a predicted average indoor radon screening level from 2 to 4 pCi/L. The zone is a screening prediction for the county and does not substitute for a test at an address. The best Community Rating System class among the county's communities is 7, which carries a flood insurance premium discount for policies written in that community. 100.0 percent of the county's listed communities participate in the National Flood Insurance Program, per Federal Emergency Management Agency, NFIP Community Status Book (OpenFEMA), as of 2026-09-26.
Federal Emergency Management Agency, NFIP Community Status Book (OpenFEMA), as of 2026-09-26. US EPA, Map of Radon Zones, county spreadsheet, 2024-05 publication, EPA 402/A-16/001.
Coverage
What this page does not hold.
Traffic counts, zoning and the flood zone at an address are not on this page; they resolve at the address in the platform. How this page was built →
Feasibility studies
When a Adams County site needs a document a lender will accept.
The same data layer behind this page is the one the studies are written from. A study for a Adams County site starts with the figures you are reading, carrying the same source and period into the credit file.
- Population, American Community Survey 2020-202421,123
- Households9,517
- Average household size2.22
- Median household income$59,442
- Median age55.7
Common questions
Adams County questions, answered from the record.
How many people live in Adams County, Wisconsin?
The Census Bureau estimates 21,352 residents on July 1, 2024 (US Census Bureau, Population Estimates Program, Vintage 2024). The American Community Survey 2020-2024 five-year estimate is 21,123, in 9,517 households, ranking 50th of 72 Wisconsin counties. Source: US Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates, 2020-2024 5-year.
Is Adams County's population growing?
The population has grown 3.39 percent since the 2020 census base of 20,651, to 21,352 on July 1, 2024. In 2024 there were 107 births against 288 deaths, with net migration of 7. Source: US Census Bureau, Population Estimates Program, Vintage 2024, Vintage 2024, estimates 2020 to 2024.
What is the median household income in Adams County?
$59,442. The median owner-occupied home is valued at $200,800, which is 3.4 times income, and median gross rent is $828 per month. Source: US Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates, 2020-2024 5-year.
How many businesses are in Adams County?
346 establishments, employing 3,187 people with an annual payroll of $129.3 m. These are establishments physically operating in the county, not listings. Source: US Census Bureau, County Business Patterns, 2023.
What is employment by industry in Adams County?
Accommodation and food services is the largest private sector at 771 jobs, 17.5 percent of covered employment. Covered employment averages 4,412 jobs at an average annual pay of $46,533, or $895 a week. Source: US Bureau of Labor Statistics, Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages, 2024 annual averages.
How much SBA lending happens in Adams County?
18 7(a) approvals totaling $10.6 m since FY2020, across 10 lenders, with a median approval of $282,000, plus 5 504 approvals worth $2.7 m since FY2010. These are approvals recorded in the release, not loans disbursed.
How many building permits were issued in Adams County?
127 housing units were authorized by permit in 2024, with a declared construction value of $41.9 m. Multifamily was 0.0 percent of units. Source: US Census Bureau, Building Permits Survey, 2024 annual.
What is the radon zone for Adams County?
Zone 2, a predicted average indoor radon screening level from 2 to 4 pCi/L. Source: US EPA, Map of Radon Zones, county spreadsheet, 2024-05 publication, EPA 402/A-16/001.
Where do people moving to Adams County come from?
The largest single origin is Wood County, with 68 households. Arriving households report an average income of $75,999 against $54,986 for those leaving. Source: US Internal Revenue Service, Statistics of Income county migration flows, 2021 to 2022 filing years.
Are traffic counts available for Adams County on this page?
No. Annual average daily traffic resolves in the platform rather than in this dataset, so no AADT figure is printed here. It is a gap we know about rather than a figure we estimated.
Is zoning published for Adams County?
No. Nothing on this page presents parcel level zoning, and where a statutory framework applies it is marked as the statewide frame, to be confirmed locally.
Adams County
Cities and places in Adams.
10 Census places lie wholly or partly in Adams County. All 10 carry enough published place level data for a page of their own and are linked.
| Place | Type | Population | SBA 7(a) approvals, projects in this county | Lies in |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wisconsin Dells | city | 2,547 | 4 | 21.2 percent here, 44.7 percent Columbia County, 28.8 percent Sauk County, 5.3 percent Juneau County |
| Adams | city | 2,050 | 3 | Wholly in this county |
| Lake Camelot | CDP | 1,162 | None recorded | Wholly in this county |
| Lake Arrowhead | CDP | 969 | None recorded | Wholly in this county |
| Friendship | village | 813 | 3 | Wholly in this county |
| Dellwood | CDP | 661 | None recorded | Wholly in this county |
| Lake Sherwood | CDP | 369 | None recorded | Wholly in this county |
| Arkdale | CDP | 186 | 3 | Wholly in this county |
| Grand Marsh | CDP | 141 | 1 | Wholly in this county |
| Easton | CDP | 46 | None recorded | Wholly in this county |
A further 4 of the county's 18 SBA 7(a) approvals are to borrowers in cities that match no Census place in Adams County, the largest being Oxford (2), Nekoosa (1), Verona (1). Those are postal cities, unincorporated areas and cities outside the county, so no place row claims them; they are counted in the county total above.
Nearby