RANK #151 / 996 · POP 65,583 · IL
PROJECTED GROWTH: +2.4%
Adams County, Illinois, situated on the western edge of the state along the Mississippi River, is often recognized for its county seat, Quincy, known as the "Gem City." Quincy features a historic downtown district with Victorian architecture and serves as the economic and cultural hub of West-Central Illinois. The county offers a blend of rolling hills and farmland, with outdoor recreation opportunities at places like Siloam Springs State Park, which provides wooded terrain, a lake, and facilities for hunting, fishing, camping, and hiking. Commute options within the county primarily involve personal vehicles, though Quincy Transit Lines offers fixed-route bus services within Quincy and some surrounding areas.
Life in Adams County offers a community-focused atmosphere, with residents often citing family, good neighbors, and strong schools as reasons they enjoy living there. Public schools in Adams County are generally rated above average. The economy is diverse, with recent growth seen across various industries, including retail, professional services, hospitality, and technology. This expansion has created new jobs and opportunities for residents. The county's agricultural heritage also continues to attract visitors through farm markets and festivals.
Well below national median
Below-average climate & terrain
Below national median (13x)
Housing looks undervalued at 2.8x — home prices are low relative to local economic output. The typical U.S. county is 4–6x.
Source: Redfin · Census BPS — Browse sales on Redfin →
| PROJECT | AMOUNT | STATUS |
|---|---|---|
|
Prairie Mills Wind Project
Acciona (originally), Global Winds Harvest (current)
|
$300M | Operating |
|
Gem City Solar
Novi Energy
|
$175M | Planned |
|
East Quincy Battery Project
Cleanview (developer not specified)
|
$150M | Planned |
|
Quincy Riverfront Master Plan
City of Quincy
|
$50M | Planned |
Source: public records, news, corporate announcements. Amounts are estimates where noted.
Bars show percentile rank among all 996 counties.
Adams County has a Boom Town Index score of 85/100, ranking #151 among 996 U.S. counties. With job growth at -0.4% and a median household income of $63,767, it's an above-average county on economic indicators.
The median home value in Adams County is $151,300 with median rent at $782/month. The income-to-home-value ratio is 0.4215, which is more affordable than the national average.
Population growth: -0.5% year-over-year. Job growth: -0.4%. Home values changed +6.8% in the past 12 months.