RANK #113 / 1001 NAT · #5 / 28 IL · POP 64,754
1YR FORECAST: +1.2%
5YR OUTLOOK: +36%
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.
Adams County's data profile doesn't fit any single market profile cleanly — its housing, labor, and demographic signals pull in different directions (home prices +6.9% YoY, population -0.6%, wages +2.6%). About 414 U.S. counties show this kind of mixed-signal pattern.
See all 414 Idiosyncratic Markets counties →Below national median (11.3x)
Below-average climate & terrain
Below national median (15x)
Housing is fairly valued at 5.8x relative to local economic output. The typical U.S. county is 4–6x.
Estimated local headcount ranges. Larger employers shown as floor + "+"; smaller employers show exact counts where reported.
Bars show trailing 12-month growth. The dashed Forecast bars are the model's next-12-month projection; the whisker marks the ±1% range (cooling–accelerating).
Source: Redfin · Census BPS — Browse sales on Redfin →
Source: CDC/NCHS vital statistics via County Health Rankings (2020–2022 avg). Rates per 100,000 population. Grade based on homicide rate relative to national average (~6.3). Learn more →
Source: EPA Air Quality System (2021–2023). Grade based on 3-year average median AQI. Learn about AQI →
| 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 1001 counties.
Adams County ranks #113 out of 1001 U.S. counties on the Boom Town Index with a score of 89/100, putting it in the top tier nationally. Job growth of +0.7% and a median household income of $66,220 point to a county with active economic momentum.
By national standards, Adams County is quite affordable. Homes here have a median value of $162,600, and the income-to-home-value ratio of 0.41 is well above the U.S. average — especially with median rent at just $828/month. Residents can generally buy a home without being cost-burdened.
Adams County is losing population (-0.6% YoY) while the job market is essentially flat (+0.7% employment change). Home values are +6.9% over the past 12 months. A slow-bleed pattern — not a collapse, but residents are leaving faster than employers are hiring.
Not particularly — 1.88% of Adams County's population moved in from another state, which is below the national average. Most residents are long-term locals rather than recent transplants.
Home values climbed +6.9% year-over-year, which is a solid pace of appreciation. The median home in Adams County is now valued at $162,600. That kind of growth typically reflects sustained demand rather than speculative frenzy.