Cost of Living in Adams County, Pennsylvania
At a Glance
Rent burden measured as median gross rent as a percentage of renter household income (Census ACS B25071)
These figures are county medians, not a personal budget. Use them to frame rent, ownership, and income tradeoffs, then account for household size, commute, financing, insurance, taxes, debt, and local availability before making a decision.
How Adams County Compares
Median monthly rent comparison
Detailed Housing Stats
National Ranking
Affordability Rank
Adams County ranks #2,601 of 3,142 counties for affordability (bottom 17%)
Sourced county brief
Adams County Median Home Value Reaches $268,500 Snapshot
In Adams County, the median home value was estimated at $268,500, a figure that is $56,421 above the Pennsylvania unweighted county mean of $212,079. For those in owner-occupied housing, the median selected monthly owner costs were $1,347, compared to the state unweighted county mean of $1,010. Renter-occupied units had a median gross rent of $1,115 per month, which is above the state unweighted county mean of $991. The median renter-household income was $49,481. The canonical rent-to-income percentage is 27.8%, which is the official ACS B25071 gross rent as a percentage of household income (GRAPI). This official GRAPI differs from the state unweighted county mean official GRAPI of 27.7% by 0.1 percentage points. All figures are based on 2020-2024 five-year estimates and represent a static reporting period. See ACS table B25071 for the underlying estimate.
Source record
- U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2020-2024 5-Year Estimates — B25064 Median Gross Rent
- U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2020-2024 5-Year Estimates — B25071 GRAPI
- U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2020-2024 5-Year Estimates — B25077 Median Home Value
- U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2020-2024 5-Year Estimates — B25088 Selected Monthly Owner Costs
- U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2020-2024 5-Year Estimates — B25119 Household Income by Tenure
Data version acs5-2020-2024 · Method cost-brief-v1
Cost of Living Advisory: Adams County
Affordability Verdict
ACS B25071 estimates median gross rent at 27.8% of renter household income in Adams County, which is below the 30% affordability benchmark. This is a median percentage among renter-occupied units, not the share of households above a threshold.
Rent vs. Own
Median gross rent is $1,115 per month; median selected monthly owner costs are $1,347. These ACS medians describe different tenure groups and are not a personalized rent-versus-buy calculation.
Income Needed
Using the common 30% budgeting benchmark, $44,600 in annual gross income would allocate 30% to the county's median gross rent. This is a reproducible illustration, not evidence that a particular household can afford housing.
Regional Context
The Pennsylvania unweighted mean of county median rents is $991 per month. Adams County's $1,115 median is 12.5% above that comparison value.
Data version acs5-2020-2024 · Method cost-advisory-v2
Affordability Calculator
See how your income compares to housing costs in Adams County
Rent Burden
15.9%
of gross income
Max Housing (28% Rule)
$1,962
per month
Owner Cost Burden
19.2%
of gross income
The median home in Adams County may be a stretch
Median home value is $268,500. Estimated monthly cost: $2,144 vs. your max of $1,962.
Rent Affordability Guide
Income Needed Calculator
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Based on the 30% rule for rent and 28% rule for housing costs (mortgage + owner costs). Mortgage estimate assumes 20% down, 7.2% interest, 30-year fixed.
Frequently Asked Questions
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See Today's RatesData: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey (ACS) 5-Year Estimates (2020-2024). Data is informational only and is not personalized financial advice.
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