The typical owner-occupied home in Adams County is worth about $268,500, 6% above the Pennsylvania median of $254,500 and 19% below the national median of $332,700. Owners pay a median $3,561 a year in property taxes, about 1.33% of their home's value, close to the Pennsylvania rate of 1.30%. The median household earns $84,092 a year, so the median home costs 3.2 times the median income (3.3 times for Pennsylvania). 79% of occupied homes here are lived in by their owners, and 62% of those owners still have a mortgage.
Adams County at a glance
| Adams County | Pennsylvania | U.S. | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $268,500 | $254,500 | $332,700 |
| Median property tax paid per year | $3,561 | $3,311 | $3,119 |
| Property tax as a share of value | 1.33% | 1.30% | 0.94% |
| Median household income | $84,092 | $77,971 | $80,734 |
| Homes lived in by their owners | 79% | 69% | 65% |
| Owner homes with a mortgage | 62% | 58% | 61% |
| Median monthly costs, owners with a mortgage | $1,780 | $1,762 | $1,963 |
| Those costs as a share of the owners' income | 21.1% | 19.4% | 21.0% |
| Median rent | $1,115 | $1,209 | $1,413 |
| Rent as a share of renters' income | 27.8% | 29.2% | 30.6% |
| Median year homes were built | 1980 | 1965 | 1980 |
| Vacant homes | 6.5% | 9.2% | 10.1% |
| Population | 106,115 | 13,018,639 | 334,922,499 |
What a typical home costs per month in Adams County
At this week's average 30-year rate of 7.11%, buying the median Adams County home of $268,500 with 20% down costs about $1,854 a month, including property taxes and insurance. With an FHA loan and 3.5% down, it's about $2,302, because the loan is bigger and FHA adds mortgage insurance.
Lenders usually want housing costs under about 28% of gross income, which means an income of roughly $79,476 for the 20%-down payment. That payment is 26% of the median Adams County household income of $84,092; at that income and 20% down, the 28% guideline points to a home of about $284,000.
The median rent here is $1,115 a month, so owning the median home costs about $739 a month more than renting, before you count the equity you build and any tax benefits.
| Down payment | $53,700 |
|---|---|
| Loan amount | $214,800 |
| Principal and interest | $1,445 |
| Property taxes (1.33% a year) | $298 |
| Homeowners insurance (our estimate, 0.5% a year) | $112 |
| PMI | $0 |
| Total per month | $1,854 |
Change the numbers in the calculator
| Down payment | $9,398 |
|---|---|
| Loan amount | $263,637 |
| Principal and interest | $1,774 |
| Property taxes (1.33% a year) | $298 |
| Homeowners insurance (our estimate, 0.5% a year) | $112 |
| FHA mortgage insurance | $119 |
| Total per month | $2,302 |
Change the numbers in the calculator
Questions about home buying in Adams County
What is the median home value in Adams County?
About $268,500 for owner-occupied homes, according to the Census Bureau's 2020–2024 American Community Survey.
How much are property taxes in Adams County?
Homeowners pay a median $3,561 a year, which is about 1.33% of the median home value. Your bill depends on your home's assessed value and local rates.
What income do you need to buy a home in Adams County?
For the median home with 20% down at 7.11%, the payment is about $1,854 a month. Keeping that under 28% of gross income takes about $79,476 a year.
More about Adams County
- Mortgage Refinance in Adams County
- Debt Relief in Adams County
- Home Equity Loans in Adams County
- Guides and quotes for mortgage refinance on our sister site, MortgageRefinance.com
Sources: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 2020–2024 5-year estimates; Freddie Mac Primary Mortgage Market Survey, week of November 12, 2026. Estimates for small places have wide margins of error. About our data