The Town FilesAdams, Wisconsin
Town in Adams County · population 1,378 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $165,100
- Household income
- $68,571
- Jan low / Jul high
- 6° / 82°
- Snow a year
- 52 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 13
- Median age
- 56.6
Adams is a town of 1,378 people in Adams County, Wisconsin. The median home is worth $165,100, below the typical Wisconsin town ($256,000). It ranks hipper than 83% of Wisconsin towns, better for first-time buyers than 77% of Wisconsin towns, better for a vacation home than 71% of Wisconsin towns.
How Adams ranks
Percentile among Wisconsin towns with at least 500 people on The Town Files lifestyle rankings. 50 is typical for the state; 90 means better than 90% of Wisconsin towns.
Homes and cost of living
The median home in Adams is worth $165,100, below the typical Wisconsin town ($256,000). Homes cost about 2.4 times the median household income of $68,571, which is more affordable than 90% of Wisconsin towns. Median rent is $925 a month. 88.0% of households own their home.
| Housing | Adams | Typical Wisconsin town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $165,100 | $256,000 |
| Median rent | $925 | $951 |
| Median household income | $68,571 | $82,217 |
| Home value ÷ income | 2.4× | 3.1× |
| Homeownership | 88.0% | 86.8% |
| Median year built | 1983 | 1978 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 26.9% | — |
Who lives in Adams
| People | Adams | Typical Wisconsin town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 56.6 | 45.1 |
| Age 65 and over | 30.5% | 21.0% |
| Under 18 | 14.9% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 12.3% | 23.8% |
| Below the poverty line | 10.7% | 7.2% |
| Veterans | 9.5% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 1.5% | — |
| Work from home | 5.9% | 10.9% |
| Average commute | 25.6 min | 24.6 min |
| Homes with broadband | 78.5% | 89.1% |
Weather in Adams
July highs average 82.3°F and January lows 6.0°F. About 35.1 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 52.0 inches of snow (typical Wisconsin town: 45.7 in). Expect about 11 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 169 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
13 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Adams since 1950, compared with 15 for the typical Wisconsin town. 4 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an EF2, struck on April 10, 2011 about 7.1 miles from the town center. The most recent was on July 1, 2026.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 27 times; the largest was 2.00 inches on June 15, 2016.
Severe weather in Adams County since 1996
Adams County has been included in 12 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for flood, drought, hurricane.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| April 4, 2020 | Biological | DR-4520: Covid-19 Pandemic |
| March 13, 2020 | Biological | EM-3454: Covid-19 |
| October 18, 2018 | Flood | DR-4402: Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-Line Winds, Flooding, And Landslides |
| October 20, 2016 | Flood | DR-4288: Severe Storms, Flooding, And Mudslides |
| June 14, 2008 | Severe Storm | DR-1768: Severe Storms, Tornadoes, And Flooding |
Jobs and pay in Adams County
Adams County had 4,412 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $46,533 a year. Unemployment was 5.1% in 2023; in Adams itself the ACS puts it at 1.3%.
Towns near Adams
- Adams, WI1.2 mi · 1,761 people · home $102,500
- Friendship, WI2.3 mi · 648 people · home $115,100
- Preston, WI5.6 mi · 1,377 people · home $160,400
- Easton, WI5.9 mi · 1,062 people · home $187,500
- Dellwood, WI6.0 mi · 579 people · home $200,500
- Quincy, WI6.3 mi · 1,159 people · home $201,900
- Strongs Prairie, WI8.3 mi · 1,145 people · home $215,900
- New Chester, WI9.8 mi · 1,960 people · home $151,900
Adams questions
Is Adams, Wisconsin a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Adams scores better for retirees than 47% of Wisconsin towns and quieter than 55%. 30.5% of residents are 65 or older (median age 56.6).
How much does a house cost in Adams?
The median owner-occupied home in Adams is valued at $165,100 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $68,571, so homes cost about 2.4 times income. Median rent is $925 a month.
What is the weather like in Adams?
July highs average 82.3°F and January lows 6.0°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 35.1 inches of precipitation a year and 52.0 inches of snow.
Does Adams get tornadoes?
13 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Adams since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was an EF2 on April 10, 2011. The typical Wisconsin town has had 15.
- U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates (2020–2024)
- U.S. Census Bureau, 2020 Census and 2025 Gazetteer (2020 / 2025)
- NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals (1991–2020)
- NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database (1950–2026)
- FEMA OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations (this product uses the FEMA OpenFEMA API but is not endorsed by FEMA) (1953–2026)
- NCES Common Core of Data (2023–24)
- BLS Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages; USDA ERS county unemployment (BLS LAUS) (2000–2024)
- The Town Files lifestyle rankings, built from federal demographic, school, crime and housing data (2025)