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Adams County

PA · Pop. 105,183 · Mixed County

36/100Homestead Score

Adams County is a mixed rural-suburban county in Pennsylvania, spanning 519 square miles with 105,183 residents at a density of 202.7 people per square mile, a more developed setting where truly rural parcels are scarcer. The agricultural economy is rated strong, built on hay, corn, soybeans. A median home price of $256,000 and an effective property tax rate of 1.39% set the cost of entry. The climate sits in USDA hardiness zone 7a with a 170-day growing season, average summer highs of 84°F and average winter lows of 22.9°F. Annual rainfall averages 43.1 inches, and with drought risk rated very high, water storage and irrigation planning matter. Wellspan Gettysburg Hospital is 3.2 miles away and includes an emergency room. Broadband reaches 94.3% of homes. On the hazard side, flood risk is very high, tornado risk is high, wildfire risk is high, drought risk is very high, so plan infrastructure and insurance accordingly.

Property Tax: 1.39%
Growing Season: 170 days
Broadband: 94.3%
Density: 202.7/sq mi

Pros

  • Broadband reaches 94.3% of homes, making remote work and online farm sales realistic.
  • Wellspan Gettysburg Hospital, with an emergency room, is just 3.2 miles away — strong local healthcare access.
  • A strong agricultural economy built on hay, corn, soybeans means local markets, equipment, and know-how are in place.
  • A low unemployment rate of 3.7% reflects a stable local job base.
  • A low poverty rate of 8.4% signals a relatively stable local economy.

Cons

  • Flood risk is very high, so careful parcel siting and flood insurance are essential.
  • Drought risk is very high, making water storage and irrigation infrastructure essential rather than optional.
  • An effective property tax rate of 1.39% is on the higher side and adds to annual carrying costs.
  • At 202.7 people per square mile, this is a developed area where finding truly rural acreage is harder and pricier.

At a glance

Adams County, PA is a challenging place to homestead on the data.

Homestead score
36/100
Median home price
$256k
Property tax
1.39%
Growing season
170 days (zone 7a)
Annual rainfall
43.1"
Broadband
94.3%
Nearest hospital
Wellspan Gettysburg Hospital, 3.2 mi

Taxes & Cost of Living

Property Tax Rate1.39%
Median Household Income$81,071
Poverty Rate8.4%

Land & Building

Median Home Price$256K

Climate & Growing

USDA Zone7a
Growing Season170 days
Annual Rainfall43.1 inches
Avg Summer High84°F
Avg Winter Low22.9°F
Top CropsHay, Corn, Soybeans

Natural Disaster Risk

Drought9/10
Wildfire5/10
Tornado5/10
Flood8/10

Healthcare

Nearest HospitalWellspan Gettysburg Hospital (3.2 mi)
Emergency RoomYes
Healthcare Facilities1

Infrastructure & Community

Broadband Coverage94.3%

Business & Employment

Unemployment Rate3.7%
Ag EconomyStrong

Homesteading in Adams County: FAQ

What is the growing season like in Adams County?
Adams County is in USDA hardiness zone 7a with a 170-day growing season, average summer highs of 84°F, and average winter lows of 22.9°F. The established crops are hay, corn, soybeans.
How affordable is land and property here?
The median home price is $256,000 and the effective property tax rate is 1.39%. There's no published county per-acre figure, so use recent comparable sales to gauge raw-land value.
Is broadband internet available?
Broadband reaches 94.3% of homes, strong coverage that supports remote work for most parcels.
How close is healthcare?
Wellspan Gettysburg Hospital is 3.2 miles away and includes an emergency room; there is 1 hospital in the county.

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Data sources

Verified

Figures are sourced from public datasets: U.S. Census Bureau — ACS 5-year & Gazetteer, USDA NASS Census of Agriculture, USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map, NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals (1991–2020), FEMA National Risk Index, FCC Broadband Data Collection, BLS Local Area Unemployment Statistics, HIFLD Hospitals. Always confirm specifics locally before relying on them. See our methodology for how the homestead score is calculated.