Each edition grades its towns against each other only.
Only 5 of the 141 Iowa towns we compare have a lower share of working residents who work in town than Adair. Adair Viaduct is on the National Register of Historic Places. Adair has fewer than 1,000 residents, too few for fair grades; the figures below are still real.
Where Adair beats most towns.
In a town this size, neighbors are the best guide. Ask them anything.
Census counts: 306 in 1870, 791 in 2020. The archive holds 6 old photos and papers going back to 1988 and a map from 1954 on.
1 place on the National Register of Historic Places.
Who provides power, water and the rest in Adair, and how to reach them.
EPA SDWIS (Oct 9, 2026) · HIFLD + EIA-861 2025 · Census 2020 ZCTAs · NCES 2024–25 · registration: vote.gov, updated Nov 18, 2024.
Ordered by what stands out in Adair.
July afternoons reach 84°, January nights drop to 12° and about 26 inches of snow falls in a winter.
NOAA U.S. Climate Normals, 1991–2020
In Adair, the median household income is $55,000. Only 3% of working residents stay in Adair for work; the rest commute out. Among residents in the town, 4.3% live below the poverty line. Its average commute stands at 22 minutes, against 19 minutes in Iowa’s towns and 25 minutes across U.S. towns.
| Adair | Iowa towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Below the poverty line | 4.3% | 11% | 9.6% |
| Median household income | $55,000 | $69,000 | $80,000 |
| Average trip to work | 22 minutes | 19 minutes | 25 minutes |
| Work from home | 8.3% | 8.5% | 11% |
Census LEHD 2023 · ACS
Values rose 9.8% in the 12 months to September 2026. In Adair, the rent at the middle of the market is $893 a month. 66% of Adair households own their home, where Iowa’s towns sit at 70% and U.S. towns at 73%.
| Adair | Iowa towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Households that own their home | 66% | 70% | 73% |
| Median rent | $893 a month | $911 a month | $1,185 a month |
Census ACS, 2020–24 · Zillow Home Value Index · Redfin Data Center
For adults in Adair, the share who say their health is fair or poor is 21%. In Adair, 41% of adults have obesity, and 38% have high blood pressure.
| Adair | Iowa towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Smoke cigarettes (CDC PLACES) | 18% | 15% | 14% |
| Obesity (CDC PLACES) | 41% | 38% | 35% |
| High blood pressure (CDC PLACES) | 38% | 35% | 35% |
| Binge drink (CDC PLACES) | 20% | 20% | 16% |
| What stands out | Adair | IA |
|---|---|---|
| More adults with COPD | 8.8% | 6.9% |
| More smokers | 18.4% | 14.5% |
| More adults who have had a stroke | 3.9% | 3.3% |
CDC PLACES 2025 · modeled estimates for adults · CMS · HRSA
Federal disaster aid has reached households in Adair after 5 declared disasters, most recently in 2024. Expected damage from storms and floods is higher here than in 56% of U.S. communities. FEMA puts 33% of the town’s expected hazard losses down to cold waves, and 23% to drought.
FEMA disaster declarations and aid · FEMA National Risk Index · OpenFEMA
Walkers can cover 0.5 miles of trail in 1 park or preserve. For Adair, the trail network density is 0.2 miles per square mile. This Iowa town has one park or preserve, 6 acres in all.
| Biggest places to walk | Trails | Acres |
|---|---|---|
| 1. Adair City Park Campground | 0.1 mi | 6 |
Trails & parks © OpenStreetMap contributors · Conserved land: USGS PAD-US
None within 15 miles of Adair; the nearest are
About 2 of every 100 Adair residents are enrolled in college, against 6 across Iowa.
5 notable people were born in Adair.
Short answers, built from the data on this page.
Adair has fewer than 1,000 residents, too few for fair grades; the figures below are still real.
5 notable people were born here, including Eugenie Anderson and Earl Walsh.
