Adams County

Home values in Adams County have climbed 1.5% off their March low, rising from $481,396 to $488,788 in the past two months—marking consecutive gains that suggest stabilization in the residential market after a recent slide. The uptick coincides with a sharper reversal in the labor market: unemployment dropped to 3.8% in April, down from a February peak of 4.7%, erasing nearly a fifth of the job losses that accumulated over early 2026.

The employment recovery appears to be the stronger signal. After spiking to 4.7% in February, the jobless rate has fallen for two straight readings, indicating employers may be rehiring or that seasonal labor demand is reasserting itself. The housing rebound is more modest—only two data points up from the trough—but the timing matters: declining unemployment typically precedes housing demand recovery in local markets.

The county's labor force stood at 295,723 in April, providing a substantial base for continued economic activity. Neither trend is yet robust enough to declare the downturn decisively over, but both suggest headwinds have eased.

Story angle: Track whether these gains hold through summer; investigate what industries are driving the job recovery and whether wage growth is following unemployment declines.