John Lettieri, President and CEO of Economic Innovation Group | Official Website
John Lettieri, President and CEO of Economic Innovation Group | Official Website
These payments—which include Social Security, Medicare, Medicaid, and income maintenance—accounted for 36% of all personal income in the county, according to information from the Economic Innovation Group.
This marks a slight increase in the county’s reliance on government transfers compared to 2012, when such payments made up 33.9% of total income. Since then, the share has risen by 2.1%.
Government transfer payments are non-repayable funds provided by federal, state, or local governments to support individuals in need. These payments aim to stabilize economic conditions and provide financial support during hardships. Key programs include Social Security transfers (retirement benefits), Medicare transfers (healthcare for seniors), Medicaid transfers (healthcare for low-income individuals), and income maintenance transfers (financial assistance for basic needs).
In 2022, government transfers in Adams County primarily focused on older adults—such as Social Security transfers, which totaled $102.4 million (23.9% of all transfer income), and Medicare, which accounted for $117.7 million (27.5%)—played a notable role in the county's overall income.
On a per capita basis, Social Security payments rose from $3,310 in 2012 and $1,150 in 1970 to $3,735 in 2022, reflecting a 12.8% increase over the past decade and a 224.8% shift since 1970.
Similarly, Medicare transfers climbed from $2,869 in 2012 and $279 in 1970 to $4,293, marking 49.6% and 1,438.7% increases, respectively.
These increases in per capita payments align with shifts in the county’s age distribution. In 2022, residents aged 65 and older made up 18.7% of the total population, compared to 15.6% in 2012 and 14.6% in 1970. While the senior share of the population has increased, the rise in per capita Social Security and Medicare transfers suggests that these assistance programs for older adults now require a larger share of government funding—either due to growing needs, expanded eligibility, higher benefit levels, or increased enrollment.
According to the Economic Innovation Group, total income in Adams County excluding public assistance amounted to $27,797 per capita in 2022, compared to $43,431 when government transfers were included.
Breaking down the other contributions in the county, Medicaid transfers made up $124.2 million, a 29% share of total income, while income maintenance programs, including assistance such as SNAP or TANF, added another $52.9 million, or 12.3% of the total.
Compared to the previous year, Adams County's reliance on government transfers decreased by 3.1%.
Government transfers have long been a modest financial safety net, historically comprising only a small fraction of Americans' income. However, since the 1970s—sometimes dubbed the “Great Transfer-mation”—dependency has surged from 8.2% (or $2,016 per capita in inflation-adjusted 2022 dollars) in 1970 to 17.6% (or $11,529 per capita) in 2022 nationwide.
According to the Economic Innovation Group’s analysis, these trends are not merely short-term responses to economic pressures but rather reflect a profound, long-term transformation in how government support is integrated into American life. The study illustrates that structural shifts—from rising healthcare expenses and demographic changes to stagnant wages—have significantly increased dependency on government transfers.
| County | State Rank (Per Capita Transfers) | Dependency on Transfers (%) | % Population 65+ | Social Security Transfers (%) | Medicare Transfers (%) | Medicaid Transfers (%) | Income Maintenance Transfers (%) | Per Capita Transfers ($) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Gallia County | 1 | 37.3% | 20% | 24.1% | 22.1% | 33.8% | 11% | $17,187 |
| Scioto County | 2 | 36.6% | 18.95% | 21.1% | 25.5% | 30.8% | 13% | $16,952 |
| Lawrence County | 3 | 34.26% | 19.51% | 26.9% | 23.3% | 27.5% | 11.6% | $16,256 |
| Pike County | 4 | 34.58% | 18.55% | 24.9% | 20.9% | 33% | 12.7% | $16,025 |
| Jefferson County | 5 | 34.66% | 22.54% | 31.4% | 26.5% | 19.9% | 9.9% | $15,766 |
| Adams County | 6 | 36% | 18.73% | 23.9% | 27.5% | 29% | 12.3% | $15,634 |
| Guernsey County | 7 | 31.56% | 20.39% | 28.2% | 25.8% | 27.2% | 9.4% | $15,049 |
| Ashtabula County | 8 | 32.43% | 20.16% | 28.8% | 25.7% | 26.4% | 10.4% | $15,021 |
| Monroe County | 9 | 35.34% | 23.74% | 35.1% | 28.8% | 18.8% | 7.8% | $14,906 |
| Ottawa County | 10 | 23.84% | 27.33% | 39.2% | 29% | 17.2% | 5.5% | $14,894 |
| Harrison County | 11 | 32.19% | 22.49% | 31.3% | 29.1% | 23% | 8.8% | $14,860 |
| Mahoning County | 12 | 28.32% | 22.53% | 31.9% | 25.8% | 23.4% | 11.5% | $14,659 |
| Vinton County | 13 | 36% | 19% | 24.4% | 21.1% | 30.1% | 14.6% | $14,610 |
| Meigs County | 14 | 34.57% | 21% | 29% | 24.1% | 25.2% | 12.9% | $14,543 |
| Crawford County | 15 | 30.47% | 21.45% | 33.1% | 29.7% | 20.3% | 9.6% | $14,189 |
| Jackson County | 16 | 34.51% | 17.93% | 27.2% | 23.7% | 27.5% | 12.2% | $14,176 |
| Hocking County | 17 | 30.92% | 20.23% | 28.9% | 24.2% | 25.4% | 12.7% | $14,061 |
| Muskingum County | 18 | 28.51% | 18.64% | 29.8% | 28.7% | 21.5% | 11.9% | $14,024 |
| Columbiana County | 19 | 30.95% | 21.96% | 33.2% | 27.2% | 22.1% | 9.6% | $13,984 |
| Trumbull County | 20 | 30.68% | 22.35% | 35.3% | 27.4% | 20.1% | 9.8% | $13,980 |
| Washington County | 21 | 27.12% | 22.44% | 34.3% | 28.5% | 18.7% | 8.3% | $13,835 |
| Coshocton County | 22 | 32.48% | 20.14% | 30.6% | 29.3% | 22.7% | 9.9% | $13,720 |
| Fayette County | 23 | 29.16% | 18.16% | 27.8% | 24.3% | 29.2% | 11.1% | $13,709 |
| Clark County | 24 | 29% | 20.23% | 30.3% | 25.5% | 24.7% | 11.1% | $13,682 |
| Morgan County | 25 | 31.72% | 22% | 30.1% | 23.6% | 25.1% | 10.7% | $13,673 |
| Perry County | 26 | 29.51% | 18.31% | 28.8% | 26.9% | 25.1% | 11.3% | $13,557 |
| Seneca County | 27 | 28.44% | 19.27% | 31% | 27.3% | 25% | 8.5% | $13,528 |
| Belmont County | 28 | 28.97% | 21.94% | 33.4% | 25.8% | 23.2% | 8.6% | $13,518 |
| Erie County | 29 | 22.94% | 23.66% | 36.2% | 29.5% | 16.7% | 8.9% | $13,503 |
| Ross County | 30 | 29.91% | 18% | 28.2% | 25.8% | 23.9% | 12.1% | $13,374 |
| Brown County | 31 | 28.8% | 19.26% | 31.5% | 27.7% | 23.4% | 9.8% | $13,203 |
| Highland County | 32 | 29.83% | 19.32% | 29.3% | 25.7% | 24.7% | 11.1% | $13,134 |
| Allen County | 33 | 26.11% | 18.96% | 31.5% | 29.4% | 20.9% | 10.2% | $13,103 |
| Lucas County | 34 | 24.51% | 17.55% | 28.8% | 23.4% | 27.9% | 13.2% | $13,095 |
| Marion County | 35 | 30.68% | 18.69% | 30.9% | 26.1% | 23.5% | 11.5% | $13,005 |
| Cuyahoga County | 36 | 20.27% | 19.51% | 29.6% | 24.2% | 26.5% | 13% | $12,861 |
| Richland County | 37 | 28.56% | 20.1% | 33.2% | 28% | 20.5% | 10.6% | $12,851 |
| Sandusky County | 38 | 26.38% | 20.3% | 35.2% | 28.4% | 20.8% | 8% | $12,812 |
| Montgomery County | 39 | 22.87% | 18.57% | 30.7% | 25.5% | 22.4% | 11.8% | $12,604 |
| Stark County | 40 | 23.41% | 20.47% | 35.1% | 26.2% | 20.7% | 10.2% | $12,543 |
| Knox County | 41 | 24.53% | 19.32% | 31% | 26.5% | 26.6% | 7.8% | $12,537 |
| Clinton County | 42 | 24.73% | 18.78% | 31.8% | 27.8% | 20.1% | 10.4% | $12,363 |
| Preble County | 43 | 25.2% | 20.23% | 35.2% | 28.5% | 20.5% | 8.2% | $12,257 |
| Defiance County | 44 | 25.88% | 20% | 38.1% | 28.3% | 17.3% | 8.3% | $12,245 |
| Carroll County | 45 | 25.8% | 22.53% | 38.4% | 22.3% | 23.6% | 8.4% | $12,226 |
| Huron County | 46 | 25.59% | 18.49% | 33.6% | 26.4% | 17.8% | 10.1% | $12,188 |
| Henry County | 47 | 23.17% | 19.68% | 36.7% | 28.4% | 21.2% | 6.4% | $12,136 |
| Williams County | 48 | 24.73% | 20.25% | 36.7% | 27.2% | 18.5% | 8.9% | $12,116 |
| Logan County | 49 | 24.91% | 19.43% | 35.7% | 30.2% | 17.1% | 8.9% | $12,106 |
| Paulding County | 50 | 24.41% | 19.79% | 37.3% | 28.9% | 17.2% | 8.7% | $11,871 |
| Summit County | 51 | 18.97% | 19.48% | 34.5% | 25.6% | 21.6% | 11.1% | $11,799 |
| Tuscarawas County | 52 | 22.61% | 20.19% | 35.1% | 25.2% | 21.3% | 9.2% | $11,729 |
| Lorain County | 53 | 21% | 19.86% | 36.6% | 27.8% | 17.7% | 10% | $11,662 |
| Lake County | 54 | 19.51% | 21.68% | 40.4% | 28.8% | 15.5% | 6.9% | $11,659 |
| Athens County | 55 | 27.83% | 15.3% | 22.6% | 25.5% | 24.2% | 13.2% | $11,651 |
| Wyandot County | 56 | 20.97% | 20.87% | 37.4% | 30.6% | 17.3% | 7.1% | $11,633 |
| Ashland County | 57 | 24.68% | 20.49% | 36.2% | 27.1% | 17.8% | 7.6% | $11,630 |
| Darke County | 58 | 21.96% | 20.48% | 37.3% | 30.4% | 17% | 7.9% | $11,569 |
| Champaign County | 59 | 23.36% | 19.38% | 35.5% | 26.9% | 20.5% | 9% | $11,419 |
| Fulton County | 60 | 21.45% | 19.64% | 38.7% | 29.4% | 16.1% | 7.4% | $11,327 |
| Hardin County | 61 | 28.19% | 16.22% | 33.2% | 29.5% | 18.2% | 9.5% | $11,260 |
| Van Wert County | 62 | 22.72% | 20.19% | 38.3% | 26.1% | 19.5% | 8.6% | $11,259 |
| Hamilton County | 63 | 15.69% | 16.62% | 30.3% | 24.5% | 25.4% | 12.4% | $11,258 |
| Clermont County | 64 | 18% | 18.37% | 36.2% | 30.4% | 17.6% | 7.7% | $11,256 |
| Auglaize County | 65 | 19.53% | 19.55% | 37.8% | 30.6% | 16.4% | 7% | $10,909 |
| Miami County | 66 | 19.38% | 19.43% | 38.2% | 28.1% | 16.4% | 7.6% | $10,869 |
| Morrow County | 67 | 22.61% | 19% | 36.2% | 23.3% | 22.2% | 9.2% | $10,783 |
| Greene County | 68 | 17.65% | 18.59% | 33.3% | 27.4% | 14.7% | 7.5% | $10,767 |
| Portage County | 69 | 20% | 18.17% | 36.2% | 27.1% | 18.1% | 7.8% | $10,695 |
| Madison County | 70 | 20.17% | 16.62% | 32.3% | 32.6% | 18% | 8.7% | $10,548 |
| Shelby County | 71 | 20.16% | 17.99% | 37.9% | 27.7% | 17.9% | 8.8% | $10,474 |
| Pickaway County | 72 | 20.41% | 16.31% | 33.1% | 27.7% | 18.5% | 10% | $10,388 |
| Licking County | 73 | 18.64% | 17.42% | 35.5% | 25.4% | 19.7% | 9.5% | $10,378 |
| Butler County | 74 | 18.55% | 15.94% | 34.1% | 26.3% | 20.7% | 10.5% | $10,368 |
| Hancock County | 75 | 18.11% | 18.44% | 39.2% | 26.4% | 18.2% | 8.3% | $10,277 |
| Putnam County | 76 | 17.27% | 18.73% | 39% | 31.3% | 15.5% | 6.4% | $10,275 |
| Wayne County | 77 | 19.12% | 19% | 37.2% | 27% | 18.9% | 9% | $10,169 |
| Mercer County | 78 | 16.35% | 19.32% | 39.5% | 30.8% | 14.2% | 7.4% | $10,108 |
| Medina County | 79 | 15.24% | 19.73% | 43.1% | 29.8% | 12.8% | 5.5% | $10,011 |
| Fairfield County | 80 | 18% | 16.58% | 34.4% | 27.3% | 18.3% | 10% | $9,911 |
| Geauga County | 81 | 11.83% | 22.26% | 46.8% | 29.4% | 11.2% | 4.4% | $9,846 |
| Franklin County | 82 | 16% | 13% | 26.4% | 21.8% | 27.7% | 14.7% | $9,516 |
| Wood County | 83 | 16.58% | 16.61% | 38.3% | 27.2% | 15.7% | 7% | $9,288 |
| Noble County | 84 | 29.7% | 29.69% | 35.6% | 23.8% | 21% | 9% | $9,243 |
| Warren County | 85 | 11.26% | 15.72% | 40.9% | 27% | 15.7% | 6% | $8,287 |
| Delaware County | 86 | 7.95% | 15% | 43.5% | 28.9% | 11% | 5.3% | $7,065 |
| Union County | 87 | 10% | 13.45% | 39.7% | 25.8% | 15.4% | 7.6% | $6,954 |
| Holmes County | 88 | 11.44% | 14.48% | 30.7% | 22.4% | 27.7% | 9.7% | $6,422 |
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