Driven by the dual national strategies of Digital China and Rural Revitalization, the construction of digital villages in China has become a key pathway to enhance governance capacity and service efficiency in rural areas. However, significant spatial polarization has emerged across regions in the advancement of digital villages, with substantial structural disparities among counties in terms of platform systems, service capabilities, and governance responsiveness. This polarization presents a serious challenge to spatial equity and sustainable development, as weaker regions often face constraints in development opportunities, deepening existing socio-economic vulnerabilities such as poverty and service deficiencies. This study selects 521 counties across four northern Chinese provinces—Shanxi, Hebei, Shandong, and Henan—as the research sample, representing diverse socio-economic contexts and spatial characteristics. Using the 2020 County-Level Digital Village Index, we conduct a comprehensive measurement of development disparities through the Gini coefficient and Wolfson polarization index. The analysis is carried out at both the regional and provincial levels, identifying distinct patterns of spatial polarization and internal differentiation among provinces. Based on these measurements and the contextual realities of local development and policy environments, we classify counties into six distinct types: regional hub, industry-driven, externally dependent, policy-led, transforming periphery, and structurally declining. In response to these varied spatial and governance conditions, the study proposes a three-tier governance model consisting of spatial identification, capability matching, and strategy output. For each county type, governance strategies with spatial adaptability are recommended, ensuring that resource allocation and digital infrastructure deployment align with local conditions. By integrating spatial analysis with governance capacity assessment, this study emphasizes the role of urban and rural planning as a key mechanism in shaping adaptive governance structures for digital villages at the county level. It offers practical insights for mitigating regional development imbalances and promoting sustainable rural transformation, directly contributing to the goals of spatial equity and resilience in the face of global challenges.