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COUNTY · 2020 ACS

Putnam County

West Virginia · 57,440 residents · 346 sq mi
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The short version

With 57,440 people, Putnam County is a county in West Virginia. Owners hold 80% of the housing stock. 1% of residents were born outside the United States. Households here earn about 33% more than in West Virginia as a whole. At a median age of 42.4, this is an older place than the country as a whole. Home values have more than doubled since 2000, reaching $175,700.

At a glance
Average income
near the US median
US median: $66,278
Older
median age 42.4
US median: 38.8
Less educated
26% hold a bachelor's degree
US average: 33%
Less affordable
home values up 26%, inflation adjusted
US median home: $265,253
Section 01

Population & growth

Total population
57,440
+11%since 2000
from 51,589 in 2000
1990 – 2025
Median age
42.4
+12%since 2000
from 37.7 in 2000
US average: 38.8
Land area
346 sq mi
Population, 1990 – 2024
41K46K50K55K59K19902000201020202024Putnam County
202457K
1990201020202024
Age distribution, 2020
Under 55.1%(2,916)
US avg: 5.6%
5 to 96.3%(3,647)
US avg: 6.1%
10 to 147%(4,000)
US avg: 6.5%
15 to 196.4%(3,704)
US avg: 6.6%
20 to 245.1%(2,906)
US avg: 6.7%
25 to 3410.6%(6,060)
US avg: 13.5%
35 to 4413%(7,459)
US avg: 12.7%
45 to 5413.4%(7,708)
US avg: 12.3%
55 to 6414%(8,065)
US avg: 13.1%
65 to 7411.4%(6,549)
US avg: 10%
75 to 845.8%(3,358)
US avg: 4.9%
85 and over1.9%(1,068)
US avg: 1.9%
BAR + DOT: THIS PLACE · TICK: US AVERAGE
Section 02

Income & economy

Median household income
$63,954
+2%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $41,892 in 2000
US average: $66,278
1990 – 2024
Per capita income
$32,235
+57%since 2000
from $20,471 in 2000
US average: $35,364
Households earning $100K+
42.8%
+10.7 ptssince 2009
from 32.1% in 2009
US average: 43.9%
Poverty rate
10.8%
+1.4 ptssince 2000
from 9.3% in 2000
US average: 12.8%
Workforce by industry, 2020
Information12.7%
US avg: 11.1%
Retail trade9.4%
US avg: 10%
Wholesale trade7.4%
US avg: 6.7%
Finance & insurance7%
US avg: 5.5%
Other services6.6%
US avg: 6.6%
Public administration5.2%
US avg: 4.7%
Professional, scientific, technical4.4%
US avg: 4.7%
Transportation & warehousing3.8%
US avg: 2.5%
Education & health services2.6%
US avg: 0.8%
Arts, entertainment, food1.1%
US avg: 2%
Agriculture, forestry, fishing0.8%
US avg: 1.7%
Manufacturing0.7%
US avg: 0.5%
Construction0.1%
US avg: 1.2%
BAR + DOT: THIS PLACE · TICK: US AVERAGE
Section 03

Housing

Median home value
$175,700
+26%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $92,600 in 2000
US average: $265,253
1990 – 2024
Median gross rent
$857
+15%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $496 in 2000
US average: $1,124
Owner-occupied
80.4%
−3.6 ptssince 2000
from 84.0% in 2000
19.6% rent
Persons per household
2.60 people
+2%since 2009
from 2.56 people in 2009
US average: 2.61
Afford Score
2.7
+10%since 2009
from 2.5 in 2009
2009 – 2024
Years of local income it takes to buy a local home, on a scale of about 0 to 15. Lower is more affordable.
Section 04

Race & ethnicity

2000
White, non-Hispanic97.6%(50,361)
Black0.6%(287)
Hispanic / Latino0.5%(262)
Asian0.6%(296)
Other0%
2020
White, non-Hispanic92.5%(53,139)
Black1.1%(646)
Hispanic / Latino1.4%(811)
Asian1%(577)
Other2.3%(1,323)
Segregation Score
34
Our index, 0 to 100. Higher means White and non-White residents are more separated across neighborhoods.
Section 04 · Origins

Detailed origins & ancestry

Hispanic origin
Mexican0.9%(496)
Cuban0.1%(34)
Asian origin
Filipino0.4%(247)
Korean0.1%(63)
Japanese0.1%(45)
Chinese0%(12)
Pacific Islander origin
Ancestry
American24.3%(13,734)
German10.9%(6,173)
English10.8%(6,121)
Irish10.3%(5,818)
Italian2.9%(1,616)
Scotch-Irish2.2%(1,257)
Scottish2.1%(1,210)
Polish1.1%(614)
French1%(538)
Welsh0.6%(338)
Lebanese0.4%(248)
Dutch0.4%(248)
+ 22 more ancestry groups with data
British0.4%(245)
Greek0.3%(196)
Swedish0.3%(182)
Hungarian0.3%(165)
Russian0.2%(103)
Norwegian0.1%(73)
Czech0.1%(69)
Swiss0.1%(67)
Croatian0.1%(60)
Romanian0.1%(34)
Canadian0.1%(31)
Guyanese0.1%(29)
Austrian0%(28)
Ukrainian0%(22)
Syrian0%(17)
Slovene0%(17)
Belgian0%(8)
Finnish0%(3)
Section 05

Education

Bachelor's degree or higher
26.3%
+6.6 ptssince 2000
from 19.7% in 2000
US average: 32.9%
High school or higher
92.3%
+8.6 ptssince 2000
from 83.8% in 2000
US average: 88.5%
Graduate degree
10.3%
+3.4 ptssince 2000
from 6.9% in 2000
US average: 12.7%
Section 06

Commute & transportation

Average commute
27.7 min
+54%since 2000
from 18.0 min in 2000
US average: 26.9
Drive alone to work
85.4%
−3.0 ptssince 2009
from 88.4% in 2009
US average: 75.1%
No vehicle available
4.3%
+0.3 ptssince 2009
from 4.0% in 2009
US average: 8.4%
Section 07

Work & employment

Unemployment rate
3.7%
−0.6 ptssince 2011
from 4.3% in 2011
US average: 5.4%
Labor force participation
58.5%
−1.8 ptssince 2011
from 60.3% in 2011
US average: 63.4%
Women 20-64 in the labor force
69.1%
US average: 73.3%
Management & professional
39.5%
+1.3 ptssince 2009
from 38.1% in 2009
US average: 39.3%
Section 08

People & community

Male
49.3%
+0.1 ptssince 2009
from 49.2% in 2009
Female
50.7%
−0.1 ptssince 2009
from 50.8% in 2009
Foreign born
1.3%
Unchangedsince 2009
from 1.2% in 2009
US average: 13.5%
Uninsured
6.0%
−4.9 ptssince 2013
from 10.9% in 2013
US average: 8.8%
Computer in household
90.4%
US average: 91.9%
Same house as last year
91.4%
US average: 86.2%
Marital status (2024)
Men 15+
Never married27.2%(6,362)
Married58.8%(13,754)
Widowed3%(701)
Divorced11%(2,562)
Women 15+
Never married21.5%(5,183)
Married56.6%(13,663)
Widowed10.2%(2,455)
Divorced11.7%(2,833)
SHARE WITHIN EACH SEX · POPULATION 15 AND OVER · 2024
Section 09

Health coverage

Uninsured
6.0%
−4.9 ptssince 2013
from 10.9% in 2013
US average: 8.8%
Employer-based
63.8%
US average: 55.4%
Direct-purchase
8.6%
US average: 13.7%
Medicare
21.0%
US average: 17.6%
Medicaid
16.7%
US average: 20.0%
VA health care
2.2%
US average: 2.3%
Any private
72.5%
US average: 68.1%
Any public
36.3%
US average: 35.2%

Shares are "alone or in combination": a person with both Medicare and Medicaid counts in each, so categories overlap and do not sum to 100%.

Section 09 · Service history

Veterans

Veterans by period of service, 2020
Gulf War (2001 or later)20.5%(754)
US avg: 20.6%
Gulf War (1990s)18.9%(692)
US avg: 21.4%
Vietnam era39.6%(1,452)
US avg: 35.2%
Korean War8.1%(299)
US avg: 7.6%
World War II1%(36)
US avg: 2.9%

Share of the 3,670 veterans here. A veteran who served across eras counts in each, so shares can total more than 100%. Peacetime-only service is included in the total but not shown as an era.

BAR + DOT: THIS PLACE · TICK: US AVERAGE
Drill deeper

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Head to head

Compare Putnam County to nearby counties

PUTNAM COUNTY VS
Mason County
Income$49,761−22%
Home value$120,300−32%
Population24,707−57%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
PUTNAM COUNTY VS
Cabell County
Income$55,832−13%
Home value$164,400−6%
Population91,183+60%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
PUTNAM COUNTY VS
Kanawha County
Income$60,943−5%
Home value$147,300−16%
Population172,381+203%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
PUTNAM COUNTY VS
Lincoln County
Income$46,205−28%
Home value$105,300−40%
Population19,177−66%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
Frequently asked

How many people live in Putnam County, West Virginia?

Putnam County, West Virginia has about 57,440 residents according to the 2020 American Community Survey.

What is the median household income in Putnam County, West Virginia?

The typical household in Putnam County, West Virginia earns about $63,954 a year. Half of households make more than that, and half make less.

Is Putnam County, West Virginia expensive?

In Putnam County, West Virginia, the median home is worth about $175,700, and the typical rent is about $857 a month.

How educated are people in Putnam County, West Virginia?

About 26.3% of adults age 25 and over in Putnam County, West Virginia hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

What is the poverty rate in Putnam County, West Virginia?

About 10.8% of people in Putnam County, West Virginia live below the federal poverty line.

Has Putnam County, West Virginia grown since 1990?

Yes, Putnam County, West Virginia has grown since 1990. The population has added about 14,605 residents, a change of about 34 percent over that period.

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DATA: US CENSUS BUREAU ACS 5-YEAR + DECENNIAL CENSUS · UPDATED 2024

How we source and harmonize this data →