Putnam, Alabama Demographics & Population 2026

A note before these figures: with a population of 75, Putnam's ACS estimates come from a small number of survey responses and carry wide margins of error. Individual percentages below — particularly rates that round to 0% or 100% — are approximations, not precise measurements. See data.census.gov for the published margins of error.

Population Overview

Putnam is a small community located in Alabama, within Marengo County. The total population is 75. It ranks as the 567th most populous out of 592 Census-designated places in Alabama.

Age Demographics

The median age in Putnam is 60.4 years. This is 54% higher than the state median of 39.3 years.

Economy, Income & Housing

The median household income in Putnam is $39,141. This is 39% lower than the state median of $63,999. It is also 52% lower than the national median of $80,734. The poverty rate stands at 34.7%. This is 122% higher than the state poverty rate of 15.6%. With more than one in five residents living below the poverty line, economic hardship is a significant challenge for the community. The survey records no unemployed residents in Putnam, which reflects the size of the sample rather than a labor market without joblessness. The median home value is $89,000. Housing costs are 58% lower than the state median of $209,900. With a home-value-to-income ratio of just 2.3x, Putnam is one of the most affordable housing markets in the area. 100.0% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied. This homeownership rate is 42% higher than the state average of 70.2%.

Race & Ethnicity

The largest racial or ethnic group in Putnam is Black or African American, making up 46.7% of the population. White (non-Hispanic) residents account for 34.7%. The Black or African American population is significantly higher than the state average (46.7% vs 25.6%).

Education

6.7% of residents aged 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or higher. This is 76% lower than the state rate of 28.4%. Nationally, 35.7% of adults hold at least a bachelor's degree. No surveyed resident aged 25 or older reported leaving school before earning a high school diploma, though a rate of exactly 100% reflects the limits of a small sample.

Data Sources & Methodology

All demographic data for Putnam, Alabama is sourced from the U.S. Census Bureau's American Community Survey (ACS) 2020–2024 5-Year Estimates. The ACS collects data from approximately 3.5 million households annually and pools five years of responses so that even small communities can be measured, though the margin of error widens as the population falls. Comparisons are made against Alabama state averages and national averages calculated from the same dataset. Rankings reflect the city's position among all 592 Census-designated places in Alabama. Read more about how these figures are produced on our methodology page, or visit data.census.gov for official data.