Putnam County, Tennessee Demographics 2026

Population Overview

Putnam County is located in Tennessee with a total population of 81,366. It is the 17th most populous county out of 95 in Tennessee.

Age Demographics

The median age in Putnam County is 36.1 years. This is 7% lower than the state median of 38.9 years.

Economy, Income & Housing

The median household income in Putnam County is $56,537. This is 16% lower than the state median of $67,097. Compared to the national median of $78,538, household income here is 28% lower. The poverty rate stands at 16.9%. This is 23% higher than the state poverty rate of 13.8%. The unemployment rate is 3.8%. This is 20% lower than the state rate of 4.7%. The median home value is $246,800. Housing costs are 4% lower than the state median of $256,800. The home-value-to-income ratio is 4.4x. 60.7% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied. This homeownership rate is 9% lower than the state average of 67.0%.

Race & Ethnicity

Putnam County has a predominantly White (non-Hispanic) population, comprising 85.4% of all residents. Hispanic or Latino residents account for 8.0%. The Black or African American population (2.4%) is well below the state average of 15.7%.

Education

29.2% of residents aged 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or higher. This is 4% lower than the state rate of 30.4%. Nationally, 35.0% of adults hold at least a bachelor's degree. The high school graduation rate (or equivalent) is 88.8%.