Putnam County, Tennessee Demographics 2026
Putnam County, Tennessee has a population of 82,558, the 17th most populous county in Tennessee. The median household income is $58,912 and the median home value is $282,500. The poverty rate is 18.4%.
Data vintage: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2020–2024 5-Year Estimates · refreshed July 2026 · Methodology & source notes
Putnam County Quick Facts
How Putnam County Changed
Change from the 2019–2023 ACS period to 2020–2024. These are rolling five-year estimates, not year-over-year measurements.
| Metric | 2019–2023 | 2020–2024 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population | 81,366 | 82,558 | +1.5% |
| Median household income | $56,537 | $58,912 | +4.2% |
| Median home value | $246,800 | $282,500 | +14.5% |
Median Household Income
Median Home Value
Economy & Housing
Household Income Distribution
Detailed income brackets
Employment
Housing Overview
People & Demographics
Age Distribution
Race & Ethnicity
Diversity Index
A less diverse community where one racial or ethnic group represents a large majority.
State average: 46 | National average: 61
Education
Educational Attainment (Adults 25+)
Cities & Places in Putnam County
| City | Population | Median Income | Poverty | Home Value |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cookeville | 36,088 | $51,375 | 23.5% | $305,400 |
| Algood | 4,036 | $42,359 | 32.9% | $190,300 |
| Monterey | 2,768 | $45,922 | 29.9% | $165,000 |
| Baxter | 1,361 | $58,750 | 20.5% | $219,000 |
Explore Tennessee Rankings
Population Overview
Putnam County is located in Tennessee with a total population of 82,558. It is the 17th most populous county out of 95 in Tennessee. The county encompasses 4 Census-designated places.
Age Demographics
The median age in Putnam County is 36.0 years. This is 7% lower than the state median of 38.9 years.
Economy, Income & Housing
The median household income in Putnam County is $58,912. This is 15% lower than the state median of $69,595. It is also 27% lower than the national median of $80,734. The poverty rate stands at 18.4%. This is 34% higher than the state poverty rate of 13.8%. The unemployment rate is 3.7%. This is 20% lower than the state rate of 4.7%. The median home value is $282,500. Housing costs are 1% lower than the state median of $286,700. The home-value-to-income ratio is 4.8x. 61.2% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied. This homeownership rate is 9% lower than the state average of 66.9%.
Race & Ethnicity
Putnam County has a predominantly White (non-Hispanic) population, comprising 85.0% of all residents. Hispanic or Latino residents account for 8.4%. The Black or African American population (2.4%) is well below the state average of 15.4%.
Education
29.8% of residents aged 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or higher. This is 4% lower than the state rate of 31.1%. Nationally, 35.7% of adults hold at least a bachelor's degree. The high school graduation rate (or equivalent) is 89.0%.
Data Sources & Methodology
All figures for Putnam County come from the U.S. Census Bureau's American Community Survey (ACS) 2020–2024 5-Year Estimates, with comparisons drawn against Tennessee and national averages from the same dataset. See our methodology page for how each metric is defined, or data.census.gov for official tables with margins of error.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the population of Putnam County, Tennessee?
Putnam County has a population of 82,558, making it the 17th most populous county in Tennessee.
What is the median income in Putnam County?
The median household income in Putnam County is $58,912 with a poverty rate of 18.4%.
How many cities are in Putnam County, Tennessee?
Putnam County contains 4 Census-designated places.