Putnam County, West Virginia Demographics 2026

Population Overview

Putnam County is located in West Virginia with a total population of 57,250. It is the 10th most populous county out of 55 in West Virginia.

Age Demographics

The median age in Putnam County is 42.3 years. This is about average than the state median of 42.7 years.

Economy, Income & Housing

The median household income in Putnam County is $77,871. This is 34% higher than the state median of $57,917. Compared to the national median of $78,538, household income here is about average. The poverty rate stands at 10.7%. This is 36% lower than the state poverty rate of 16.6%. The unemployment rate is 3.3%. This is 43% lower than the state rate of 5.7%. The median home value is $214,200. Housing costs are 38% higher than the state median of $155,600. With a home-value-to-income ratio of just 2.8x, Putnam County is one of the most affordable housing markets in the area. 82.7% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied. This homeownership rate is 11% higher than the state average of 74.3%.

Race & Ethnicity

Putnam County has a predominantly White (non-Hispanic) population, comprising 94.0% of all residents. Hispanic or Latino residents account for 1.5%. The Black or African American population (0.7%) is well below the state average of 3.2%.

Education

28.4% of residents aged 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or higher. This is 22% higher than the state rate of 23.3%. Nationally, 35.0% of adults hold at least a bachelor's degree. The high school graduation rate (or equivalent) is 93.2%.