Putnam County, West Virginia Demographics 2026
Putnam County, West Virginia has a population of 57,177, the 10th most populous county in West Virginia. The median household income is $79,527 and the median home value is $223,300. The poverty rate is 10.6%.
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 | 57,250 | 57,177 | -0.1% |
| Median household income | $77,871 | $79,527 | +2.1% |
| Median home value | $214,200 | $223,300 | +4.2% |
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: 19 | National average: 61
Education
Educational Attainment (Adults 25+)
Cities & Places in Putnam County
| City | Population | Median Income | Poverty | Home Value |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Teays Valley | 14,151 | $108,741 | 5.1% | $278,000 |
| Hurricane | 6,855 | $71,167 | 8.5% | $210,500 |
| Winfield | 2,918 | $103,276 | 15.9% | $257,100 |
| Eleanor | 1,726 | $78,578 | 5.9% | $255,400 |
| Buffalo | 1,150 | $64,583 | 19.9% | $132,900 |
| Poca | 872 | $77,292 | 17.5% | $170,500 |
| Hometown | 756 | $28,876 | 30.2% | $142,600 |
| Bancroft | 475 | $94,375 | 10.9% | $116,400 |
| Raymond City | 28 | N/A | 0.0% | N/A |
Explore West Virginia Rankings
Population Overview
Putnam County is located in West Virginia with a total population of 57,177. It is the 10th most populous county out of 55 in West Virginia. The county encompasses 9 Census-designated places.
Age Demographics
The median age in Putnam County is 42.6 years. This is about the same as the state median of 42.7 years.
Economy, Income & Housing
The median household income in Putnam County is $79,527. This is 33% higher than the state median of $59,608. It is also 1% lower than the national median of $80,734. The poverty rate stands at 10.6%. This is 37% lower than the state poverty rate of 16.7%. The unemployment rate is 3.1%. This is 43% lower than the state rate of 5.4%. The median home value is $223,300. Housing costs are 37% higher than the state median of $162,600. With a home-value-to-income ratio of just 2.8x, Putnam County is one of the most affordable housing markets in the area. 81.8% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied. This homeownership rate is 9% higher than the state average of 74.9%.
Race & Ethnicity
Putnam County has a predominantly White (non-Hispanic) population, comprising 93.6% of all residents. Hispanic or Latino residents account for 1.5%. The Black or African American population (0.9%) is well below the state average of 3.1%.
Education
29.0% of residents aged 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or higher. This is 20% higher than the state rate of 24.1%. Nationally, 35.7% of adults hold at least a bachelor's degree. The high school graduation rate (or equivalent) is 94.0%.
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 West Virginia 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, West Virginia?
Putnam County has a population of 57,177, making it the 10th most populous county in West Virginia.
What is the median income in Putnam County?
The median household income in Putnam County is $79,527 with a poverty rate of 10.6%.
How many cities are in Putnam County, West Virginia?
Putnam County contains 9 Census-designated places.