Putnam County, WV

County

Add Comparison

2022 Population

57,347

0.0662% 1-year decline

US Senator

Joe Manchin

Democratic Party

US Senator

Shelley Moore Capito

Republican Party

2022 Median Age

42.2

0.238% 1-year increase

2022 Poverty Rate

10.9%

4.57% 1-year increase

2022 Median Household Income

$75,725

10.2% 1-year growth

2022 Median Property Value

$202,300

14.7% 1-year growth

2022 Employed Population

25,765

1.46% 1-year decline

About

In 2022, Putnam County, WV had a population of 57.3k people with a median age of 42.2 and a median household income of $75,725. Between 2021 and 2022 the population of Putnam County, WV declined from 57,385 to 57,347, a −0.0662% decrease and its median household income grew from $68,740 to $75,725, a 10.2% increase.

The 5 largest ethnic groups in Putnam County, WV are White (Non-Hispanic) (94.4%), Two+ (Non-Hispanic) (2.42%), Black or African American (Non-Hispanic) (0.825%), Asian (Non-Hispanic) (0.698%), and White (Hispanic) (0.574%).

None of the households in Putnam County, WV reported speaking a non-English language at home as their primary shared language. This does not consider the potential multi-lingual nature of households, but only the primary self-reported language spoken by all members of the household.

99.5% of the residents in Putnam County, WV are U.S. citizens.

The largest universities in Putnam County, WV are Putnam Career and Technical Center (60 degrees awarded in 2022) and Strayer University-West Virginia (456621) (29 degrees).

In 2022, the median property value in Putnam County, WV was $202,300, and the homeownership rate was 82.1%.

Most people in Putnam County, WV drove alone to work, and the average commute time was 28.3 minutes. The average car ownership in Putnam County, WV was 2 cars per household.

Putnam County, WV borders Cabell County, WV, Jackson County, WV, Kanawha County, WV, Lincoln County, WV, and Mason County, WV.

United States West Virginia Huntington-Ashland, WV-KY-OH

Population & Diversity

Putnam County, WV is home to a population of 57.3k people, from which 99.5% are citizens. As of 2022, 1.35% of Putnam County, WV residents were born outside of the country (776 people).

In 2022, there were 39.1 times more White (Non-Hispanic) residents (54.2k people) in Putnam County, WV than any other race or ethnicity. There were 1.39k Two+ (Non-Hispanic) and 473 Black or African American (Non-Hispanic) residents, the second and third most common ethnic groups.

Population & Diversity

Citizenship

99.5%

2022 Citizenship

99.4%

2021 Citizenship

As of 2022, 99.5% of Putnam County, WV residents were US citizens, which is higher than the national average of 93.5%. In 2021, the percentage of US citizens in Putnam County, WV was 99.4%, meaning that the rate of citizenship has been increasing.

The following chart shows US citizenship percentages in Putnam County, WV compared to that of it's neighboring and parent geographies.

Diversity

Race and Ethnicity

The 3 largest ethnic groups in Putnam County, WV

White (Non-Hispanic)
54.2k ± 345
Two+ (Non-Hispanic)
1.39k ± 357
Black or African American (Non-Hispanic)
473 ± 201

1.29%

Hispanic Population

737 people

1.29% of the people in Putnam County, WV are hispanic (737 people).

The following chart shows the 7 races represented in Putnam County, WV as a share of the total population.

Global Diversity

The PUMS dataset is not available at the County level, so we are showing data for West Virginia.

Most Common Origin

Mexico
2,064 ± 1,115 people
Germany
1,923 ± 1,076 people
China
1,815 ± 1,045 people

In 2022, the most common birthplace for the foreign-born residents of West Virginia was Mexico, the natal country of 2,064 West Virginia residents, followed by Germany with 1,923 and China with 1,815.

Foreign-Born Population

1.35%

2022 Foreign-Born Population

776 people

1.62%

2021 Foreign-Born Population

928 people

As of 2022, 1.35% of Putnam County, WV residents (776 people) were born outside of the United States, which is lower than the national average of 13.6%. In 2021, the percentage of foreign-born citizens in Putnam County, WV was 1.62%, meaning that the rate has been decreasing.

The following chart shows the percentage of foreign-born residents in Putnam County, WV compared to that of it's neighboring and parent geographies.

Military

Veterans

Most Common Service Period

Vietnam
1,312 ± 261
Gulf War (2001-)
829 ± 286
Gulf War (1990s)
425 ± 164

Putnam County, WV has a large population of military personnel who served in Vietnam, 1.58 times greater than any other conflict.

Economy

The economy of Putnam County, WV employs 25.8k people. The largest industries in Putnam County, WV are Health Care & Social Assistance (4,205 people), Retail Trade (2,689 people), and Educational Services (2,257 people), and the highest paying industries are Mining, Quarrying, & Oil & Gas Extraction ($92,684), Agriculture, Forestry, Fishing & Hunting, & Mining ($90,313), and Utilities ($89,193).

Males in West Virginia have an average income that is 1.33 times higher than the average income of females, which is $50,743. The income inequality in West Virginia (measured using the Gini index) is 0.449, which is lower than than the national average.

Employment

Occupations

25.8k

2022 Value

± 1,365

−1.46%

1 Year decline

± 7.66%

From 2021 to 2022, employment in Putnam County, WV declined at a rate of −1.46%, from 26.1k employees to 25.8k employees.

The most common job groups, by number of people living in Putnam County, WV, are Sales & Related Occupations (3,036 people), Office & Administrative Support Occupations (2,932 people), and Management Occupations (2,764 people). This chart illustrates the share breakdown of the primary jobs held by residents of Putnam County, WV.

Unemployment Insurance Claims

Data is only available at the state level. Showing data for false.

This chart shows weekly unemployment insurance claims in West Virginia (not-seasonally adjusted) compared with the four states with the most similar impact.

The most recent data point uses Advance State Claims data, which can be revised in subsequent weeks.

View Full Dashboard

Industries

Employment by Industries

25.8k

2022 Value

± 1,365

−1.46%

1 Year decline

± 7.66%

From 2021 to 2022, employment in Putnam County, WV declined at a rate of −1.46%, from 26.1k employees to 25.8k employees.

The most common employment sectors for those who live in Putnam County, WV, are Health Care & Social Assistance (4,205 people), Retail Trade (2,689 people), and Educational Services (2,257 people). This chart shows the share breakdown of the primary industries for residents of Putnam County, WV, though some of these residents may live in Putnam County, WV and work somewhere else. Census data is tagged to a residential address, not a work address.

Median Earnings by Industry

$59,048

Median earning men ± $5,273

$39,268

Median earning women ± $4,233

The industries with the best median earnings for men in 2022 are Finance & Insurance, & Real Estate & Rental & Leasing ($118,795), Information ($95,673), and Agriculture, Forestry, Fishing & Hunting, & Mining ($87,353).

The industries with the best median earnings for women in 2022 are Agriculture, Forestry, Fishing & Hunting, & Mining ($92,757), Transportation & Warehousing, & Utilities ($78,176), and Wholesale Trade ($67,083).

Employment by Industry Sector

Data is only available at the state level. Showing data for West Virginia.

Y-Axis

0.583%

Year-over-year growth

Employment change between February 2022 and February 2023

As of February 2023, there are 690k people employed in West Virginia. This represents a 0.583% increase in employment when compared to February 2022.

Right after the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, during April 2020, a general dip can be seen across industry sectors, resulting in an overall decline in employment by 15%.

The following chart shows monthly employment numbers for each industry sector in West Virginia.

Establishments by Size

The industries with the most establishments

471
Educational Services, Health Care & Social Assistance
314
Finance & Insurance, and Real Estate, Rental & Leasing
223
Professional, Scientific & Management, and Administrative & Waste Management Services

The visualization shows the distribution of establishments by industry and by size according to the number of employees.

Civics

In the 2020 presidential election, the popular vote in Putnam County, WV went to Donald J. Trump with 70.3% of the vote. The runner-up was Joseph R Biden Jr. (27.6%), followed by Jo Jorgensen (1.75%).

Joe Manchin and Shelley Moore Capito are the senators currently representing the state of West Virginia. In the United States, senators are elected to 6-year terms with the terms for individual senators staggered.

West Virginia is currently represented by 2 members in the U.S. house, and members of the House of Representives are elected to 2-year terms.

Presidential Elections

Presidential Popular Vote Over Time

2020 Election Results

Donald J. Trump (70.3%)
Republican Party
Joseph R Biden Jr. (27.6%)
Democratic Party
Jo Jorgensen (1.75%)
Libertarian Party

The following chart shows the popular vote results in Putnam County, WV for each registered party from 1976 to 2020.

Senator Elections

US Senators from West Virginia

Senatorial voting results are only available at the state level. Showing data for West Virginia.

Joe Manchin

Senator from West Virginia

Assumed office on November 15, 2010
Elected to the seat to succeed Carte Goodwin, who had been appointed to the seat following the death of Robert Byrd.

Shelley Moore Capito

Senator from West Virginia

Assumed office on January 3, 2015

Joe Manchin and Shelley Moore Capito are the senators currently representing West Virginia.

In the United States, senators are elected to 6-year terms with the terms for individual senators staggered.

The following chart shows elected senators in West Virginia over time, excluding special elections, colored by their political party.

US Representative Elections

US Representatives from West Virginia

West Virginia is currently represented by 2 members in the U.S. house.

Members of the House of Representives are elected to 2-year terms, and the following chart shows the how the members for West Virginia have changed over time starting in 2008.

Education

In 2022, universities in Putnam County, WV awarded 89 degrees. The student population of Putnam County, WV in 2022 is skewed towards women, with 107 male students and 232 female students.

Most students graduating from Universities in Putnam County, WV are White (83 and 93.3%), followed by Black or African American (4 and 4.49%), Asian (1 and 1.12%), and American Indian or Alaska Native (1 and 1.12%).

The largest universities in Putnam County, WV by number of degrees awarded are Putnam Career and Technical Center (60 and 67.4%) and Strayer University-West Virginia (456621) (29 and 32.6%).

The most popular majors in Putnam County, WV are Medical Assistant (26 and 29.2%), Construction, Heavy, & Earth-Moving Equipment Operation (23 and 25.8%), and General Business (13 and 14.6%).

Admissions & Enrollments

Enrollments by Gender and Races

In 2022 there were 339 students enrolled in Putnam County, WV, 31.6% men and 68.4% women.

By race, the largest number of students enrolled was concentrated in White with 285 records, of which 68.1% were women and 31.9% men.

Completions

Concentrations

Most Common

General Business
11 degrees awarded
Information Technology
2 degrees awarded
Criminal Justice - Law Enforcement Administration
2 degrees awarded

In 2022, the most common concentation for Bachelors Degree recipients in Putnam County, WV was General Business with 11 degrees awarded.

This visualization illustrates the percentage of students graduating with a Bachelors Degree from schools in Putnam County, WV according to their major.

Universities

Gender

Race

Largest Universities by degrees awarded

Putnam Career and Technical Center
60 degrees awarded
Strayer University-West Virginia (456621)
29 degrees awarded

In 2022, the institution with the largest number of graduating students was Putnam Career and Technical Center with 60 degrees awarded.

Student Diversity

In 2022, 30 men were awarded degrees from institutions in Putnam County, WV, which is 0.508 times less than the 59 female students who received degrees in the same year.

In 2022 the most common race/ethnicity group awarded degrees at institutions was White students. These 83 degrees mean that there were 20.8 times more degrees awarded to White students then the next closest race/ethnicity group, Black or African American, with 4 degrees awarded.

Awarded Degrees over Time

The graph shows the evolution of awarded degrees by degrees. Under the paragraphs, the average number of awarded degrees by university in each degree is shown.

Tuition

Average Net Price by Sector

Private for-profit, 4-year or above ($13,320) is the sector with the highest median state tuition in 2022.

Private for-profit, 4-year or above ($195) is the sector with the highest median state fee in 2022.

Private for-profit, 4-year or above ($1,350) is the sector with the highest average net price of books and supplies.

The graph shows the average net price by sector and year.

Working Population

Educational Pyramid

Data is only available at the state level. Showing data for West Virginia.

Measure

In 2022, 0.661% of men over 25 years of age had not completed any academic degree (no schooling), while 0.559% of women were in the same situation.

This visualization shows the gender distribution of the population according to the academic level reached.

Educational Attainment

Data is only available at the state level. Showing data for West Virginia.

Race

The most common educational levels obtained by the working population in 2022 were High School or Equivalent (549k), Some college (279k), and Secondary Education (210k).

This visualization illustrates the percentage distribution of the population according to the highest educational level reached. You can filter the data by race by using the selector above.

Housing & Living

The median property value in Putnam County, WV was $202,300 in 2022, which is 0.718 times smaller than the national average of $281,900. Between 2021 and 2022 the median property value increased from $176,300 to $202,300, a 14.7% increase. The homeownership rate in Putnam County, WV is 82.1%, which is approximately the same as the national average of 64.8%.

People in Putnam County, WV have an average commute time of 28.3 minutes, and they drove alone to work. Car ownership in Putnam County, WV is approximately the same as the national average, with an average of 2 cars per household.

Median household income in Putnam County, WV is $75,725. In 2022, the tract with the highest Median Household Income in Putnam County, WV was Census Tract 206.04 with a value of $104,235, followed by Census Tract 206.01 and Census Tract 203, with respective values of $101,272 and $93,750.

In 2023, 9.18% of the population was living with severe housing problems in Putnam County, WV. From 2014 to 2023, the indicator grew 1.08%.

Housing

Property

$202,300

Median Property Value 2022

±$9,891

$18,398

Median Property Taxes

±$1,003

The following chart display owner-occupied housing units distributed between a series of property tax buckets compared to the national averages for each bucket. In Putnam County, WV the largest share of households pay taxes in the < $800 range.

The chart underneath the paragraph shows the property taxes in Putnam County, WV compared to it's parent and neighbor geographies.

Rent vs Own

82.1%

Homeownership

2022

66.4%

Homeowners with Mortgage

2022

In 2022, 82.1% of the housing units in Putnam County, WV were occupied by their owner. This percentage declined from the previous year's rate of 82.2%.

This chart shows the percentage of owner in Putnam County, WV compared it's parent and neighboring geographies.

Equity

Income by Location

Use the dropdown to filter by race/ethnicity.

Race/Ethnicity

Highest Median Household Income (Total)

Census Tract 206.04
Census Tract 206.01
Census Tract 203

In 2022, the tract with the highest Median Household Income (Total) in Putnam County, WV was Census Tract 206.04 with a value of $104,235, followed by Census Tract 206.01 and Census Tract 203, with respective values of $101,272 and $93,750.

The following map shows all of the tracts in Putnam County, WV colored by their Median Household Income (Total).

Household Income

Please note that the buckets used in this visualization were not evenly distributed by ACS when publishing the data.

$75,725

Median Household Income

± $6,839

22.4k

Number of Households

± 1,209

In 2022, the median household income of the 22.4k households in Putnam County, WV grew to $75,725 from the previous year's value of $68,740.

The following chart displays the households in Putnam County, WV distributed between a series of income buckets compared to the national averages for each bucket. The largest share of households have an income in the $75k - $100k range.

Wage Distribution

The closest comparable wage GINI for Putnam County, WV is from West Virginia.

0.449

2022 Wage GINI in West Virginia

0.447

2021 Wage GINI in West Virginia

In 2022, the income inequality in West Virginia was 0.449 according to the GINI calculation of the wage distribution. Income inequality had a 0.523% growth from 2021 to 2022, which means that wage distribution grew somewhat less even. The GINI for West Virginia was lower than than the national average of 0.478. In other words, wages are distributed more evenly in West Virginia in comparison to the national average.

This chart shows the number of workers in West Virginia across various wage buckets compared to the national average.

Transportation

Commuter Transportation

Most Common Commute in 2022

Drove Alone (83%)
Worked At Home (7.83%)
Carpooled (7.28%)

In 2022, 83% of workers in Putnam County, WV drove alone to work, followed by those who worked at home (7.83%) and those who carpooled to work (7.28%).

The following chart shows the number of households using each mode of transportation over time, using a logarithmic scale on the y-axis to help better show variations in the smaller means of commuting.

Commute Time

28.3 minutes

Average Travel Time

Using averages, employees in Putnam County, WV have a longer commute time (28.3 minutes) than the normal US worker (26.7 minutes). Additionally, 3.13% of the workforce in Putnam County, WV have "super commutes" in excess of 90 minutes.

The chart below shows how the median household income in Putnam County, WV compares to that of it's neighboring and parent geographies.

Car Ownership

2 cars

Average Number

The following chart displays the households in Putnam County, WV distributed between a series of car ownership buckets compared to the national averages for each bucket. The largest share of households in Putnam County, WV have 2 cars.

Poverty

Severe Housing Problems

In 2023, 9.18% of the population was living with severe housing problems in Putnam County, WV. From 2014 to 2023, the indicator grew 1.08%.

The graph shows the trend of the percentage of the population living with severe housing problems.

Poverty & Diversity

10.9% of the population for whom poverty status is determined in Putnam County, WV (6.23k out of 56.9k people) live below the poverty line, a number that is lower than the national average of 12.5%. The largest demographic living in poverty are Males 6 - 11, followed by Females 25 - 34 and then Females 55 - 64.

The most common racial or ethnic group living below the poverty line in Putnam County, WV is White, followed by Two Or More and Black.

The Census Bureau uses a set of money income thresholds that vary by family size and composition to determine who classifies as impoverished. If a family's total income is less than the family's threshold than that family and every individual in it is considered to be living in poverty.

Children in Poverty

In 2023, 12.3% of the children was living in poverty in Putnam County, WV. From 2014 to 2023, the indicator declined 2.1%.

The graph shows the trend of the percentage of the children living in poverty.

Social Needs

Data only available at the state level.

Most prevalent states

California
35,798 individuals
New York
5,087 individuals
Florida
4,915 individuals

In 2017, California had the highest estimated number of chronically homeless individuals in the nation, at 35,798. New York has the second highest (5,087), followed by Florida (4,915).

The following map shows the estimated number of chronically homeless individuals by state over multiple years.

Health

94.7% of the population of Putnam County, WV has health coverage, with 51.4% on employee plans, 15.9% on Medicaid, 16.3% on Medicare, 8.81% on non-group plans, and 2.37% on military or VA plans.

Primary care physicians in Putnam County, WV see 940 patients per year on average, which represents a 3.39% decrease from the previous year (973 patients). Compare this to dentists who see 2290 patients per year, and mental health providers who see 1145 patients per year.

By gender, of the total number of insured persons, 48.8% were men and 51.2% were women.

Coverage

Patient to Clinician Ratios

940 to 1

Patient to Primary Care Physician Ratio in Putnam County, WV

Primary care physicians in Putnam County, WV see an average of 940 patients per year. This represents a 3.39% decrease from the previous year (973 patients).

The following chart shows how the number of patients seen by primary care physicians has been changing over time in Putnam County, WV in comparison to its neighboring geographies.

Health Care Diversity

In 2022, insured persons according to age ranges were distributed in 23.2% under 18 years, 17% between 18 and 34 years, 40.8% between 35 and 64 years, and 18.9% over 64 years.

By gender, of the total number of insured persons, 48.8% were men and 51.2% were women.

The following chart shows the number of people with health coverage by gender.

Uninsured People

5.32%

Uninsured

51.4%

Employer Coverage

15.9%

Medicaid

16.3%

Medicare

8.81%

Non-Group

2.37%

Military or VA

Between 2021 and 2022, the percent of uninsured citizens in Putnam County, WV declined by 3.15% from 5.49% to 5.32%.

The following chart shows how the percent of uninsured individuals in Putnam County, WV changed over time compared with the percent of individuals enrolled in various types of health insurance.

Health Indicators

Health Outcomes

Indicator

In 2023, the number of deaths among residents under age 18 per 100,000 population was 41.9 in Putnam County, WV.

The graphic shows the trend of the indicator in Putnam County, WV.

Health Behaviors

Indicator

In 2023, the percentage of the adult population (age 18 and older) that reports a body mass index (BMI) greater than or equal to 30 kg/m2 (age-adjusted) was 36.8% in Putnam County, WV.

The graphic shows the trend of the indicator in Putnam County, WV.