Putnam County, Illinois Income Statistics
Putnam County Wealth Score
The wealth index reflects the overall economic prosperity and financial well-being of a county's residents based on income levels, employment rates, and income inequality metrics.
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B
Putnam County Around averageWealthier than 89% of counties in Illinois
Source: Map AI Methodology
Income Statistics Overview
| Metric | Putnam County | Illinois Avg | US Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median Household Income | $75,455 | $84,042 | $80,455 |
| Median Personal Income | $57,129 | $64,565 | $60,758 |
| Average Yearly Income Growth | 2.1% | 4.5% | 4.8% |
| Six-Figure Earners | 11.7% | 15.0% | 13.9% |
| $200k+ Households | 8.2% | 13.8% | 13.2% |
The median household income in Putnam County is about 10% lower than in Illinois. Income has been growing slower in Putnam County (2.1%/yr) than in Illinois (4.5%/yr).
About 12% of adults in Putnam County earn six figures ($100,000 or more) a year, lower than the Illinois average of 15%.
Median Household Income 2009–2024 Trend
Median Household Income Over Time
Median household income in Putnam County, Illinois grew by 39.3% from 2009 to 2024, reaching $75,455 in 2024. That's an average of about 2.1% per year.
Income Inequality and the Gender Pay Gap in Putnam County
| Metric | Putnam County | Illinois Avg | US Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gini Coefficient | 0.523 | 0.547 | 0.552 |
| Male Median Income | $74,283 | $73,933 | $69,667 |
| Female Median Income | $47,413 | $60,067 | $56,850 |
| Gender Pay Gap | 36.2% | 18.8% | 18.4% |
The Gini coefficient measures how evenly income is shared between richer and poorer households, from 0 (everyone earns the same) to 1 (one household earns nearly everything). The lower the number, the more equally income is distributed. In Putnam County, it is 0.523, lower than Illinois's 0.547, so income is more evenly distributed here than there, and lower than the US's 0.552, so income is more evenly distributed here than there.
Men's income is about 57% more than women's income in Putnam County, Illinois. Over a 35-year career, a 57% wage gap accumulates to roughly $940,450 in unearned income for female workers in the area.
Income by Sex Over Time
Since 2009, the income gap between men and women in Putnam County, Illinois has widened from about 34% to 36% in 2024. Over that period the gap was widest at 39% in 2023, and was narrowest at 30% in 2015. In dollar terms, the gap has widened by $10,277 since 2009.
Sharply against the trend: the pay gap in Putnam County widened by 1.7 points while Illinois's narrowed by 6.5 points.
Employment
| Metric | Putnam County | Illinois Avg | US Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Unemployment Rate | 4.2% | 5.8% | 5.2% |
| Working from Home | 7.2% | 15.9% | 15.0% |
| Commute time (minutes) | 23 | 23 | 22 |
Approximately 117 people are unemployed in Putnam County, Illinois.
The average commute time in Putnam County is 23 minutes, about the same as in Illinois.
Unemployment Rate Over Time
Since 2011, the unemployment rate in Putnam County, Illinois has fallen from 10.2% to 4.2% in 2024. Over that period the rate peaked at 11.2% in 2013 and fell as low as 2.6% in 2019.
Putnam County, IL Wealth Compared With Nearby Counties
Putnam County, IL is the 5th largest of the 6 counties compared here, 5,598 residents against a local median of 32,861. The measure that sets Putnam County, IL apart most is income growth: 2.1%/yr, 44% below the local median of 3.8%/yr. That is the weaker end of the local range on this measure.
The counties themselves spread 1.9%/yr on income growth, so Putnam County, IL sits at one end of an already wide local range rather than apart from it. Putnam County, IL has the 6th highest income growth of the 6 areas compared here.
| Area | Population | Median household income | Income growthAverage yearly change in median household income since 2016. Each year is measured in its own dollars, so this is growth before inflation. | Unemployment | Income inequalityGini coefficient: 0 would mean every household earns the same, 1 that a single household earns everything. The lower the number, the more equally income is shared here. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Putnam County, IL | 5,598 | $75,455 #2/6 | 2.1%/yr #6/6 | 4.2% #4/6 | 0.523 #4/6 |
| Marshall County, IL | 11,645 | $71,225 | 3.3%/yr | 3.8% | 0.525 |
| Bureau County, IL | 32,861 | $69,533 | 3.8%/yr | 4.3% | 0.511 |
| Woodford County, IL | 38,283 | $92,853 | 4.1%/yr | 3.5% | 0.520 |
| LaSalle County, IL | 108,714 | $73,482 | 4.4%/yr | 5.3% | 0.524 |
| Stark County, IL | 5,307 | $64,462 | 2.6%/yr | 2.3% | 0.517 |
Conclusion
Considering all these factors, Putnam County, Illinois has an overall wealth index grade of B, making it somewhat better than Illinois, and somewhat better than the country as a whole.
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about income and wealth in Putnam County, Illinois.
How Rich Is Putnam County, Illinois?
Putnam County has a wealth index grade of B. The wealth index grades areas from A+ (best) to F- by combining income levels, employment rates, and income inequality; a B grade means residents are quite well off compared to the U.S. average. The median household income is $75,455, about 10% lower than the Illinois average of $84,042.
Are incomes growing in Putnam County, Illinois?
Between 2009 and 2024, the median household income in Putnam County, Illinois rose 39%, from $54,177 to $75,455. Over the same years, income here lagged behind Illinois as a whole: +39% against +52%.
What was the median household income in Putnam County in 2023?
In 2023, the median household income in Putnam County, Illinois was $76,442, up 1% from $75,529 in 2022. The Illinois median that year was $82,182.
What was the median household income in Putnam County in 2020?
In 2020, the median household income in Putnam County, Illinois was $64,885. By 2024 it had risen 16% to $75,455.
Is unemployment high in Putnam County, Illinois?
Unemployment in Putnam County, Illinois is only 4.2%, well below the Illinois rate of 5.8%, a sign of a tight labor market where employers compete for workers.
What is the Gini coefficient in Putnam County, Illinois?
The Gini coefficient in Putnam County is 0.523. It measures income inequality on a scale from 0 (everyone earns the same) to 1 (one household earns everything). That is lower than the US average of 0.552, so income is distributed more equally than in the country overall.
How has the income gap between men and women changed in Putnam County, Illinois?
Since 2009, the income gap between men and women in Putnam County, Illinois has widened from about 34% to 36% in 2024. Over that period the gap was widest at 39% in 2023, and was narrowest at 30% in 2015. In dollar terms, the gap has widened by $10,277 since 2009.
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