Putnam County, Indiana 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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C
Putnam County Below averageLess wealthy than 79% of counties in Indiana
Source: Map AI Methodology
Income Statistics Overview
| Metric | Putnam County | Indiana Avg | US Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median Household Income | $77,280 | $71,967 | $80,455 |
| Median Personal Income | $54,288 | $55,757 | $60,758 |
| Average Yearly Income Growth | 4.9% | 4.5% | 4.8% |
| Six-Figure Earners | 8.5% | 10.2% | 13.9% |
| $200k+ Households | 6.1% | 8.2% | 13.2% |
The median household income in Putnam County is about 7% higher than in Indiana. Income has been growing faster in Putnam County (4.9%/yr) than in Indiana (4.5%/yr).
About 8% of adults in Putnam County earn six figures ($100,000 or more) a year, lower than the Indiana average of 10%.
Median Household Income 2009–2024 Trend
Median Household Income Over Time
Median household income in Putnam County, Indiana grew by 55.1% from 2009 to 2024, reaching $77,280 in 2024. That's an average of about 4.9% per year.
Income Inequality and the Gender Pay Gap in Putnam County
| Metric | Putnam County | Indiana Avg | US Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gini Coefficient | 0.552 | 0.534 | 0.552 |
| Male Median Income | $63,569 | $65,086 | $69,667 |
| Female Median Income | $48,760 | $51,220 | $56,850 |
| Gender Pay Gap | 23.3% | 21.3% | 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 0.552, higher than Indiana's 0.534, so income is less evenly distributed here than there, and about the same as the US's 0.552, so income here is about as evenly distributed as there.
Men's income is about 30% more than women's income in Putnam County, Indiana. Over a 35-year career, a 30% wage gap accumulates to roughly $518,315 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, Indiana has narrowed from about 32% to 23% in 2024. Over that period the gap was widest at 38% in 2012, and was narrowest at 22% in 2017. In dollar terms, the gap has widened by $790 since 2009.
Employment
| Metric | Putnam County | Indiana Avg | US Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Unemployment Rate | 3.1% | 4.3% | 5.2% |
| Working from Home | 10.1% | 10.7% | 15.0% |
| Commute time (minutes) | 22 | 21 | 22 |
Approximately 537 people are unemployed in Putnam County, Indiana.
The average commute time in Putnam County is 22 minutes, longer than the 21 minutes in Indiana.
Unemployment Rate Over Time
Since 2011, the unemployment rate in Putnam County, Indiana has fallen from 8.0% to 3.1% in 2024. Over that period the rate peaked at 8.9% in 2013 and fell as low as 2.1% in 2021.
Putnam County, IN Wealth Compared With Nearby Counties
Putnam County, IN is the 3rd largest of the 6 counties compared here, 37,280 residents against a local median of 26,409. There is no headline here. Every measure below sits within 15% of the median across the nearest counties, which makes Putnam County, IN an unremarkable member of its own neighbourhood rather than an outlier in it.
The largest of those small differences is median household income, 9% above the local median at $77,280 against $70,786. Putnam County, IN has the 2nd highest median household income 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, IN | 37,280 | $77,280 #2/6 | 4.9%/yr #2/6 | 3.1% #3/6 | 0.552 #5/6 |
| Hendricks County, IN | 183,344 | $101,287 | 4.3%/yr | 2.6% | 0.517 |
| Owen County, IN | 21,604 | $64,192 | 4.4%/yr | 3.0% | 0.501 |
| Parke County, IN | 16,406 | $67,694 | 6.0%/yr | 4.4% | 0.561 |
| Montgomery County, IN | 38,312 | $71,247 | 4.5%/yr | 3.3% | 0.517 |
| Clay County, IN | 26,409 | $70,786 | 4.5%/yr | 3.2% | 0.520 |
Conclusion
Considering all these factors, Putnam County, Indiana has an overall wealth index grade of C, making it about on par with Indiana, and about on par with the country as a whole.
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about income and wealth in Putnam County, Indiana.
How Rich Is Putnam County, Indiana?
Putnam County has a wealth index grade of C. The wealth index grades areas from A+ (best) to F- by combining income levels, employment rates, and income inequality; a C grade means residents are close to the U.S. average. The median household income is $77,280, about 7% higher than the Indiana average of $71,967.
How has median household income changed in Putnam County, Indiana?
Between 2009 and 2024, the median household income in Putnam County, Indiana rose 55%, from $49,836 to $77,280. Over the same years, income here outpaced Indiana as a whole: +55% against +52%.
What was the median household income in Putnam County in 2023?
In 2023, the median household income in Putnam County, Indiana was $75,807, up 6% from $71,429 in 2022. The Indiana median that year was $70,115.
What was the median household income in Putnam County in 2020?
In 2020, the median household income in Putnam County, Indiana was $61,600. By 2024 it had risen 25% to $77,280.
Is it hard to find a job in Putnam County, Indiana?
Unemployment in Putnam County, Indiana is only 3.1%, well below the Indiana rate of 4.3%, a sign of a tight labor market where employers compete for workers.
What is the Gini coefficient in Putnam County, Indiana?
The Gini coefficient in Putnam County is 0.552. It measures income inequality on a scale from 0 (everyone earns the same) to 1 (one household earns everything). That is almost the same as the US average of 0.552, so income is distributed about as equally as in the country overall.
How has the income gap between men and women changed in Putnam County, Indiana?
Since 2009, the income gap between men and women in Putnam County, Indiana has narrowed from about 32% to 23% in 2024. Over that period the gap was widest at 38% in 2012, and was narrowest at 22% in 2017. In dollar terms, the gap has widened by $790 since 2009.
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