Putnam County, Missouri 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.
-
D
Putnam County Well below average
Source: Map AI Methodology
Income Statistics Overview
| Metric | Putnam County | Missouri Avg | US Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median Household Income | $63,552 | $70,801 | $80,455 |
| Median Personal Income | $51,226 | $54,686 | $60,758 |
| Average Yearly Income Growth | 6.7% | 4.6% | 4.8% |
| Six-Figure Earners | 7.2% | 10.5% | 13.9% |
| $200k+ Households | 4.7% | 8.7% | 13.2% |
The median household income in Putnam County is about 10% lower than in Missouri. Income has been growing faster in Putnam County (6.7%/yr) than in Missouri (4.6%/yr).
About 7% of adults in Putnam County earn six figures ($100,000 or more) a year, lower than the Missouri average of 11%.
Median Household Income 2009–2024 Trend
Median Household Income Over Time
Median household income in Putnam County, Missouri grew by 87.7% from 2009 to 2024, reaching $63,552 in 2024. That's an average of about 6.7% per year.
Income Inequality and the Gender Pay Gap in Putnam County
| Metric | Putnam County | Missouri Avg | US Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gini Coefficient | 0.503 | 0.532 | 0.552 |
| Male Median Income | $61,039 | $64,288 | $69,667 |
| Female Median Income | $53,159 | $51,060 | $56,850 |
| Gender Pay Gap | 12.9% | 20.6% | 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 0.503, lower than Missouri's 0.532, 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 15% more than women's income in Putnam County, Missouri. Over a 35-year career, a 15% wage gap accumulates to roughly $275,800 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, Missouri has narrowed from about 20% to 13% in 2024. Over that period the gap in 2019 women out-earned men by 1%. In dollar terms, the gap has widened by $1,302 since 2009.
Employment
| Metric | Putnam County | Missouri Avg | US Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Unemployment Rate | 4.0% | 4.0% | 5.2% |
| Working from Home | 10.3% | 13.0% | 15.0% |
| Commute time (minutes) | 16 | 20 | 22 |
Approximately 84 people are unemployed in Putnam County, Missouri.
The average commute time in Putnam County is 16 minutes, shorter than the 20 minutes in Missouri.
Unemployment Rate Over Time
Since 2011, the unemployment rate in Putnam County, Missouri has risen from 3.2% to 4.0% in 2024. Over that period the rate peaked at 5.9% in 2017 and fell as low as 2.5% in 2019.
Putnam County, MO Wealth Compared With Nearby Counties
Putnam County, MO is the 5th largest of the 6 counties compared here, 4,642 residents against a local median of 6,531. Putnam County, MO's income growth, at 6.7%/yr, runs 39% above the 4.8%/yr typical of the counties around it. That is the better end of the local range on this measure.
The counties themselves spread 2.8%/yr on income growth, so Putnam County, MO sits at one end of an already wide local range rather than apart from it. Putnam County, MO has the 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, MO | 4,642 | $63,552 #1/6 | 6.7%/yr #1/6 | 4.0% #5/6 | 0.503 #2/6 |
| Sullivan County, MO | 5,857 | $55,826 | 3.5%/yr | 2.5% | 0.525 |
| Appanoose County, IA | 12,184 | $55,519 | 4.1%/yr | 3.9% | 0.524 |
| Wayne County, IA | 6,531 | $61,690 | 4.8%/yr | 2.9% | 0.498 |
| Schuyler County, MO | 4,038 | $61,607 | 6.2%/yr | 3.7% | 0.525 |
| Adair County, MO | 25,301 | $61,312 | 6.3%/yr | 4.1% | 0.600 |
Conclusion
Considering all these factors, Putnam County, Missouri has an overall wealth index grade of D, making it about on par with Missouri, and somewhat worse than the country as a whole.
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about income and wealth in Putnam County, Missouri.
How Rich Is Putnam County, Missouri?
Putnam County has a wealth index grade of D. The wealth index grades areas from A+ (best) to F- by combining income levels, employment rates, and income inequality; a D grade means residents are somewhat worse off than the U.S. average. The median household income is $63,552, about 10% lower than the Missouri average of $70,801.
How fast is household income rising in Putnam County, Missouri?
Between 2009 and 2024, the median household income in Putnam County, Missouri rose 88%, from $33,864 to $63,552. Over the same years, income here outpaced Missouri as a whole: +88% against +54%.
What was the median household income in Putnam County in 2023?
In 2023, the median household income in Putnam County, Missouri was $57,772, up 12% from $51,714 in 2022. The Missouri median that year was $69,047.
What was the median household income in Putnam County in 2020?
In 2020, the median household income in Putnam County, Missouri was $49,273. By 2024 it had risen 29% to $63,552.
What is the Gini coefficient in Putnam County, Missouri?
The Gini coefficient in Putnam County is 0.503. 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, Missouri?
Since 2009, the income gap between men and women in Putnam County, Missouri has narrowed from about 20% to 13% in 2024. Over that period the gap in 2019 women out-earned men by 1%. In dollar terms, the gap has widened by $1,302 since 2009.
Analyze any area in the US
Get local demographics for any address, aggregated by drive time or radius, on the interactive map.
Explore the map →