Putnam County, Tennessee 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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D
Putnam County Well below average
Source: Map AI Methodology
Income Statistics Overview
| Metric | Putnam County | Tennessee Avg | US Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median Household Income | $58,838 | $69,901 | $80,455 |
| Median Personal Income | $44,676 | $53,263 | $60,758 |
| Average Yearly Income Growth | 6.1% | 5.2% | 4.8% |
| Six-Figure Earners | 7.1% | 10.4% | 13.9% |
| $200k+ Households | 5.7% | 9.0% | 13.2% |
The median household income in Putnam County is about 16% lower than in Tennessee. Income has been growing faster in Putnam County (6.1%/yr) than in Tennessee (5.2%/yr).
About 7% of adults in Putnam County earn six figures ($100,000 or more) a year, lower than the Tennessee average of 10%.
Median Household Income 2009–2024 Trend
Median Household Income Over Time
Median household income in Putnam County, Tennessee grew by 69.5% from 2009 to 2024, reaching $58,838 in 2024. That's an average of about 6.1% per year.
Income Inequality and the Gender Pay Gap in Putnam County
| Metric | Putnam County | Tennessee Avg | US Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gini Coefficient | 0.556 | 0.542 | 0.552 |
| Male Median Income | $53,794 | $61,993 | $69,667 |
| Female Median Income | $42,522 | $50,108 | $56,850 |
| Gender Pay Gap | 21.0% | 19.2% | 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 0.556, higher than Tennessee's 0.542, 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 27% more than women's income in Putnam County, Tennessee. Over a 35-year career, a 27% wage gap accumulates to roughly $394,520 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, Tennessee has narrowed from about 22% to 21% in 2024. Over that period the gap was widest at 26% in 2014, and was narrowest at 17% in 2023. In dollar terms, the gap has widened by $3,236 since 2009.
Employment
| Metric | Putnam County | Tennessee Avg | US Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Unemployment Rate | 3.7% | 4.6% | 5.2% |
| Working from Home | 10.1% | 12.9% | 15.0% |
| Commute time (minutes) | 17 | 22 | 22 |
Approximately 1,544 people are unemployed in Putnam County, Tennessee.
The average commute time in Putnam County is 17 minutes, shorter than the 22 minutes in Tennessee.
Unemployment Rate Over Time
Since 2011, the unemployment rate in Putnam County, Tennessee has fallen from 8.1% to 3.7% in 2024. Over that period the rate peaked at 10.0% in 2013.
Putnam County, TN Wealth Compared With Nearby Counties
Putnam County, TN is the largest of the 6 counties compared here, 82,558 residents against a local median of 20,959. The measure that sets Putnam County, TN apart most is unemployment: 3.7%, 34% below the local median of 5.6%. That is the better end of the local range on this measure.
Income growth tells the same story from another angle: 6.1%/yr against a local median of 4.8%/yr, 28% above it. Every measure here with a clear better direction points the same way, so Putnam County, TN is not trading one advantage for another, it reads stronger than its neighbours across the board. The counties themselves spread 6.8% on unemployment, so Putnam County, TN sits at one end of an already wide local range rather than apart from it. Putnam County, TN has the 2nd lowest unemployment 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, TN | 82,558 | $58,838 #1/6 | 6.1%/yr #1/6 | 3.7% #2/6 | 0.556 #6/6 |
| White County, TN | 28,160 | $54,822 | 5.5%/yr | 5.6% | 0.520 |
| Jackson County, TN | 12,029 | $47,224 | 5.0%/yr | 7.6% | 0.549 |
| Overton County, TN | 23,065 | $48,710 | 4.4%/yr | 3.2% | 0.545 |
| DeKalb County, TN | 20,959 | $54,540 | 4.8%/yr | 5.6% | 0.537 |
| Clay County, TN | 7,670 | $39,958 | 4.5%/yr | 10.0% | 0.548 |
Conclusion
Considering all these factors, Putnam County, Tennessee has an overall wealth index grade of D, making it somewhat worse than Tennessee, and somewhat worse than the country as a whole.
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about income and wealth in Putnam County, Tennessee.
How Rich Is Putnam County, Tennessee?
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 $58,838, about 16% lower than the Tennessee average of $69,901.
Are incomes growing in Putnam County, Tennessee?
Between 2009 and 2024, the median household income in Putnam County, Tennessee rose 70%, from $34,710 to $58,838. Over the same years, income here outpaced Tennessee as a whole: +70% against +63%.
What was the median household income in Putnam County in 2023?
In 2023, the median household income in Putnam County, Tennessee was $56,529, up 3% from $54,710 in 2022. The Tennessee median that year was $67,483.
What was the median household income in Putnam County in 2020?
In 2020, the median household income in Putnam County, Tennessee was $45,170. By 2024 it had risen 30% to $58,838.
What is the Gini coefficient in Putnam County, Tennessee?
The Gini coefficient in Putnam County is 0.556. 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, Tennessee?
Since 2009, the income gap between men and women in Putnam County, Tennessee has narrowed from about 22% to 21% in 2024. Over that period the gap was widest at 26% in 2014, and was narrowest at 17% in 2023. In dollar terms, the gap has widened by $3,236 since 2009.
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