Putnam County, West Virginia 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 averageAmong the top 3 wealthiest counties in West Virginia
Source: Map AI Methodology
Income Statistics Overview
| Metric | Putnam County | West Virginia Avg | US Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median Household Income | $80,154 | $59,640 | $80,455 |
| Median Personal Income | $62,529 | $52,420 | $60,758 |
| Average Yearly Income Growth | 4.5% | 4.3% | 4.8% |
| Six-Figure Earners | 12.7% | 8.0% | 13.9% |
| $200k+ Households | 11.0% | 5.9% | 13.2% |
The median household income in Putnam County is about 34% higher than in West Virginia. Income has been growing faster in Putnam County (4.5%/yr) than in West Virginia (4.3%/yr).
About 13% of adults in Putnam County earn six figures ($100,000 or more) a year, higher than the West Virginia average of 8%.
Median Household Income 2009–2024 Trend
Median Household Income Over Time
Median household income in Putnam County, West Virginia grew by 57.1% from 2009 to 2024, reaching $80,154 in 2024. That's an average of about 4.5% per year.
Income Inequality and the Gender Pay Gap in Putnam County
| Metric | Putnam County | West Virginia Avg | US Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gini Coefficient | 0.530 | 0.554 | 0.552 |
| Male Median Income | $74,225 | $61,809 | $69,667 |
| Female Median Income | $53,348 | $47,573 | $56,850 |
| Gender Pay Gap | 28.1% | 23.0% | 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 0.530, lower than West Virginia's 0.554, 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 39% more than women's income in Putnam County, West Virginia. Over a 35-year career, a 39% wage gap accumulates to roughly $730,695 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, West Virginia has narrowed from about 37% to 28% in 2024. Over that period the gap was widest at 42% in 2013, and was narrowest at 20% in 2020. In dollar terms, the gap has widened by $2,193 since 2009.
Employment
| Metric | Putnam County | West Virginia Avg | US Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Unemployment Rate | 3.1% | 5.4% | 5.2% |
| Working from Home | 10.6% | 9.1% | 15.0% |
| Commute time (minutes) | 25 | 21 | 22 |
Approximately 852 people are unemployed in Putnam County, West Virginia.
The average commute time in Putnam County is 25 minutes, longer than the 21 minutes in West Virginia.
Unemployment Rate Over Time
Since 2011, the unemployment rate in Putnam County, West Virginia has fallen from 4.2% to 3.1% in 2024. Over that period the rate peaked at 4.9% in 2013.
Putnam County, WV Wealth Compared With Nearby Counties
Putnam County, WV is the 3rd largest of the 6 counties compared here, 57,177 residents against a local median of 27,705. Where Putnam County, WV breaks from the counties next to it is median household income, sitting 43% above the local median of $56,062 at $80,154. That is the better end of the local range on this measure.
Unemployment tells the same story from another angle: 3.1% against a local median of 5.1%, 40% below it. Every measure here with a clear better direction points the same way, so Putnam County, WV is not trading one advantage for another, it reads stronger than its neighbours across the board. The counties themselves sit within $14,986 of each other on median household income, a tighter band than the gap between any of them and Putnam County, WV, which makes it a genuine outlier here rather than one end of a wide local spread. Putnam County, WV has the 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, WV | 57,177 | $80,154 #1/6 | 4.5%/yr #3/6 | 3.1% #1/6 | 0.530 #1/6 |
| Mason County, WV | 25,043 | $49,807 | 3.4%/yr | 3.8% | 0.574 |
| Cabell County, WV | 92,739 | $56,062 | 5.0%/yr | 5.1% | 0.559 |
| Lincoln County, WV | 19,902 | $46,204 | 3.3%/yr | 5.9% | 0.586 |
| Jackson County, WV | 27,705 | $59,206 | 4.7%/yr | 5.1% | 0.534 |
| Kanawha County, WV | 176,529 | $61,190 | 3.5%/yr | 5.6% | 0.538 |
Conclusion
Considering all these factors, Putnam County, West Virginia has an overall wealth index grade of B, making it somewhat better than West Virginia, and somewhat better than the country as a whole.
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about income and wealth in Putnam County, West Virginia.
How Rich Is Putnam County, West Virginia?
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 $80,154, about 34% higher than the West Virginia average of $59,640.
How fast is household income rising in Putnam County, West Virginia?
Between 2009 and 2024, the median household income in Putnam County, West Virginia rose 57%, from $51,007 to $80,154. Over the same years, income here lagged behind West Virginia as a whole: +57% against +60%.
What was the median household income in Putnam County in 2023?
In 2023, the median household income in Putnam County, West Virginia was $78,840, up 4% from $75,550 in 2022. The West Virginia median that year was $57,884.
What was the median household income in Putnam County in 2020?
In 2020, the median household income in Putnam County, West Virginia was $62,484. By 2024 it had risen 28% to $80,154.
Is Putnam County, West Virginia a high-income area?
Yes. 13% of adults in Putnam County, West Virginia earn $100,000 or more a year (about 1 in 8), against 8% (about 1 in 13) in West Virginia. 11% of households have a combined income of $200,000 or more, compared with 6% in West Virginia.
Is unemployment high in Putnam County, West Virginia?
Unemployment in Putnam County, West Virginia is only 3.1%, well below the West Virginia rate of 5.4%, a sign of a tight labor market where employers compete for workers.
What is the Gini coefficient in Putnam County, West Virginia?
The Gini coefficient in Putnam County is 0.530. 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, West Virginia?
Since 2009, the income gap between men and women in Putnam County, West Virginia has narrowed from about 37% to 28% in 2024. Over that period the gap was widest at 42% in 2013, and was narrowest at 20% in 2020. In dollar terms, the gap has widened by $2,193 since 2009.
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