County · West Virginia

Putnam County, West Virginia

Putnam County, West Virginia. Putnam County had 56,885 residents in 2025 by the Census Bureau's estimate, down 1.0% since 2020, a smaller fall than West Virginia's (−1.5%). It holds 11 places (7 cities, villages and boroughs and 4 census-designated) and 12 census tracts. GEOID 54079.

Putnam County is one of the 8 counties of the Huntington-Ashland, WV-KY-OH metropolitan statistical area (the Census Bureau's July 2023 delineation).

Residents, July 2025 estimate

56,885

Census Bureau estimate (no margin published)
2020 Census count: 57,440 · ACS 2020-2024: 57,177

Median household income

$79,527

±$6,071 (90% margin)
West Virginia: $59,608

Median home value

$223,300

±$9,119 (90% margin)
West Virginia: $162,600

Median gross rent

$952

±$81 (90% margin)
West Virginia: $872

How many people live in Putnam County, and is it growing?

The 2020 Census counted 57,440 residents in Putnam County. The Census Bureau estimates 56,885 for July 1, 2025, down 1.0% since 2020, a smaller fall than West Virginia's (−1.5%). The 2020-2024 American Community Survey puts the population at 57,177 over 346 square miles of land.

July 2020→2021 −63 (57,378)
2021→2022 −305 (57,073)
2022→2023 −173 (56,900)
2023→2024 +22 (56,922)
2024→2025 −37 (56,885)

Putnam County in West Virginia. Boundaries: Census Bureau 2024.

Counts, ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates, with the change from 2015-2019
Measure	Putnam County	West Virginia	Change since 2015-2019
Total population	57,177	1,778,373	+567
Households	23,251±320	728,655	+1,638
Average household size	2.45±0.03	2.37	−0.16
Housing units	24,963±33	861,325	+774

Putnam County's population since 2000

From 51,589 in 2000 to 56,885 in 2025: up 10.3%. The 2000, 2010 and 2020 figures are census counts. The 2005 figure is the Census Bureau's intercensal estimate, revised to fit the 2000 and 2010 counts and drawn on 2010 boundaries; 2015 and 2025 are July 1 estimates made from the census before them.

2000 Census 51,589
2005 (estimate) 53,614
2010 Census 55,486
2015 (estimate) 56,601
2020 Census 57,440
2025 (estimate) 56,885

Source: The 2000, 2010 and 2020 Census counts and the Census Bureau's population estimates (intercensal 2000-2010, Vintage 2020, Vintage 2025) · Census population estimates

Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026); PEP Vintage 2025 (CO-EST2025); 2020 Census · Check it at data.census.gov

What cities and towns are in Putnam County?

Putnam County holds 11 places: 7 cities, villages and boroughs (incorporated places) and 4 census-designated places. The largest is Teays Valley with 14,151 residents (2020-2024). Places that cross a county line are listed with the share of their 2020 residents who live in this county.

Places in Putnam County, ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates. Ring: estimate with a coefficient of variation over 40%.

Teays Valley	CDP	14,350	14,151±904	$108,741	$278,000	5.1%	100%
Hurricane	city	6,961	6,855±38	$71,167	$210,500	8.5%	100%
Winfield	town	2,393	2,918±654	$103,276	$257,100	15.9%	100%
Eleanor	town	1,542	1,726±482	$78,578	$255,400	5.9%	100%
Buffalo	town	1,211	1,150±284	$64,583	$132,900	19.9%	100%
Nitro	city	6,624	6,853±723	$53,848	$128,900	20.2%	17%
Poca	town	874	872±262	$77,292	$170,500	17.5%	100%
HometownGEOID 5438260	CDP	556	756±358	$28,876	$142,600	30.2%	100%
Culloden	CDP	3,016	3,040±532	$73,318	$197,800	11.8%	16%
BancroftGEOID 5404204	town	387	475±206	$94,375	$116,400	10.9%	100%
Raymond CityGEOID 5467204	CDP	367	28±47	not published	not published	0.0%	100%

Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026); 2020 place-by-county parts · Check it at data.census.gov

Who lives in Putnam County?

The median resident of Putnam County is 42.6 years old; 21.5% are under 18 and 19.7% are 65 or older. The largest group is non-Hispanic white residents at 93.6%, then non-Hispanic residents of two or more races at 2.7%. 1.4% of residents were born outside the United States.

Age, origin and education, ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates. Race groups are non-Hispanic; Hispanic includes any race.
Measure	Putnam County	West Virginia	Change since 2015-2019
Median age	42.6±0.5	42.7	+0.8
Under 18 years	21.5%	20.0%	–
65 years and over	19.7%±0.1 pts	21.0%	–
Hispanic or Latino (any race)	1.5%	2.1%	+0.3 pts
White alone, not Hispanic	93.6%±0.7 pts	89.7%	−1.9 pts
Black or African American alone, not Hispanic	0.9%±0.5 pts	3.1%	no clear change
Asian alone, not Hispanic	0.8%±0.3 pts	0.8%	no clear change
American Indian and Alaska Native alone, not Hispanic	0.0%±0.1 pts	0.1%	–
Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander alone, not Hispanic	0.0%±0.1 pts	0.0%	–
Two or more races, not Hispanic	2.7%±0.7 pts	3.9%	–
Some other race alone, not Hispanic	0.4%±0.4 pts	0.3%	–
Born outside the United States	1.4%±0.4 pts	1.8%	no clear change
Speak a language other than English at home (age 5+)	1.5%±0.4 pts	2.5%	–
Civilian veterans (age 18+)	8.0%±1.2 pts	7.4%	–
With a disability	13.0%±1.1 pts	19.1%	–
No health insurance coverage	5.6%±1.1 pts	6.0%	no clear change
High school graduate or higher (age 25+)	94.0%±0.9 pts	89.3%	–
Bachelor's degree or higher (age 25+)	29.1%±2.1 pts	24.1%	+3.0 pts
Graduate or professional degree (age 25+)	11.2%±1.2 pts	9.7%	–
Moved from another state in the past year	1.1%±0.6 pts	2.4%	–

Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) (Data Profiles DP02, DP05) · Check it at data.census.gov

What do households in Putnam County earn?

Half of Putnam County's 23,251 households earn less than $79,527 a year (±$6,071), against $59,608 in West Virginia. In 2015-2019 it was $73,961 in 2024 dollars; the margins of error cannot tell the two periods apart. 10.6% of residents live below the poverty line.

Income and poverty in 2024 dollars, ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates
Measure	Putnam County	West Virginia	Change since 2015-2019
Median household income	$79,527±$6,071	$59,608	no clear change
Mean household income	$101,714±$4,575	$81,190	–
Per capita income	$41,822±$2,005	$34,203	+$2,948
People below the poverty line	10.6%±2.1 pts	16.7%	no clear change
Children under 18 below the poverty line	16.4%±5.5 pts	21.5%	no clear change
Households receiving SNAP	12.9%±1.7 pts	17.3%	–
Households with a broadband subscription	87.8%±1.8 pts	86.1%	–

Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) (Data Profile DP03) · Check it at data.census.gov

What does housing cost in Putnam County?

Owners occupy 81.8% of Putnam County's occupied homes and renters 18.2%. The median owner-occupied home is valued at $223,300 by its owner (±$9,119). The median renter pays $952 a month including utilities, and 35.4% of renters pay 35% or more of their income on rent.

Housing, ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates
Measure	Putnam County	West Virginia	Change since 2015-2019
Median home value (owner-occupied)	$223,300±$9,119	$162,600	+$17,405
Median gross rent	$952±$81	$872	no clear change
Renters paying 35% or more of income on rent	35.4%±8.2 pts	39.0%	no clear change
Median monthly owner costs, with a mortgage	$1,528±$84	$1,255	–
Owner-occupied homes	81.8%±2.3 pts	74.9%	no clear change
Housing units	24,963±33	861,325	+774
Homeowner vacancy rate	0.8%±0.7 pts	1.2%	–
Rental vacancy rate	1.5%±1.5 pts	6.7%	–
Single-family detached homes	75.5%±2.5 pts	70.9%	–
Mobile homes	12.9%±1.8 pts	13.6%	–
Built 2020 or later	1.1%±0.6 pts	1.0%	–
Built 1939 or earlier	5.3%±1.4 pts	14.9%	–

Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) (Data Profile DP04) · Check it at data.census.gov

How many new homes is Putnam County building?

Builders took permits for 118 new housing units across Putnam County in 2025 (88 single-family), 2.1 per 1,000 residents.

2019 62 units
2020 73 units
2021 132 units
2022 95 units
2023 103 units
2024 402 units
2025 118 units

Source: Building Permits Survey, annual county files 2019-2025, U.S. Census Bureau · Census Building Permits Survey

How do people in Putnam County get to work?

79.8% of Putnam County's workers drive alone and 10.6% work from home. The average trip to work takes 27.3 minutes. The unemployment rate in 2020-2024 averaged 3.1%.

Work and commuting, ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates
Measure	Putnam County	West Virginia	Change since 2015-2019
In the labor force (age 16+)	59.5%±1.6 pts	53.8%	–
Unemployment rate	3.1%±0.8 pts	5.4%	no clear change
Drove alone to work	79.8%±2.4 pts	78.1%	–
Carpooled	8.3%±2.1 pts	8.5%	–
Public transportation	0.2%±0.2 pts	0.5%	–
Walked	0.7%±0.4 pts	2.5%	–
Worked from home	10.6%±2.2 pts	9.1%	+7.3 pts
Mean travel time to work	27.3 min±2.0	26.6 min	no clear change

Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) (Data Profile DP03) · Check it at data.census.gov

What are Putnam County's census tracts?

Putnam County is divided into 12 census tracts. Among those with a reliable estimate, median household income runs from $53,828 (Tract 205) to $109,351 (Tract 206.06).

Census tracts of Putnam County, ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates; sort by any column

Tract 20154079020100	Bancroft (6%)	4,950	5,146±740	$66,570	$164,500	$335	11.0%
Tract 20254079020200	Buffalo (21%)	5,329	5,203±649	$78,461	$192,300	$1,018	8.6%
Tract 20354079020300	Hurricane (5%)	5,575	5,194±719	$89,167	$307,900	$815	4.6%
Tract 20454079020400	Winfield (26%)	6,685	7,166±821	$84,669	$237,800	$1,138	16.6%
Tract 20554079020500	Nitro (27%)	5,925	5,663±846	$53,828	$148,400	$781	24.5%
Tract 206.0154079020601	Teays Valley (99%)	5,984	5,796±594	$104,612	$266,000	$1,127	5.5%
Tract 206.0454079020604	Teays Valley (73%)	2,884	2,777±358	$99,063	$309,400	$1,031	8.9%
Tract 206.0654079020606	Teays Valley (52%)	4,453	4,722±531	$109,351	$321,900	$851	2.3%
Tract 206.0754079020607	Teays Valley (92%)	3,423	2,945±302	$91,600	$259,900	$979	7.9%
Tract 206.0854079020608	Hurricane (74%)	4,871	5,227±723	$66,994	$196,300	$883	12.2%
Tract 206.0954079020609	Hurricane (19%)	3,123	3,108±543	$90,875	$235,500	$1,023	5.5%
Tract 20754079020700	Hurricane (11%)	4,238	4,230±704	$65,179	$154,000	not published	11.8%

Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) · Check it at data.census.gov

How does Putnam County compare with West Virginia's other counties?

Putnam County's rank among West Virginia's counties with a reliable estimate (1 = highest)
Measure	Rank
Population	10th of 55
Growth 2020-2025	13th of 55
Residents per square mile	11th of 55
Median household income	3rd of 55
Median home value	5th of 55
Median gross rent	4th of 55
Poverty rate	54th of 55
Bachelor's degree or higher	6th of 55
Median age	46th of 55

Every county in West Virginia

Source: PlainCities ranks from the American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) and PEP Vintage 2025 · How ranks are computed

How these figures are made: methodology and release checks · reading a margin of error · every state · corrections

Not on this page: crime, weather and schools for Putnam County are other agencies' records. Crime: the FBI's Crime Data Explorer · climate: NOAA's U.S. Climate Normals · schools: the National Center for Education Statistics' school search.