Putnam County, Illinois
Located in Illinois, Putnam County has a population of 5,601 residents and a median age of 47.4 years, making it the #2,845 most populous county out of 3,222 nationwide. In terms of economic indicators, the county has a poverty rate of 8.1%. The median home value is $172,700, and the median household income is $75,590, which is 1% above the national median.
Demographics
Putnam County has a population of 5,601, making it the #2,845 most populous county in the US. The median age is 47.4 years, which is 21.9% above the national median.
Population Trend
Rankings →Year-over-Year Population Growth
Age & Sex Distribution
Race & Ethnicity
Nativity
Geographic Mobility (Past Year)
Economy
The median household income in Putnam County is $75,590, ranking #807 out of 3,222 counties — 0.6% above the national median. The poverty rate is 8.1% and unemployment stands at 4.2%.
Median Household Income Trend
Rankings →Income Distribution
Industry of Employment
Occupation
Housing
The median home value in Putnam County is $172,700 (-38.7% vs national). Renters pay a median of $851/mo and the homeownership rate is 81.5%.
Median Home Value Trend
Rankings →Household Type
Education
In Putnam County, 22.9% of adults age 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher, which is 32.2% below the national average, ranking #1,520 out of 3,222 counties.
Bachelor's Degree or Higher Trend
Rankings →Health & Wellbeing
Life expectancy in Putnam County is 79.8 years. 15.3% of adults report poor or fair health and 6.5% lack health insurance. Data from County Health Rankings (2025).
Life Expectancy Trend
Substance Use
15.6% of adults in Putnam County smoke , 34.7% are obese , and 23.0% report excessive drinking.
Adult Smoking Trend
Safety
. Motor vehicle deaths occur at a rate of 25.2 per 100,000.
Families & Children
12.7% of children in Putnam County live in poverty . The teen birth rate is 12.0 per 1,000 females age 15–19.
Teen Birth Rate Trend
Civic & Transportation
Voter turnout in Putnam County is 74.2%. The mean commute time is 30.5 min, which is 10.6% above the national average.
Voter Turnout Trend
Mean Commute Time Trend
Rankings →Elections
In the 2024 presidential election, Putnam County voted Republican with a margin of 22.9%. The vote was 37.6% Dem / 60.5% Rep. Compared to 2020, the margin shifted 3.6 toward Republicans .
Vote Share Over Time
About Putnam County, Illinois
Putnam County, Illinois has a total population of 5,601, making it the 2,845th most populous county in the United States. The median age in Putnam County is 47.4 years, which is 21.9% above the national median of 38.9 years.
The median household income in Putnam County is $75,590, which ranks #807 of 3,222 counties nationwide. This is 0.6% above the national median of $75,149. The poverty rate is 8.1%, lower than the national rate of 12.6%. The unemployment rate stands at 4.2%.
The median home value in Putnam County is $172,700, 38.7% below the national median. Renters in Putnam County pay a median gross rent of $851 per month. The homeownership rate is 81.5%, compared to the national rate of 64.4%.
In Putnam County, 22.9% of residents aged 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or higher, 32.2% below the national average of 33.7%. Health insurance coverage stands at 97.0% of the population. The average commute time for workers is 30.5 min.
Putnam County is a diverse community. The largest racial or ethnic group is White (non-Hispanic) at 88.6% of the population, followed by Hispanic or Latino (6.6%) and Two or More Races (3.2%).
All data for Putnam County, Illinois comes from the U.S. Census Bureau's American Community Survey (ACS) 5-Year Estimates. These figures are estimates based on survey sampling and are subject to margin of error. For the most detailed and up-to-date data, visit the Census Bureau's official data portal.