Population 5,601 · Census ACS 2020–24
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Population and households in Putnam County
Household size in Putnam County
| Period | Putnam County | Illinois | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 2.38 | 2.69 | 2.68 |
| 2010–14 | 2.43 | 2.71 | 2.73 |
| 2015–19 | 2.37 | 2.66 | 2.71 |
| 2020–24 | 2.31 | 2.58 | 2.65 |
| Change | −0.07 | −0.11 | −0.03 |
Households in Putnam County are small: just 2.31 people on average, compared with 2.65 nationally. That is typical of places where many people live alone or as couples, and fewer have children at home. Household size has edged down from 2.38 in 2006–10, mirroring the country.
Household size: the average number of people living in each occupied home. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25010).
Median age in Putnam County
| Period | Putnam County | Illinois | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 44.5 | 37.6 | 37.7 |
| 2010–14 | 45.0 | 38.5 | 38.6 |
| 2015–19 | 48.0 | 39.6 | 39.6 |
| 2020–24 | 45.3 | 40.2 | 40.1 |
| Change | +0.8 | +2.6 | +2.3 |
Putnam County skews older: half of its residents are older than 45.3, well above the national median of 40.1. That usually means more empty nesters and retirees, and fewer young families. Since 2006–10, the median age has crept up from 44.5, in line with the national trend.
Median age: the age that splits residents into two equal halves. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B01002).
Single-parent households in Putnam County
| Period | Putnam County | Illinois | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 6.2% | 11.7% | 12.3% |
| 2010–14 | 7.2% | 11.7% | 12.3% |
| 2015–19 | 9.3% | 11.1% | 11.6% |
| 2020–24 | 10.9% | 11.3% | 11.6% |
| Change | +4.7 pts | −0.4 pts | −0.6 pts |
Single parents head just over one in ten households in Putnam County (10.9%), close to the national share of 11.6%. The single-parent share is up 4.7 points from 2006–10, even as the national share fell.
Single-parent households: households where one adult with no spouse present lives with children under 18. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B11003).
Housing in Putnam County
Renters in Putnam County
| Period | Putnam County | Illinois | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 20.1% | 30.8% | 33.3% |
| 2010–14 | 19.0% | 33.1% | 35.6% |
| 2015–19 | 19.5% | 33.9% | 36.0% |
| 2020–24 | 18.5% | 32.9% | 34.8% |
| Change | −1.5 pts | +2.1 pts | +1.5 pts |
Putnam County is largely a place of homeowners: only 18.5% of households rent, far below the national share of 34.8%. Owner-heavy areas like this tend to see less turnover. About half of owners (51.2%) have paid off their mortgages, well above the national share of 39.8%. Since 2006–10, the renter share has fallen 1.5 points, even as the national share rose.
Renters: occupied homes that are rented rather than owned. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25003).
Vacant homes in Putnam County
| Period | Putnam County | Illinois | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 13.6% | 10.0% | 11.4% |
| 2010–14 | 16.2% | 10.1% | 11.4% |
| 2015–19 | 19.6% | 9.8% | 11.1% |
| 2020–24 | 16.3% | 8.1% | 9.6% |
| Change | +2.7 pts | −1.9 pts | −1.8 pts |
Vacancy is high in Putnam County: 16.3% of homes are empty, far above the national rate of 9.6%. In resort and lake areas that usually means seasonal and vacation homes; elsewhere it can point to weak demand. Vacancy has risen 2.7 points since 2006–10, even as the national rate fell.
Vacant homes: homes with no one living in them, including vacation homes and homes for sale or rent. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25002).
Age of homes in Putnam County
| Period | Putnam County | Illinois | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 1965 | 1966 | 1974 |
| 2010–14 | 1965 | 1967 | 1975 |
| 2015–19 | 1968 | 1968 | 1977 |
| 2020–24 | 1971 | 1970 | 1980 |
| Change | +6 | +4 | +6 |
The housing in Putnam County is old by national standards: the median home dates to 1971, against 1980 for the U.S., so buyers will find more older houses, some of them due for updates. The median year built has moved up from 1965 in 2006–10, a sign of steady new building. The newest homes are mostly in the west, the oldest in the northeast.
Age of homes: the year that splits the housing stock into older and newer halves. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25035).
Rent in Putnam County
| Period | Putnam County | Illinois | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | $592 | $953 | $965 |
| 2010–14 | $628 | $1,028 | $1,040 |
| 2015–19 | $690 | $1,165 | $1,213 |
| 2020–24 | $817 | $1,428 | $1,571 |
| Change | +$225 | +$475 | +$606 |
The median renter in Putnam County pays $817 a month for rent and utilities, well below the national median of $1,571. Rents are up $225 a month from 2006–10, a 38% rise, a slower climb than the nation's. The typical renter here spends 20.7% of household income on rent, comfortably under the 30% mark often used to define affordable rent, and a smaller share than renters pay nationally.
Rent: monthly rent plus the utilities renters pay themselves. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25064).
Education in Putnam County
Bachelor's degrees in Putnam County
| Period | Putnam County | Illinois | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 14.7% | 31.2% | 28.4% |
| 2010–14 | 13.3% | 32.4% | 29.6% |
| 2015–19 | 16.6% | 34.7% | 32.1% |
| 2020–24 | 21.9% | 37.7% | 35.6% |
| Change | +7.3 pts | +6.5 pts | +7.2 pts |
Fewer adults in Putnam County have a four-year degree than in the country as a whole: 21.9%, against 35.6% nationally. The share with a degree is up 7.3 points from 2006–10, as it has nationally.
Bachelor's degrees: adults 25 and older with a bachelor's degree or higher. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B15003).
High school graduates in Putnam County
| Period | Putnam County | Illinois | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 89.0% | 86.3% | 84.9% |
| 2010–14 | 89.3% | 87.5% | 86.1% |
| 2015–19 | 92.9% | 89.1% | 87.7% |
| 2020–24 | 94.2% | 90.3% | 89.3% |
| Change | +5.2 pts | +4.0 pts | +4.3 pts |
High school completion in Putnam County is above the national rate: 94.2% of adults have a diploma, against 89.3%. The share with a diploma has risen 5.2 points since 2006–10, mirroring the country. Of Illinois' 102 counties, only eight have a higher share of high school graduates.
High school graduates: adults 25 and older with a high school diploma, GED or more. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B15003).
Jobs in Putnam County
| Period | Putnam County | Illinois | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 7.4% | 8.7% | 8.1% |
| 2010–14 | 11.0% | 10.2% | 9.4% |
| 2015–19 | 2.5% | 6.1% | 5.6% |
| 2020–24 | 4.1% | 6.0% | 5.4% |
| Change | −3.2 pts | −2.7 pts | −2.7 pts |
Jobs have been a little easier to find in Putnam County than nationally: unemployment was 4.1%, against 5.4%. Unemployment has fallen 3.2 points since 2006–10, mirroring the country. Because the Census pools five years of responses (2020–24), these rates smooth over short swings and lag the current job market.
Unemployment: people looking for work as a share of everyone working or looking. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B23025).
Putnam County compared with nearby counties
| County | Household size | Median age | Single parents | Renters | Vacant homes | Median year built | Median rent | Bachelor's degree | High school diploma | Unemployment |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Putnam County | 2.31 | 45.3 | 10.9% | 18.5% | 16.3% | 1971 | $817 | 21.9% | 94.2% | 4.1% |
| Bureau County | 2.33 | 44.0 | 10.1% | 23.9% | 10.6% | 1957 | $864 | 21.6% | 91.3% | 4.3% |
| LaSalle County | 2.37 | 42.4 | 12.0% | 25.6% | 9.3% | 1966 | $1,011 | 20.5% | 92.1% | 5.7% |
| Henry County | 2.42 | 44.0 | 11.2% | 20.1% | 10.4% | 1960 | $933 | 24.6% | 92.0% | 5.1% |
| Grundy County | 2.64 | 39.5 | 10.0% | 25.6% | 4.7% | 1986 | $1,242 | 23.7% | 93.7% | 4.5% |
| Mercer County | 2.35 | 43.6 | 7.6% | 16.2% | 10.5% | 1961 | $775 | 21.1% | 93.9% | 3.0% |
| Kankakee County | 2.54 | 40.0 | 13.5% | 30.1% | 9.9% | 1973 | $1,144 | 21.3% | 91.8% | 4.8% |
| Louisa County | 2.52 | 44.1 | 6.3% | 19.7% | 10.4% | 1963 | $864 | 16.9% | 86.0% | 2.9% |
| Washington County | 2.52 | 40.9 | 9.0% | 26.0% | 7.7% | 1966 | $877 | 26.4% | 93.4% | 2.2% |
| Starke County | 2.70 | 41.7 | 9.3% | 17.0% | 19.0% | 1974 | $899 | 13.1% | 87.7% | 3.5% |
| Keokuk County | 2.45 | 42.9 | 9.7% | 18.7% | 11.6% | 1952 | $817 | 16.9% | 94.3% | 4.3% |
All figures 2020–24.
Counties with similar populations: Vieques Municipio, PR · Cheyenne County, CO · Cheyenne County, KS · Cheyenne County, NE · Chickasaw County, IA · Chicot County, AR · Childress County, TX · Choctaw County, MS · Clark County, ID · Upton County, TX
About these numbers
Every figure on this page is a BestNeighborhood calculation from the Census Bureau's American Community Survey (ACS), built up from the Census block groups that make up Putnam County. Each ACS 5-year release pools five years of responses; this page shows the last 15 releases, 2006–10 through 2020–24. Neighboring releases share four of their five years, so they move gradually and small changes between them are within the survey's margin of error; in small places the lines can jump from one release to the next for the same reason. The maps show the same measures for each neighborhood, ranked against the whole country.
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