1st Advantage MortgageThe median Putnam County household earns $72,096, and 18% of residents live below the poverty line. A loan makes sense only if its total cost beats your alternatives and the payment fits your budget. Check the lender's Georgia license first.
On this page
- Getting oriented in Putnam County
- Income in Putnam County compared with Georgia
- Rent, home values and ownership in Putnam County
- Employment and commuting in Putnam County
- Regional comparison for Putnam County
- Places inside Putnam County
- Budget math at the Putnam County median
- Putnam County residents: age, schooling, coverage
- Local borrowing considerations for Putnam County
- Licensing and complaints for Putnam County
- Checklist for Putnam County applicants
- Nearby and statewide guides
- Frequently asked questions
Getting oriented in Putnam County
Putnam County is home to about 22,855 people, according to the Census Bureau's 2020 to 2024 American Community Survey, which makes it the 82nd most populous of 159 county-level areas in Georgia. It covers 345 square miles of land, or about 66 people per square mile. Under the July 2023 OMB definitions, Putnam County is not part of any metropolitan area. The Census Bureau counts 2 places in the county (1 incorporated, 1 census-designated); the largest is Eatonton, with about 6,515 residents, or 29% of the county.
Income in Putnam County compared with Georgia
At $72,096, the typical Putnam County household income is 10% above the median U.S. county ($65,681). In the state ranking that is 41st of 159.
| Yearly household income | Putnam County | Gap to Georgia |
|---|---|---|
| Under $35,000 | 27.9% | +5.8 pts |
| $35,000 to $99,999 | 37.4% | -2.2 pts |
| $100,000 to $199,999 | 22.3% | -4.2 pts |
| $200,000 or more | 12.5% | +0.6 pts |
Some 28% of households here live on less than $35,000 a year; 35% have six-figure incomes. The poverty rate is 17.6%, 4 points higher than the state's 13.4%. Income from any regular source can count, including Social Security, pensions and disability benefits, as long as you can document it.
Rent, home values and ownership in Putnam County
Median gross rent, utilities included, comes to $1,002 in Putnam County versus $1,393 statewide. 64% of renting households spend 30% or more of income on rent, and 39% spend half or more. With a median value of $249,300, a typical Putnam County house costs 3.5 times what the median household earns in a year. The ownership rate is 81%. Median construction year: 1992.
| Putnam County | Georgia | U.S. county median | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median gross rent | $1,002/mo | $1,393/mo | $877/mo |
| Median home value | $249,300 | $303,300 | $185,300 |
| Owners | 81% | 66% | 75% |
| Rent-burdened renters | 64% | 52% | 45% |
| Burdened owners | 32% | 26% | n/a |
| Mobile homes | 25.9% | 7.8% | n/a |
| Vacant units | 23% | 10% | n/a |
In an owner-heavy county like Putnam County, many borrowers can also choose a home equity loan or line of credit. Those can price lower but put the house on the line, so compare the two in writing; our personal loan vs. HELOC guide walks through it. High rent burdens leave little slack. If you are borrowing to consolidate, make sure the new payment is lower than the ones it replaces.
Employment and commuting in Putnam County
Education and health care employs 23% of working residents, the largest share; retail trade is next with 14%. Compared with Georgia, the county leans toward retail trade (14% against 11%). Averaged over the five survey years, 3.7% of the labor force was out of work and looking. Long commutes are common here: 21% of workers spend 45 minutes or longer getting to work.
| Top industries | Putnam County share | +/- vs Georgia |
|---|---|---|
| Education and health care | 23.1% | +2.1 pts |
| Retail trade | 14.4% | +3.1 pts |
| Manufacturing | 10.9% | +0.9 pts |
| Professional and administrative services | 10.1% | -3.5 pts |
| Arts, lodging and food service | 9.0% | +0.4 pts |
| Transportation, warehousing and utilities | 8.4% | +1.1 pts |
Industry shapes paperwork. Salaried and public jobs are easy to verify, while hourly, tipped, commission or contract earners in Putnam County should have bank statements and tax returns ready.
Regional comparison for Putnam County
Six nearby counties, 18 to 23 miles away by the straight-line distance between their centers. Greene County leads the group on income ($86,272), Hancock County trails ($40,082), and Putnam County out-earns 3 of the six.
| County | Distance | Median income | Median rent | Owners |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Putnam County | - | $72,096 | $1,002/mo | 81% |
| Jasper County, GA | 18 mi | $60,134 | $970/mo | 86% |
| Baldwin County, GA | 19 mi | $54,403 | $923/mo | 61% |
| Morgan County, GA | 21 mi | $78,111 | $1,108/mo | 78% |
| Greene County, GA | 21 mi | $86,272 | $924/mo | 78% |
| Hancock County, GA | 22 mi | $40,082 | $938/mo | 79% |
| Jones County, GA | 23 mi | $75,500 | $964/mo | 84% |
Places inside Putnam County
Here are the 2 most populous of the county's 2 Census places, with income and rent from the same 2020 to 2024 survey. About 32% of Putnam County residents live in one of the 2. No Putnam County place has a separate guide yet; this county page serves all 2.
| Name | Kind | Pop. | Income | Rent | Miles |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Eatonton | city | 6,515 | $56,250 | $954 | 1 mi |
| Crooked Creek | CDP | 798 | $30,800 | $838 | 7 mi |
Budget math at the Putnam County median
Lenders compare monthly debt payments with gross monthly income, the debt-to-income ratio. For a Putnam County household at the medians it works out like this; treat it as an illustration only.
- Start: $6,008 gross per month ($72,096 / 12)
- Housing at the median rent of $1,002 uses 17%
- $1,161: what a 36% ratio leaves once rent is paid
- Under a 43% cap, $2,583 total minus rent leaves $1,581
If your rent is above $1,002, the room shrinks dollar for dollar.
Putnam County residents: age, schooling, coverage
College graduates make up 31% of the adult population. About 10% go without health insurance.
| Measure | Putnam County | Georgia statewide | Typical U.S. county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 47.8 | 37.6 | 41.5 |
| Bachelor's or higher | 31.1% | 34.9% | 22.2% |
| No high school diploma | 13.4% | 10.8% | n/a |
| No health insurance | 10.3% | 12.4% | 7.8% |
| No vehicle | 4.6% | 5.9% | 5.4% |
| Work from home | 12.0% | 15.9% | 8.7% |
| Poverty rate | 17.6% | 13.4% | 13.2% |
| Unemployment (ACS) | 3.7% | 5.1% | 4.4% |
| Commute length | Putnam County |
|---|---|
| Under 15 min | 23.7% |
| 15 to 29 min | 34.6% |
| 30 to 44 min | 20.7% |
| 45 to 59 min | 4.1% |
| 60+ min | 16.9% |
Local borrowing considerations for Putnam County
Based on the Putnam County data above, these borrowing questions are most likely to matter locally.
- Health costs. With 10% of the county uninsured, an interest-free hospital payment plan usually beats a loan (medical bills).
- Commuter costs. 21% drive 45 minutes or more. Compare shop financing with a loan, and keep a small repair fund.
- Repairs on manufactured housing. With 26% of homes here, compare a personal loan with any dealer or park repair program.
- Fixed incomes. Putnam County's median age is 47.8. Social Security and pensions count as income when documented.
Licensing and complaints for Putnam County
No county office licenses personal lenders. For Putnam County, check the Georgia Department of Banking and Finance. A CFPB complaint gets forwarded to the company for a response. More on Georgia: Georgia personal loans.
Checklist for Putnam County applicants
A short checklist for Putnam County borrowers:
- Know the exact dollar figure you need before talking to a lender.
- Collect three written offers and compare APR and total repaid.
- Look the lender up with the state regulator first.
- Ask a Putnam County credit union about member loans.
Nearby and statewide guides
The Georgia guide covers the whole state.
Frequently asked questions
How much do households in Putnam County earn?
The median is $72,096; 35% earn $100,000 or more and 28% under $35,000. A lender uses your own documented income, not this figure.
What do renters pay in Putnam County?
$1,002 a month at the median, about 17% of median household income.
I own my home in Putnam County. Personal loan or HELOC?
A HELOC uses the house as collateral; a personal loan usually does not. With 81% of homes owner-occupied here, many readers can compare both in writing.
Which towns does the Putnam County guide cover?
Every community in the county, unincorporated areas included. The largest of its 2 Census places: Eatonton, Crooked Creek.
Is the fit check different in Putnam County?
No. It is identical everywhere, and it never looks at your neighborhood.