1st Advantage MortgagePutnam County households have a median income of $75,590 and median rent of $851 a month (ACS 2020 to 2024). Your income, debts and credit decide what you qualify for. Get offers in writing, compare the total repaid, and never pay a fee up front.
On this page
- A quick profile of Putnam County
- Housing costs in Putnam County
- Household income in Putnam County
- The Putnam County job picture
- Putnam County next to its neighbors
- Towns and communities in Putnam County
- A Putnam County household budget, worked through
- Borrowing situations common in Putnam County
- Putnam County households compared
- A Putnam County borrower's checklist
- Lender oversight for Putnam County
- Nearby and statewide guides
- Frequently asked questions
A quick profile of Putnam County
Putnam County is home to about 5,601 people, according to the Census Bureau's 2020 to 2024 American Community Survey, which makes it the 94th most populous of 102 county-level areas in Illinois. Land area is 160 square miles (2024 Gazetteer), so density runs near 35 per square mile. Under the July 2023 OMB definitions, Putnam County is not part of any metropolitan area. Granville is the biggest of its 6 Census places, at roughly 1,472 people (26% of the county total). With so few households sampled, Putnam County estimates can move a lot between releases.
Housing costs in Putnam County
A typical Putnam County rental runs $851 a month including utilities, which is 33% below Illinois. 29% of renting households spend 30% or more of income on rent, and 17% spend half or more. Home values center on $172,700, or 2.3 years of median income. The ownership rate is 81%.
| Housing | Putnam County | Illinois statewide | Typical U.S. county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median gross rent | $851/mo | $1,274/mo | $877/mo |
| Median home value | $172,700 | $263,300 | $185,300 |
| Owners | 81% | 67% | 75% |
| Rent-burdened renters | 29% | 48% | 45% |
| Burdened owners | 16% | 27% | n/a |
Owners with equity have a second option. Weigh a secured line against an unsecured loan by risk as well as cost before you choose (how they compare).
Household income in Putnam County
At $75,590, the typical Putnam County household income is 15% above the median U.S. county ($65,681). Only 23 Illinois counties post a higher median.
| Yearly household income | Putnam County | Gap to Illinois |
|---|---|---|
| Under $35,000 | 16.3% | -4.6 pts |
| $35,000 to $99,999 | 52.3% | +15.1 pts |
| $100,000 to $199,999 | 23.2% | -4.9 pts |
| $200,000 or more | 8.2% | -5.6 pts |
Some 16% of households here live on less than $35,000 a year; 31% have six-figure incomes. 8.1% of residents fall below the federal poverty line (statewide: 11.8%). If your income is irregular, as it often is with tips, gig work or seasonal jobs, plan around your leaner months rather than the Putnam County median.
The Putnam County job picture
Education and health care employs 22% of working residents, the largest share; manufacturing is next with 15%. Agriculture, forestry and mining stands out: 7% of workers here, versus 1% statewide. The survey's unemployment rate for Putnam County averages 4.2% over 2020 to 2024 (state: 5.8%). 19% of commuters travel 45 minutes or more each way, and 7% work from home.
| Sector | Putnam County | Compared with Illinois |
|---|---|---|
| Education and health care | 22.1% | -1.4 pts |
| Manufacturing | 14.7% | +3.2 pts |
| Retail trade | 11.7% | +1.3 pts |
| Transportation, warehousing and utilities | 9.7% | +2.7 pts |
| Agriculture, forestry and mining | 6.7% | +5.6 pts |
| Construction | 6.1% | +0.7 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.
Putnam County next to its neighbors
Marshall County is closest, 12 miles from center to center; the sixth, Peoria County, is 38 miles off. Woodford County leads the group on income ($91,483), Stark County trails ($62,878), and Putnam County out-earns 5 of the six.
| Neighbor | Distance | Income | Rent | Own |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Putnam County | - | $75,590 | $851/mo | 81% |
| Marshall County, IL | 12 mi | $71,585 | $782/mo | 79% |
| Bureau County, IL | 18 mi | $69,257 | $832/mo | 76% |
| LaSalle County, IL | 24 mi | $73,045 | $928/mo | 74% |
| Stark County, IL | 27 mi | $62,878 | $735/mo | 80% |
| Woodford County, IL | 29 mi | $91,483 | $912/mo | 86% |
| Peoria County, IL | 38 mi | $65,108 | $993/mo | 67% |
Towns and communities in Putnam County
Here are the 6 most populous of the county's 6 Census places, with income and rent from the same 2020 to 2024 survey. About 66% of Putnam County residents live in one of the 6. Hennepin has the highest median household income on the list ($83,000) and Granville the lowest ($70,556), counting places with at least 500 residents. Rent is cheapest in Granville ($763) and steepest in Mark ($938). This guide covers each of the 6 places and the rural areas around them.
| Place | Type | Population | Median income | Median rent | From county center |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Granville | village | 1,472 | $70,556 | $763 | 6 mi |
| Hennepin | village | 929 | $83,000 | $849 | 4 mi |
| Mark | village | 574 | $79,063 | $938 | 5 mi |
| Standard | village | 250 | $60,000 | $850 | 7 mi |
| McNabb | village | 233 | $84,000 | $833 | 5 mi |
| Magnolia | village | 232 | $81,406 | n/a | 8 mi |
A Putnam County household budget, worked through
Here is the Putnam County median household run through a simple DTI check. Your numbers will differ.
- $75,590 a year is $6,299 of gross monthly income
- Less median rent of $851, which is 14% of it
- Under a 36% cap, $2,268 total minus rent leaves $1,417
Car, student loan and card payments come out of that room first. Try your own numbers in the calculator.
Borrowing situations common in Putnam County
Based on the Putnam County data above, these borrowing questions are most likely to matter locally.
- Vehicle repairs. 19% of Putnam County workers commute 45+ minutes, so a breakdown can cost a paycheck. Get two written estimates.
- Retirees. At a median age of 47.4, many borrowers here rely on award letters as proof of income; favor no prepayment penalty.
- Check your file. An error fixed before you apply can change the offers a Putnam County borrower sees (free reports).
Putnam County households compared
College graduates make up 23% of the adult population. The uninsured rate is 3.0%, against 6.9% for Illinois.
| Measure | Putnam County | Illinois statewide | Typical U.S. county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 47.4 | 39.0 | 41.5 |
| Bachelor's or higher | 22.9% | 37.8% | 22.2% |
| No high school diploma | 5.8% | 9.5% | n/a |
| No health insurance | 3.0% | 6.9% | 7.8% |
| No vehicle | 3.2% | 11.0% | 5.4% |
| Work from home | 7.2% | 15.9% | 8.7% |
| Poverty rate | 8.1% | 11.8% | 13.2% |
| Unemployment (ACS) | 4.2% | 5.8% | 4.4% |
| Trip time | Share |
|---|---|
| Under 15 min | 21.7% |
| 15 to 29 min | 37.1% |
| 30 to 44 min | 22.1% |
| 45 to 59 min | 9.6% |
| 60+ min | 9.5% |
A Putnam County borrower's checklist
Quick steps for Putnam County:
- Price the Putnam County expense first and borrow that amount, no more.
- Line up offers side by side: APR, fees in dollars, total cost.
- Only work with lenders licensed for Illinois borrowers.
- Ask a Putnam County credit union about member loans.
Lender oversight for Putnam County
Before sharing details with a lender, a Putnam County resident can confirm its license with the Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation. Banks and credit unions have their own regulators, and the CFPB takes complaints about any lender. The Illinois guide covers state rules in more detail.
Nearby and statewide guides
The Illinois guide covers the whole state.
Frequently asked questions
How much do households in Putnam County earn?
The median is $75,590; 31% earn $100,000 or more and 16% under $35,000. A lender uses your own documented income, not this figure.
How does Putnam County rent compare with Illinois?
$851 locally versus $1,274 for the state, 33% below.
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.
What are the biggest places in Putnam County?
By population: Granville, Hennepin, Mark, Standard, McNabb. The county has 6 Census places in all.
Does my county matter to the questionnaire?
Only your state does. Whether you live in Putnam County or elsewhere in Illinois, the same rules apply.