1st Advantage MortgageAbout 61% of Putnam County homes are owner-occupied, and the median household income is $58,912. 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
- Who lives in Putnam County
- The Putnam County job picture
- Income in Putnam County compared with Tennessee
- Rent, home values and ownership in Putnam County
- Counties near Putnam County
- Places inside Putnam County
- A Putnam County household budget, worked through
- Borrowing situations common in Putnam County
- Who lives in Putnam County, in numbers
- A Putnam County borrower's checklist
- Licensing and complaints for Putnam County
- Related local guides
- Frequently asked questions
Who lives in Putnam County
Roughly 82,558 residents live in Putnam County, Tennessee, 17th by population among the state's 95 counties and county equivalents. Land area is 401 square miles (2024 Gazetteer), so density runs near 206 per square mile. No metropolitan area includes Putnam County in the 2023 federal delineation, so its numbers stand on their own rather than as part of a metro. Cookeville is the biggest of its 4 Census places, at roughly 36,088 people (44% of the county total).
The Putnam County job picture
Education and health care employs 23% of working residents, the largest share; retail trade is next with 14%. Retail trade stands out: 14% of workers here, versus 12% statewide. The survey's unemployment rate for Putnam County averages 3.7% over 2020 to 2024 (state: 4.7%). About 79% drive to work alone and 10% have trips of 45 minutes or more. Households without a car make up 3.8% of the total (5.2% statewide).
| Industry (employed residents 16+) | Putnam County | Gap to Tennessee |
|---|---|---|
| Education and health care | 22.9% | +0.5 pts |
| Retail trade | 13.8% | +2.2 pts |
| Manufacturing | 13.7% | +1.2 pts |
| Arts, lodging and food service | 11.0% | +2.1 pts |
| Professional and administrative services | 8.9% | -1.8 pts |
| Construction | 6.7% | -0.4 pts |
A lender verifies what your own job pays. The county's industry mix tells you about the local economy, not about your application.
Income in Putnam County compared with Tennessee
Putnam County households have a median income of $58,912 (ACS 2020 to 2024), which ranks 50th of 95 in Tennessee.
| Households earning | Putnam County | +/- vs Tennessee |
|---|---|---|
| Under $35,000 | 29.6% | +5.6 pts |
| $35,000 to $99,999 | 43.3% | +0.9 pts |
| $100,000 to $199,999 | 21.3% | -3.2 pts |
| $200,000 or more | 5.7% | -3.2 pts |
Some 30% of households here live on less than $35,000 a year; 27% have six-figure incomes. The poverty rate is 18.4%, 5 points higher than the state's 13.8%. The Gini index of income inequality is 0.461 (0 is perfect equality). None of these numbers decides a Putnam County application. Lenders weigh your own documented income against your own debts.
Rent, home values and ownership in Putnam County
A typical Putnam County rental runs $908 a month including utilities, which is 24% below Tennessee. Rent takes 30% or more of income for 49% of renter households here. Home values center on $282,500, or 4.8 years of median income. 61% of Putnam County households own their home and 39% rent. Median construction year: 1991.
| Putnam County | Tennessee | U.S. county median | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median gross rent | $908/mo | $1,189/mo | $877/mo |
| Median home value | $282,500 | $286,700 | $185,300 |
| Owners | 61% | 67% | 75% |
| Rent-burdened renters | 49% | 49% | 45% |
| Burdened owners | 24% | 25% | n/a |
| Vacant units | 8% | 10% | n/a |
Counties near Putnam County
Distances run center to center, from White County at 15 miles out to Clay County at 28. 1 of the six report a higher median household income than Putnam County; Smith County is highest at $66,293 and Clay County lowest at $39,972.
| County | Distance | Median income | Median rent | Owners |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Putnam County | - | $58,912 | $908/mo | 61% |
| White County, TN | 15 mi | $52,188 | $849/mo | 77% |
| Jackson County, TN | 18 mi | $47,951 | $758/mo | 81% |
| Overton County, TN | 18 mi | $48,959 | $832/mo | 77% |
| DeKalb County, TN | 22 mi | $53,153 | $839/mo | 73% |
| Smith County, TN | 26 mi | $66,293 | $922/mo | 77% |
| Clay County, TN | 28 mi | $39,972 | $557/mo | 74% |
Places inside Putnam County
The table lists the 4 largest of 4 Census places in Putnam County, by population. Together all 4 hold about 44,253 people, so roughly 46% of residents live outside any named place. Incomes vary by place: $58,750 at the median in Baxter, $42,359 in Algood. Median rent ranges from $715 in Monterey to $917 in Cookeville. Live in one of these Putnam County communities, or between them? This is your local guide.
| Town or CDP | Type | People | Median household income | Median gross rent | Miles from center |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cookeville | city | 36,088 | $51,375 | $917 | 1 mi |
| Algood | city | 4,036 | $42,359 | $817 | 5 mi |
| Monterey | town | 2,768 | $45,922 | $715 | 13 mi |
| Baxter | town | 1,361 | $58,750 | $914 | 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.
- Start: $4,909 gross per month ($58,912 / 12)
- 18% goes to median rent ($908)
- $859: what a 36% ratio leaves once rent is paid
Lenders set their own limits and look beyond the ratio. The DTI calculator uses your figures instead of Putnam County's.
Borrowing situations common in Putnam County
The county's numbers point to a few situations that come up often for Putnam County borrowers.
- Uninsured care. 11% lack coverage here; nonprofit hospitals must publish an assistance policy, so ask for it first (guide).
- Assistance before credit. With a 18% poverty rate, check no-cost options before any Putnam County loan.
- Rent squeeze. 49% of renters spend 30%+ of income on rent; borrow only if the loan cuts what you pay overall.
Who lives in Putnam County, in numbers
30% of Putnam County adults 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or more. About 11% go without health insurance.
| Putnam County | Tennessee | U.S. county median | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 36.0 | 38.9 | 41.5 |
| Bachelor's or higher | 29.8% | 31.1% | 22.2% |
| No high school diploma | 11.0% | 10.0% | n/a |
| No health insurance | 10.6% | 10.0% | 7.8% |
| No vehicle | 3.8% | 5.2% | 5.4% |
| Work from home | 10.1% | 12.9% | 8.7% |
| Poverty rate | 18.4% | 13.8% | 13.2% |
| Unemployment (ACS) | 3.7% | 4.7% | 4.4% |
| Minutes to work | Putnam County workers |
|---|---|
| Under 15 min | 36.6% |
| 15 to 29 min | 40.1% |
| 30 to 44 min | 13.4% |
| 45 to 59 min | 3.6% |
| 60+ min | 6.3% |
A Putnam County borrower's checklist
A short checklist for Putnam County borrowers:
- Price the Putnam County expense first and borrow that amount, no more.
- Compare the total repaid on every offer, not just the payment.
- Only work with lenders licensed for Tennessee borrowers.
- Pick the shortest term whose payment still fits.
Licensing and complaints for Putnam County
Putnam County borrowers fall under statewide rules, enforced by the Tennessee Department of Financial Institutions. Federal complaints: consumerfinance.gov. More on Tennessee: Tennessee personal loans.
Related local guides
For statewide rules and data, see the Tennessee guide.
Frequently asked questions
Is Putnam County a high-income county?
Its $58,912 median ranks 50th of 95 Tennessee counties and compares with $65,681 for the median U.S. county.
How does Putnam County rent compare with Tennessee?
$908 locally versus $1,189 for the state, 24% below.
I live in a small Putnam County town. Is this my guide?
Yes. If your town has no city guide, this county page is the local one; it covers Cookeville, Algood, Monterey, Baxter.
Will a Putnam County address affect my match?
Beyond confirming Tennessee as your state, no. Your answers about amount, credit, income and payments are all that count.
Who regulates personal lenders for Putnam County residents?
The Tennessee Department of Financial Institutions licenses consumer lenders in Tennessee; the CFPB takes complaints about any lender, and the FTC wants to hear about fee-first offers.