HomeWest VirginiaPutnam County
Putnam County, West Virginia: commercial real estate data.
Putnam County, West Virginia had an estimated 57,067 residents on July 1, 2024, down 0.6 percent since the 2020 census base of 57,436, across 346 square miles. County output reached $3.83 bn in 2024, 1,248 establishments operate here, and the SBA record carries 59 7(a) approvals worth $14.2 m since FY2020.
Underlined figures are computed by MMCG Analytics, not published by the agency.
Putnam County
How many people live in Putnam County
- Population, American Community Survey 2020-202457,177
- Households23,251
- Average household size2.46
- Median household income$79,527
- Median age42.6
- Median gross rent$952 per month
- Median owner-occupied home value$223,300
- Home value to household income2.8 times
- Annual rent as a share of median income14.4 percent
- Adults 25 and over with a bachelor degree or higher29.1 percent
- Adults 25 and over with a graduate degree11.2 percent
- Adults 25 and over40,602
- Population under 1812,295
- Share under 1821.5 percent
- Population 65 and over11,255
- Share 65 and over19.7 percent
- Working age population, 18 to 6433,627
- Civilian labor force27,375
- Unemployment rate3.1 percent
- Labor force participation, adults 18 and over61.0 percent
- Rank by population among West Virginia counties10th of 55
- Rank by population among US county-equivalents, Puerto Rico included926th of 3,222
Putnam County is the 10th largest of 55 West Virginia counties by population. A median home costs 2.8 times median household income, which is affordable by national standards. Residents under 18 outnumber those 65 and over, at 21.5 percent against 19.7 percent, a household formation profile rather than a retirement one.
US Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates, 2020-2024 5-year.
Putnam County
Is Putnam County's population growing?
- Population, July 1, 202457,067
- Census 2020 base population57,436
- Population change since the 2020 census base-0.64 percent
- Population change, 2023 to 2024125
- Births, 2024482
- Deaths, 2024663
- Natural change, 2024-181
- Net domestic migration, 2024200
- Net international migration, 2024105
- Total net migration, 2024305
- Cumulative net domestic migration, 2021 to 2024183
- Rank by growth among US county-equivalents2071st of 3,144
The county has lost 0.64 percent of its population since the 2020 census base. Deaths exceeded births in 2024 and the population still grew, so all of the growth came from people moving in. A market held up by migration is more sensitive to a change in relative cost than one growing from household formation.
US Census Bureau, Population Estimates Program, Vintage 2024, Vintage 2024, estimates 2020 to 2024.
Putnam County
Where are people moving to Putnam County from?
- Tax returns filed by households arriving1,370
- People arriving, from those returns2,514
- Tax returns filed by households leaving1,392
- Net household movement-22
- Adjusted gross income arriving$84.8 m
- Net adjusted gross income movement$3.0 m
- Average income of an arriving household$61,884
- Average income of a leaving household$58,766
- Largest single originKanawha County (578 households)
- Largest single destinationKanawha County (503 households)
| Origin | Households | People | Adjusted gross income |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kanawha County | 578 | 1,060 | $33.3 m |
| Cabell County | 182 | 335 | $10.5 m |
| Mason County | 47 | 93 | $2.3 m |
| Lincoln County | 29 | 51 | $1.3 m |
| Jackson County | 23 | 44 | $850,000 |
Households arriving report $3,118 more average income than households leaving, so the migration is raising local spending power rather than just moving it around. The largest single source of arrivals is Kanawha County, which is the catchment a retail or multifamily study should look at first.
US Internal Revenue Service, Statistics of Income county migration flows, 2021 to 2022 filing years.
Putnam County
What is the Putnam County economy?
- County GDP, 2024$3.83 bn
- County GDP, 2023$3.52 bn
- GDP change, 2023 to 20248.7 percent
- GDP change over five years28.7 percent
- Rank by GDP among the West Virginia areas BEA publishes9th of 55
- Rank by GDP among the US county areas BEA publishes833rd of 3,127
- GDP per resident$67,015
Output grew 8.7 percent in the latest year and 28.7 percent over five, which is the trend line a lender will read behind any single year figure.
US Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional, table CAGDP2, CAGDP2, through 2024.
Putnam County
Employment by industry in Putnam County
- Covered employment, annual average21,217
- Establishments reporting1,894
- Average annual pay$64,360
- Average weekly wage$1,238
- Manufacturing, employment3,182
- Manufacturing, average annual pay$85,778
- Construction, employment2,689
- Construction, average annual pay$82,682
- Health care and social assistance, employment2,633
- Health care and social assistance, average annual pay$56,343
- Retail trade, employment2,290
- Retail trade, average annual pay$39,017
- Accommodation and food services, employment1,679
- Wholesale trade, employment1,173
| Sector | Employment | Establishments | Average annual pay |
|---|---|---|---|
| Manufacturing | 3,182 | 55 | $85,778 |
| Construction | 2,689 | 201 | $82,682 |
| Health care and social assistance | 2,633 | 297 | $56,343 |
| Retail trade | 2,290 | 182 | $39,017 |
| Accommodation and food services | 1,679 | 107 | $20,501 |
| Wholesale trade | 1,173 | 138 | $84,885 |
| Administrative and support and waste management services | 1,054 | 146 | $56,896 |
| Professional, scientific and technical services | 1,051 | 227 | $74,376 |
Manufacturing is the largest private sector at 3,182 jobs, 15.0 percent of covered employment.
US Bureau of Labor Statistics, Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages, 2024 annual averages.
Putnam County
How many businesses are in Putnam County?
- Establishments, all industries1,248
- Employment at those establishments19,036
- Annual payroll$1.11 bn
- Establishments per 1,000 residents21.8
These are counts of establishments physically operating in the county, not listings, so they are the supply side a feasibility study measures demand against. County Business Patterns counts private establishments with paid employees in March 2023, while the Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages above counts every unemployment-insured employer, public ones included, as a 2024 annual average, so the two establishment and employment counts differ.
US Census Bureau, County Business Patterns, 2023.
Putnam County
Building permits in Putnam County
- Housing units authorized by permit, 2024402
- Declared construction value permitted$82.5 m
- Single family units authorized96
- Multifamily units authorized306
- Multifamily share of units76.1 percent
- Average declared value per unit$205,253
- Units authorized per 1,000 households17.3
Multifamily is 76.1 percent of units authorized, so the pipeline is being built for renters rather than buyers.
US Census Bureau, Building Permits Survey, 2024 annual.
Putnam County
SBA loans in Putnam County (7(a) and 504)
- 7(a) approvals recorded59
- 7(a) gross approval dollars$14.2 m
- Average 7(a) approval$240,727
- Median 7(a) approval$75,000
- 10th percentile approval$20,000
- 90th percentile approval$540,000
- Largest single approval$2,625,000
- Jobs reported supported, 7(a)431
- Jobs per approval7.3
- Distinct 7(a) lenders active9
- Distinct industries receiving approvals32
- Median 7(a) term120 months
- Share of loans on real estate terms, 240 months or longer11.9 percent
- Loans on real estate terms7
- Loans on working capital terms, 120 months or shorter52
- Franchise loans2
- Franchise share of approvals3.4 percent
- Leading industry by approval countPlumbing, Heating, and Air-Conditioning Contractors (8)
- Most active lenderThe Huntington National Bank (47)
- 504 approvals recorded2
- 504 gross approval dollars$623,000
- Average 504 approval$311,500
- Median 504 approval$311,500
- Distinct CDCs active1
- 504 jobs per approval12.5
- 504 jobs per million dollars approved40.1
- Combined SBA approval dollars, 7(a) FY2020 to FY2026 and 504 FY2010 to FY2026$14.8 m
The average approval of $240,727 sits well above the median of $75,000, pulled up by a few larger deals, so the median is the better guide to what a typical borrower here gets. Only 11.9 percent of approvals run on real estate terms, so SBA credit here is mostly working capital and equipment rather than property acquisition.
US Small Business Administration, 7(a) FOIA release, FY2020 to FY2026 year to date, as of 2026-06-30. US Small Business Administration, 504 FOIA release, FY2010 to FY2026 year to date, as of 2026-06-30.
Putnam County
SBA loan default and charge-off rates in Putnam County
Do SBA loans in Putnam County get paid back?
- Loans with a final outcome recorded11
- Paid in full11
- Charged off0
- Status: Paid in full11
- Status: Cancelled5
- Status: Exempt from disclosure39
- Status: Committed, not yet disbursed4
Only 11 loans have reached a final outcome, fewer than the 30 a charge-off rate needs, so no rate is published.
Compare against the national and state SBA charge-off rates, computed the same way over resolved loans only.
US Small Business Administration, 7(a) FOIA release, FY2020 to FY2026 year to date, as of 2026-06-30.
Putnam County
SBA lending by place in Putnam County
- Borrower cities with recorded lending8
- Scott Depot, approvals21
- Hurricane, approvals20
- Winfield, approvals9
- Eleanor, approvals3
- Bancroft, approvals2
- Poca, approvals2
| Borrower city | Approvals | Gross approval dollars |
|---|---|---|
| Scott Depot | 21 | $4,358,100 |
| Hurricane | 20 | $5,910,500 |
| Winfield | 9 | $3,032,500 |
| Eleanor | 3 | $348,800 |
| Bancroft | 2 | $225,000 |
| Poca | 2 | $178,000 |
| Buffalo | 1 | $100,000 |
| Scott Deport | 1 | $50,000 |
Scott Depot accounts for 21 approvals against 20 in Hurricane. County level figures average over that gap, which is why a site decision is made at the submarket rather than the county.
US Small Business Administration, 7(a) FOIA release, FY2020 to FY2026 year to date, as of 2026-06-30.
Putnam County
How large is Putnam County?
- Land area346 sq mi
- Rank by land area among West Virginia counties36th of 55
- Width, east to west19.9 mi
- Height, north to south28.7 mi
- Geographies sharing a boundary5
- Residents per square mile of land165
- Establishments per square mile3.61
US Census Bureau county boundary geometry, TIGER, adjacency computed from shared boundary vertices, TIGER county boundaries. US Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates, 2020-2024 5-year. US Census Bureau, County Business Patterns, 2023.
Putnam County
Flood risk in Putnam County
- Participation of the county's own NFIP community Putnam County, unincorporated areasParticipating, community 540164
- Community Rating System class of the county's own communityClass 9
- Communities in the county in the NFIP Community Status Book8
- Of those, participating in the NFIP8
- NFIP participation rate100.0 percent
- Best Community Rating System class in the county A lower CRS class is a larger flood insurance premium discount.Class 9
- Communities carrying a CRS class1
- Radon levels in Putnam County, EPA zone predicted average indoor radon screening level from 2 to 4 pCi/LZone 2
The county's own community in the status book, unincorporated Putnam County (community 540164), participates in the National Flood Insurance Program and carries Community Rating System class 9, a flood insurance premium discount for policies written there. The EPA places Putnam County in radon zone 2, a predicted average indoor radon screening level from 2 to 4 pCi/L. The zone is a screening prediction for the county and does not substitute for a test at an address. The best Community Rating System class among the county's communities is 9, which carries a flood insurance premium discount for policies written in that community. 100.0 percent of the county's listed communities participate in the National Flood Insurance Program, per Federal Emergency Management Agency, NFIP Community Status Book (OpenFEMA), as of 2026-09-26.
Federal Emergency Management Agency, NFIP Community Status Book (OpenFEMA), as of 2026-09-26. US EPA, Map of Radon Zones, county spreadsheet, 2024-05 publication, EPA 402/A-16/001.
Coverage
What this page does not hold.
Traffic counts, zoning and the flood zone at an address are not on this page; they resolve at the address in the platform. How this page was built →
Feasibility studies
When a Putnam County site needs a document a lender will accept.
The same data layer behind this page is the one the studies are written from. A study for a Putnam County site starts with the figures you are reading, carrying the same source and period into the credit file.
- Population, American Community Survey 2020-202457,177
- Households23,251
- Average household size2.46
- Median household income$79,527
- Median age42.6
Common questions
Putnam County questions, answered from the record.
How many people live in Putnam County, West Virginia?
The Census Bureau estimates 57,067 residents on July 1, 2024 (US Census Bureau, Population Estimates Program, Vintage 2024). The American Community Survey 2020-2024 five-year estimate is 57,177, in 23,251 households, ranking 10th of 55 West Virginia counties. Source: US Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates, 2020-2024 5-year.
Is Putnam County's population growing?
The population has fallen 0.64 percent since the 2020 census base of 57,436, to 57,067 on July 1, 2024. In 2024 there were 482 births against 663 deaths, with net migration of 305. Source: US Census Bureau, Population Estimates Program, Vintage 2024, Vintage 2024, estimates 2020 to 2024.
What is the median household income in Putnam County?
$79,527. The median owner-occupied home is valued at $223,300, which is 2.8 times income, and median gross rent is $952 per month. Source: US Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates, 2020-2024 5-year.
How many businesses are in Putnam County?
1,248 establishments, employing 19,036 people with an annual payroll of $1.11 bn. These are establishments physically operating in the county, not listings. Source: US Census Bureau, County Business Patterns, 2023.
What is employment by industry in Putnam County?
Manufacturing is the largest private sector at 3,182 jobs, 15.0 percent of covered employment. Covered employment averages 21,217 jobs at an average annual pay of $64,360, or $1,238 a week. Source: US Bureau of Labor Statistics, Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages, 2024 annual averages.
How much SBA lending happens in Putnam County?
59 7(a) approvals totaling $14.2 m since FY2020, across 9 lenders, with a median approval of $75,000, plus 2 504 approvals worth $623,000 since FY2010. These are approvals recorded in the release, not loans disbursed.
How many building permits were issued in Putnam County?
402 housing units were authorized by permit in 2024, with a declared construction value of $82.5 m. Multifamily was 76.1 percent of units. Source: US Census Bureau, Building Permits Survey, 2024 annual.
What is the radon zone for Putnam County?
Zone 2, a predicted average indoor radon screening level from 2 to 4 pCi/L. Source: US EPA, Map of Radon Zones, county spreadsheet, 2024-05 publication, EPA 402/A-16/001.
Where do people moving to Putnam County come from?
The largest single origin is Kanawha County, with 578 households. Arriving households report an average income of $61,884 against $58,766 for those leaving. Source: US Internal Revenue Service, Statistics of Income county migration flows, 2021 to 2022 filing years.
Are traffic counts available for Putnam County on this page?
No. Annual average daily traffic resolves in the platform rather than in this dataset, so no AADT figure is printed here. It is a gap we know about rather than a figure we estimated.
Is zoning published for Putnam County?
No. Nothing on this page presents parcel level zoning, and where a statutory framework applies it is marked as the statewide frame, to be confirmed locally.
Putnam County
Cities and places in Putnam.
11 Census places lie wholly or partly in Putnam County. All 11 carry enough published place level data for a page of their own and are linked.
| Place | Type | Population | SBA 7(a) approvals, projects in this county | Lies in |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Teays Valley | CDP | 14,151 | None recorded | Wholly in this county |
| Hurricane | city | 6,855 | 20 | Wholly in this county |
| Nitro | city | 6,853 | None recorded | 16.4 percent here, 83.6 percent Kanawha County |
| Culloden | CDP | 3,040 | None recorded | 7.6 percent here, 92.4 percent Cabell County |
| Winfield | town | 2,918 | 9 | Wholly in this county |
| Eleanor | town | 1,726 | 3 | Wholly in this county |
| Buffalo | town | 1,150 | 1 | Wholly in this county |
| Poca | town | 872 | 2 | Wholly in this county |
| Hometown | CDP | 756 | None recorded | Wholly in this county |
| Bancroft | town | 475 | 2 | Wholly in this county |
| Raymond City | CDP | 28 | None recorded | Wholly in this county |
A further 22 of the county's 59 SBA 7(a) approvals are to borrowers in cities that match no Census place in Putnam County, the largest being Scott Depot (21), Scott Deport (1). Those are postal cities, unincorporated areas and cities outside the county, so no place row claims them; they are counted in the county total above.