Groundwork

County profile · West Virginia

Putnam County, WV market data

Population, household spending and competition for 56 business types in Putnam County, each scored against other counties.

Population, 2025
56,885
−1.0% since 2020
Households
23,251
Median household income
$79,527
+32.3% vs. 2015–2019, before inflation
Median home value
$223,300
Jobs located here
22,705
Highest market score
77
Clothing, shoes and laundry, #181 of 2,210 scored counties

A site report maps the competitors on map listings around any address in Putnam County by name and distance, and the households and spending within reach. Or open the report at the center of Putnam County. Signed out, you see a blurred preview; on an account, each report is one action.

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Survey estimates 2020–2024 · population estimates 2025 · official business counts 2023 · map listings September 2026 · Data credits · How we measure

What this means

An estimated 56,885 people live in Putnam County, in 23,251 households. Population estimates put the population change in Putnam County from 2020 to 2025 at −1.0%, against +3.1% for the U.S. The median household income in Putnam County is $79,527 a year, in line with the U.S. median of $80,734. That rose 32.3% from the 2015–2019 survey, before inflation.

Set against the U.S., households in Putnam County spend the most on vehicle insurance (an index of 127, where 100 is the U.S. average) and the least on memberships, classes and admissions (80).

The highest Groundwork market scores in Putnam County are for clothing, shoe and laundry businesses (77); clothing and shoe stores (76); and bakeries and dessert shops (73). Putnam County ranks #181 of 2,210 scored counties for clothing, shoe and laundry businesses.

Putnam County is part of the Huntington-Ashland metro area. For its number of households, Putnam County has the most map listings, relative to the U.S., for mortgage brokers and lenders (60% above the U.S. rate) and the fewest for clothing, shoe and laundry businesses (65% below the U.S. rate).

All 56 business types in Putnam County

Highest Groundwork market score first. Each score compares Putnam County with other counties for that business type, from 0 to 100. Spending per listing divides a whole spending line (all vehicle repairs, all eating out) by one type’s listings: the demand for each competitor, not a business’s revenue. Compare it across markets with its index, where 100 is the U.S. figure for the same type; the real estate types, whose line is all housing costs, show the index only. How the score works.

Every business type in Putnam County, WV, highest Groundwork market score first, with its rank among counties, listings, listings per 10,000 households, spending per listing and official establishments
Business typeScoreRank among countiesListingsPer 10k householdsSpending per listingSpending per listing vs. U.S. (100)Official establishments
Clothing, shoes and laundry77#181 of 2,210198.2$2.4M2734
Clothing and shoe stores76#208 of 2,087146.0$3.3M2574
Bakeries and dessert shops73#205 of 1,889156.5$6.1M1483
Veterinarians72#234 of 1,48573.0$3.1M1154
Sit-down restaurants72#314 of 2,4058737.4$1.1M15928
Hair salons68#345 of 2,3393213.8$678K1587
Grocery and convenience stores68#503 of 2,4024218.1$3.4M1018
Coffee shops and cafes66#410 of 2,063219.0$4.4M1183
Pet businesses66#429 of 2,2002410.3$913K10410
Restaurants and cafes65#544 of 2,40517274.0$534K14488
Real estate agents and brokers61#514 of 2,1763314.2Index only20112
Grocery stores60#686 of 2,070166.9$9M977
Salons, barbers and spas59#701 of 2,3857733.1$282K13311
Electricians57#417 of 1,16052.2$13.9M11516
Auto repair shops57#847 of 2,3783916.8$547K12318
Lawn, cleaning and pest control56#634 of 1,771187.7$2M11839
Convenience stores56#896 of 2,261219.0$6.8M87Under 3
Martial arts and dance studios54#547 of 1,33493.9$2M1014
Optometrists and eye care54#583 of 1,30283.4$3.4M1073
Landscaping and lawn care52#652 of 1,493125.2$3M10230
Barbershops51#670 of 1,35693.9$2.4M128Under 3
Gyms51#888 of 1,792187.7$1M784
Gyms, studios and classes51#999 of 2,0882812.0$656K998
Auto repair and car care49#1,260 of 2,4017733.1$277K10328
Insurance agencies48#1,176 of 2,2723715.9$1.6M12424
Roofing and gutters47#654 of 1,17783.4$8.7M1027
Property management46#527 of 91093.9Index only724
Real estate46#1,286 of 2,2296226.7Index only13526
Child care and preschools45#955 of 1,611135.6$875K8715
Pet grooming and boarding44#865 of 1,461125.2$1.8M726
Collision repair and body shops43#816 of 1,32783.4$2.7M875
Home repair trades43#1,368 of 2,0573414.6$2M8442
HVAC and plumbing42#1,146 of 1,707219.0$3.3M6919
Physical therapy41#942 of 1,422104.3$2.7M11211
Gas stations41#1,546 of 2,3583715.9$1.8M7731
Spas and skin care40#1,237 of 1,769229.5$987K113Under 3
Pizza40#1,432 of 2,090229.5$4.2M8255
Doctors, dentists and clinics40#1,665 of 2,39414662.8$184K12160
Funeral homes38#1,028 of 1,47273.0$476K706
Chiropractors37#1,087 of 1,490125.2$2.2M94Under 3
Fast food and sandwich shops37#1,597 of 2,2223615.5$2.6M8455
Nail salons36#1,023 of 1,328146.0$1.6M93Under 3
Dentists and orthodontists34#1,511 of 1,8862812.0$960K9818
Primary care and pediatrics33#1,331 of 1,656239.9$1.2M6628
Car washes and detailing32#1,171 of 1,451125.2$1.8M714
Tire shops30#1,245 of 1,530135.6$1.6M665
Mortgage brokers and lenders21#866 of 887166.9Index only58Under 3
Home inspectorsNot scoredNot scored41.7Index only343
House cleaningNot scoredNot scored31.3$11.9M1866
Oil change and quick lubeNot scoredNot scored31.3$7.1M52Under 3
Pest controlNot scoredNot scored31.3$11.9M1163
Pet storesNot scoredNot scored31.3$7.3M161Under 3
LaundromatsNot scoredNot scored20.9$22.8MToo fewUnder 3
Yoga, Pilates and fitness studiosNot scoredNot scored10.4$18.4MToo few4
Dry cleanersNot scoredNot scored00.0None listedNone listedUnder 3
Urgent care and walk-in clinicsNot scoredNot scored00.0None listedNone listedUnder 3

Household spending in Putnam County

What households here spend in a year on each line, in total and per household, with the index against the U.S. average (100).

Annual household spending in Putnam County, WV by line, per household, and against the U.S.
Spending lineA year, all householdsPer householdIndex vs. U.S. (100)
Vehicle maintenance and repairs$21.3M$91896
Gasoline and other fuels$67.6M$2,909112
Food away from home$91.9M$3,95197
Groceries$143.8M$6,18498
Personal care products and services$21.7M$93393
Child care and other personal services$11.4M$48984
Memberships, classes and admissions$18.4M$79080
Medical and dental services$26.9M$1,15790
Pets$21.9M$942104
Clothing, shoes and related services$45.7M$1,96596
Vehicle insurance$57.8M$2,486127
Home repairs, maintenance and insurance$69.3M$2,98099
Lawn care, cleaning and other household services$35.7M$1,536109
Rent and homeowner costs$362.2M$15,58094

Household spending is estimated from the incomes of the households in each neighborhood, using what households at each income spent nationally in 2024, adjusted for the region. It counts what residents spend, wherever they spend it.

Population and households in Putnam County

Population, 2025 estimate
56,885−1.0% since 2020
Households
23,251
Median age
42.2
Homes lived in by their owners
82%
Vehicles per household
1.9
Land area
346 sq. mi.
People per square mile
165
Median household income
$79,527+32.3% vs. 2015–2019, before inflation
Average household income
$101,714
Median home value
$223,300
Jobs located here
22,705
Daytime population
55,529Residents who don’t work, plus everyone whose job is here

Looking at a specific site in Putnam County?

These figures cover the whole county. A site report draws rings around one address and counts what’s inside them: households, spending, jobs, and the competitors on map listings by name and distance, for any of the 56 business types.

Or open the report at the center of Putnam County. Signed out, you see a blurred preview; on an account, each report is one action.

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Putnam County is part of the Huntington-Ashland, WV-KY-OH metro area.

Questions

How fast is Putnam County, WV growing?

Population estimates put Putnam County at 56,885 people in 2025, down 1.0% since 2020, against +3.1% for the U.S. It has 23,251 households. Against the 2015–2019 survey, median household income rose 32.3%, before inflation.

How much do households in Putnam County, WV spend?

Households in Putnam County spend about $362.2M a year on rent and homeowner costs, $143.8M on groceries and $91.9M on food away from home. Relative to the U.S., household spending in Putnam County runs highest on vehicle insurance (an index of 127, where 100 is the U.S. average) and lowest on memberships, classes and admissions (80).

Which business types have the highest market scores in Putnam County, WV?

Of the business types scored in Putnam County, clothing, shoe and laundry businesses (77); clothing and shoe stores (76); and bakeries and dessert shops (73) have the highest Groundwork market scores. For clothing, shoe and laundry businesses, that ranks #181 of 2,210 scored counties.

How does Putnam County, WV compare with the U.S.?

Median household income in Putnam County is $79,527, in line with the U.S. median of $80,734. The population fell 1.0% from 2020 to 2025, against +3.1% for the U.S. The median home value is $223,300, against $332,700 for the U.S. Against the U.S., map listings per household run highest for mortgage brokers and lenders (60% above the U.S. rate) and lowest for clothing, shoe and laundry businesses (65% below the U.S. rate).

What is the Groundwork market score?

The Groundwork market score runs from 0 to 100 and compares a market with others of its kind for one business type: states with states, metro areas with metro areas, small-town markets and counties with their own. It weighs household spending per competitor (35%), households per business with payroll (25%), population growth (20%) and spending power (20%), each ranked against those peers. A higher score means that, taken together, the market has more household spending and more households for each business already there, faster population growth and more spending per household than similar markets. It describes a market, not any one site or deal. 47 of the 56 business types have a score in Putnam County, each ranked against other counties.

How can I see the market around a specific site?

Run a Groundwork site report on an address in Putnam County. It maps the competitors on map listings near the site and sizes the households and spending within the distance you choose. New accounts get 10 actions over 3 days, no card.

All markets in West Virginia · Every U.S. market · How we measure

Screening a site or an acquisition in Putnam County?

A site report maps the competitors on map listings near an address and sizes the households and spending around it.

The button opens the report at the center of Putnam County. Signed out, you see a blurred preview; on an account, each report is one action.

This product uses the Census Bureau Data API but is not endorsed or certified by the Census Bureau.

Figures are estimates for research only. Not investment or real estate advice.