In Putnam County, Illinois, rent on a two-bedroom takes about one in seven dollars of the typical household's income
In Putnam County, 13.8% of the typical household's income would go to rent on a two-bedroom. That is lower than in 99% of U.S. counties.
Less distressed than 75% of U.S. counties.
What drives Putnam County's score
In Putnam County, jobs are the highest-scoring part, at 63.4. Housing costs are the lowest part, at 17.9.
The County Distress Index looks at five parts of household money trouble in Putnam County: jobs, late payments on loans, income and the safety net, collections and bankruptcy, and housing costs. Each part is scored from 0 to 100, and a higher score means worse off than other counties.
Even so, Putnam County is worse off than most counties on unemployment rate, average over the latest year (5.0%, Oct 2025 to Sep 2026).
A longer bar means more trouble. See how the county score works.
- 63.4 of 100
Jobs
Biggest factorUnemployment through Sep 2026; adults not working, 2020–24 Census survey
- Unemployment rate, average over the latest year5.0% · Oct 2025 to Sep 202682nd percentile
- Adults 25 to 54 not working19.8% · 2020 to 202444th percentile
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- 40.2 of 100
Collections and bankruptcy
Credit records, August 2025; bankruptcy filings, 2025
- People with unpaid debt sent to a collector11.2% · August 20256th percentile
- Bankruptcy filings per 100,000 people197.8 · 202574th percentile
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- 35.3 of 100
Late payments
Credit records, August 2025; credit scores, second quarter of 2026
- People with a credit card behind6.3% · August 202563rd percentile
- People with a car or retail loan behind3.7% · August 202527th percentile
- People with a subprime credit score30.5% · second quarter of 202614th percentile
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- 19.5 of 100
Income and safety net
Poverty and income, 2024; disability and insurance, 2020–24 Census survey
- People below the poverty line7.7% · 20246th percentile
- Children below the poverty line11.2% · 202418th percentile
- People with a disability16.0% · 2020 to 202450th percentile
- People without health insurance3.0% · 2020 to 20245th or lower percentile
- Median household income (lower income, longer bar)$81,998 · 202417th percentile
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- 17.9 of 100
Housing costs
Renters, 2020–24 Census survey; HUD's fair market rents, fiscal year 2027
- Renters paying half their income or more in rent14.9% · 2020 to 202430th percentile
- Rent on a two-bedroom as a share of the median income13.8% · fiscal year 20275th or lower percentile
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Sources: Urban Institute, Debt in America; Equifax via the St. Louis Fed; Administrative Office of the U.S. Courts, Table F-5A; U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey; U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development Fair Market Rents and Census income; U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Local Area Unemployment Statistics; Census Bureau, Small Area Income and Poverty Estimates. County Distress Index by American Default Research, from data through Sep 2026.
Where the money in Putnam County comes from
Benefit checks are Social Security, Medicare and Medicaid paid on people's behalf, veterans' benefits, and food and income support, so a high share usually means an older population, low pay, or both. In Putnam County, 24.6% of residents are 65 or older (Census Bureau, 2024), against 17.2% nationally that year.
Cents of every dollar of income, 2024
Putnam County
Illinois
United States
- Pay from work
- Investments and rent
- Benefit checks
Benefit checks' share of income in Putnam County fell most sharply after its 2009 high, from 20.0% in 2009 to 14.0% in 2014.
In Putnam County, benefit checks' share of income has tripled since 1969, reaching 19.3% in 2024, but pay from work still brings in more than three times as much as benefit checks
In Putnam County, Illinois, benefit checks' share of income tripled from 1969 to 2024, reaching 19.3%; pay from work is plotted alongside. Every fifth year and 2024 are shown.
- Benefit checks
- Pay from work
The share of households in Putnam County getting SNAP food aid had its largest drop, from 11.3% in 2013 to 8.8% in 2014.
The share of households in Putnam County getting SNAP food aid was at its highest on the chart in 2013 and has since fallen by about a quarter
Low on the chart: 6.0% in 2009. Households getting SNAP, every year; each bar is a five-year survey estimate ending that year, so neighboring bars share most of their data, Putnam County, Illinois.
How Putnam County has changed
Putnam County's population had its largest rise, from 5,468 in 1974 to 6,048 in 1979.
Putnam County's population was at its highest on the chart in 1984 and is down 8% since
High on the chart: 6,090 in 1984. Residents, yearly estimate, every fifth year and 2024, Putnam County, Illinois.
The number of jobs located in Putnam County had its largest rise in the last span, from 1,721 in 2020 to 2,002 in 2025.
The number of jobs located in Putnam County fell 18% from 1990 to 2025, with its low point on the chart in 2020
Low on the chart: 1,721 in 2020. Yearly average of jobs covered by unemployment insurance, every fifth year and 2025, Putnam County, Illinois.
| Measure | Then | Now |
|---|---|---|
| Unemployment rateBLS LAUS | 1990 6.9% | 2025 5.0% |
| People below the poverty lineCensus SAIPE | 1989 5.4% | 2024 7.7% |
| Median household incomeCensus SAIPE | 1989 $31,750 | 2024 $81,998 |
Figures are as each agency published them, not adjusted for prices.
Dated events in Putnam County's history
1825
Formed in 1825 out of Fulton County. Wikipedia
1920
The county's largest recorded population was the 1920 Census count of 7,579. The 2020 Census counted 5,637, 74% of the peak. Census Bureau
2003
A thunderstorm in April 2003 did $3 million in property damage. NOAA Storm Events Database
2003
A thunderstorm in April 2003 did $1 million in property damage. NOAA Storm Events Database
2004
A tornado in April 2004 did $8 million in property damage. NOAA Storm Events Database
2009
J&L Steel / ArcelorMittal ceased production in March 2009 and imploded June 22, 2017. Wikipedia
2009
J&L Steel mill closed March 2009. Wikipedia
2010
A tornado in June 2010 did $1,000,000 in property damage. NOAA Storm Events Database
2019
Hennepin Power Station coal-fired plant retired November 1, 2019. Wikipedia
2019
Hennepin Power Station coal plant retired November 1, 2019. Wikipedia
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Since 1979
11 federal disaster and emergency declarations have covered Putnam County, 3 of them for flooding. FEMA
Putnam County beside its neighbors
Of the three counties that border Putnam County, two score higher. Of the group, Putnam County gets the smallest share of its income from benefit checks; Marshall County gets the largest, at 26.4%.
| County | Score | Poverty | Benefit checks |
|---|---|---|---|
| LaSalle County, IL | 41 | 12.8% | 23.9% |
| Marshall County, IL | 26 | 9.2% | 26.4% |
| Putnam County, IL | 24 | 7.7% | 19.3% |
| Bureau County, IL | 18 | 9.2% | 26.0% |
Distress score: American Default Research, County Distress Index, data through Sep 2026; each county scored against all 3,144. Poverty rate: Census Bureau, Small Area Income and Poverty Estimates, 2024. Benefit checks: Bureau of Economic Analysis, 2024. Neighbors share a border, from Census county maps.
Is Putnam County the poorest county in Illinois?
No, Putnam County's poverty rate was 7.7% in 2024, 92nd highest of 102 in Illinois (U.S. Census Bureau, Small Area Income and Poverty Estimates). By that measure the poorest county in the state is Alexander County, at 24.8%. On our distress index, which counts more than poverty, Putnam County ranks 77th of 102 in the state.
If you're behind on your mortgage in Putnam County
Housing counselors approved by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development work at nonprofit agencies. The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau describes free foreclosure-avoidance counseling, including help with mortgage-company conversations and available options Source CFPB.
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Prairie State Legal Services
Legal aid
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Illinois Legal Aid Online (ILAO)
Legal help website
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HUD-approved housing counselors
Our help directory lists 1,010 agencies approved for foreclosure counseling, by state.
The score, its 14 measures and their sources, in one file. Free to use with credit to American Default Research.
Download the CSV for Putnam County · Every U.S. county (CSV)
Sources and method
- American Default Research · County Distress Index Data through Sep 2026, built from Urban Institute, Debt in America; Equifax via the St. Louis Fed; U.S. Courts, Table F-5A; Census Bureau, American Community Survey; HUD Fair Market Rents and Census income; Bureau of Labor Statistics, Local Area Unemployment Statistics; Census Bureau, Small Area Income and Poverty Estimates. The County Distress Index is American Default Research's own calculation; the Urban Institute does not produce or endorse it. Our methodology
- Urban Institute · Debt in America Breno Braga, Signe-Mary McKernan, Samantha Atherton, and Kassandra Martinchek, "Debt in America," last updated November 20, 2025, https://datacatalog.urban.org/dataset/debt-america-2025. Licensed under ODC-By 1.0.
- Rent on a two-bedroom and household income The rent share compares HUD fair market rent for fiscal year 2027 with Census Bureau median household income for 2024. The page calls this the typical household's income.
- U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Economic Accounts (CAINC4) · income shares Where the money in Putnam County comes from, 2024.
- History The agencies named in each row and the linked records above.