Cost of Living in Putnam County, Indiana
At a Glance
Rent burden measured as median gross rent as a percentage of renter household income (Census ACS B25071)
These figures are county medians, not a personal budget. Use them to frame rent, ownership, and income tradeoffs, then account for household size, commute, financing, insurance, taxes, debt, and local availability before making a decision.
How Putnam County Compares
Median monthly rent comparison
Detailed Housing Stats
National Ranking
Affordability Rank
Putnam County ranks #2,045 of 3,142 counties for affordability (bottom 35%)
Sourced county brief
Putnam County Official GRAPI Higher Than State Unweighted County Mean
The official ACS B25071 median gross rent as a percentage of household income in Putnam County was 30.1%, which is 3.2 percentage points higher than the Indiana unweighted county mean of 26.9%. The median gross rent was estimated at $884 per month, below the unweighted county mean of $911. For owner-occupied housing, the median selected monthly owner cost was $1,109, exceeding the state unweighted county mean of $951. The median home value in the county was reported at $218,900, while the Indiana unweighted county mean was $191,899. Median renter-household income for the period was estimated at $33,992. These statistics represent findings from the 2020-2024 American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates. All housing cost data presented here are based on canonical census sources for the designated five-year snapshot. See ACS table B25071 for the underlying estimate.
Source record
- U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2020-2024 5-Year Estimates — B25064 Median Gross Rent
- U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2020-2024 5-Year Estimates — B25071 GRAPI
- U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2020-2024 5-Year Estimates — B25077 Median Home Value
- U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2020-2024 5-Year Estimates — B25088 Selected Monthly Owner Costs
- U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2020-2024 5-Year Estimates — B25119 Household Income by Tenure
Data version acs5-2020-2024 · Method cost-brief-v1
Cost of Living Advisory: Putnam County
Affordability Verdict
ACS B25071 estimates median gross rent at 30.1% of renter household income in Putnam County, which is between the 30% and 50% rent-burden benchmarks. This is a median percentage among renter-occupied units, not the share of households above a threshold.
Rent vs. Own
Median gross rent is $884 per month; median selected monthly owner costs are $1,109. These ACS medians describe different tenure groups and are not a personalized rent-versus-buy calculation.
Income Needed
Using the common 30% budgeting benchmark, $35,360 in annual gross income would allocate 30% to the county's median gross rent. This is a reproducible illustration, not evidence that a particular household can afford housing.
Regional Context
The Indiana unweighted mean of county median rents is $911 per month. Putnam County's $884 median is 2.9% below that comparison value.
Data version acs5-2020-2024 · Method cost-advisory-v2
Affordability Calculator
See how your income compares to housing costs in Putnam County
Rent Burden
13.5%
of gross income
Max Housing (28% Rule)
$1,829
per month
Owner Cost Burden
17.0%
of gross income
You can likely afford the median home in Putnam County
Median home value is $218,900. Estimated monthly cost: $1,748 vs. your max of $1,829.
Rent Affordability Guide
Income Needed Calculator
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Based on the 30% rule for rent and 28% rule for housing costs (mortgage + owner costs). Mortgage estimate assumes 20% down, 7.2% interest, 30-year fixed.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the cost of living in Putnam County, Indiana?
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See Today's RatesData: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey (ACS) 5-Year Estimates (2020-2024). Data is informational only and is not personalized financial advice.
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