Cost of Living in Putnam County, Missouri
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 #722 of 3,142 counties for affordability (top 23%)
Sourced county brief
Putnam County Median Gross Rent Estimated at 521 Dollars
The median gross rent in Putnam County was estimated at $521 per month, falling $262 below the Missouri unweighted county mean of $783. The official ACS B25071 median gross rent as a percentage of household income (GRAPI) was 29.1%, a value that is 3.2 percentage points above the state unweighted county mean of 25.9%. In the owner-occupied sector, the median home value was $119,500, which is $56,212 below the Missouri unweighted county mean of $175,712. Median monthly owner costs were $861, compared to the state unweighted county mean of $803. The median renter-household income was recorded at $21,324. These statistics represent a fixed five-year estimate and do not suggest causal factors for housing cost differences. Data Version: acs5-2020-2024; Methodology Version: cost-brief-v1; Last Reviewed At: 2026-07-10. 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 29.1% of renter household income in Putnam County, which is below the 30% affordability benchmark. This is a median percentage among renter-occupied units, not the share of households above a threshold.
Rent vs. Own
Median gross rent is $521 per month; median selected monthly owner costs are $861. These ACS medians describe different tenure groups and are not a personalized rent-versus-buy calculation.
Income Needed
Using the common 30% budgeting benchmark, $20,840 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 Missouri unweighted mean of county median rents is $783 per month. Putnam County's $521 median is 33.4% 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
9.8%
of gross income
Max Housing (28% Rule)
$1,482
per month
Owner Cost Burden
16.3%
of gross income
You can likely afford the median home in Putnam County
Median home value is $119,500. Estimated monthly cost: $954 vs. your max of $1,482.
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
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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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