The Town Files

Putnam County, Tennessee

82,558 people. The median home is worth $282,500 (typical Tennessee town: $204,650) and the median household earns $58,912.

Towns in Putnam County

Towns in Putnam County

TownPeopleMedian homeIncomeMedian age
Cookeville34,842$305,400$51,37529.8
Algood3,963$190,300$42,35936.0
Monterey2,746$165,000$45,92227.0

People and housing

Putnam CountyTypical Tennessee town
Median home value$282,500$204,650
Median rent$908$863
Median household income$58,912$57,917
Median age36.040.8
Bachelor's degree or higher29.8%18.2%
Below the poverty line18.4%14.2%

Jobs and pay

39,664 jobs in 2024, average pay $50,328 a year.

Largest industries in Putnam CountyRetail5,444 jobs · $35,853Manufacturing5,151 jobs · $64,900Hotels & restaurants4,726 jobs · $21,359Health care & social assistan…4,124 jobs · $47,927Transportation & warehousing1,903 jobs · $57,154Administrative & support1,705 jobs · $36,670
BLS QCEW 2024.
Unemployment rate in Putnam County0%2%4%6%8%10%2000200420082012201620202023 3.5%
BLS LAUS via USDA ERS, annual averages.

Storms since 1996

NOAA recorded 606 storm events in Putnam County from 1996 to 2026, with 20 deaths.

Storm events in Putnam County by type since 1996Hail115Flood16Drought36Tornado13Lightning14Heavy Snow17Flash Flood61Strong Wind7Funnel Cloud5Winter Storm19
NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database.

Federal disaster declarations

Putnam County has been included in 19 FEMA declarations since 1953.

DeclaredIncidentDeclaration
February 6, 2026Winter StormDR-4898: Severe Winter Storm
January 24, 2026Winter StormEM-3635: Severe Winter Storm
April 2, 2025Severe StormEM-3625: Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Tornadoes, And Flooding
March 8, 2023Winter StormDR-4691: Severe Winter Storm
April 21, 2021Severe Ice StormDR-4594: Severe Winter Storms
April 2, 2020BiologicalDR-4514: Covid-19 Pandemic
Sources: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2020–2024; BLS QCEW and LAUS; NOAA Storm Events; FEMA OpenFEMA (not endorsed by FEMA).