Putnam County, Florida

County Distress Index: Serious · 75.1 | 75,955 people · 10th most distressed in Florida
American Default Research

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Putnam County, FL shows significant household financial distress with a score of 75.1 — 181st nationally out of 3144 counties. The primary driver is Structural Poverty, where poverty rates are high, transfer income dependency is elevated, and household incomes lag well behind state and national medians. Within Florida, it ranks 10th of 67 counties. Among its 7 neighboring counties, 6 show less distress.

The Numbers Behind the Score

The CDI measures five statistically derived factors of household financial distress, PCA-weighted. Putnam County's primary driver is Structural Poverty at 87.6 — worse than roughly 88% of U.S. counties.

Structural Poverty Primary driver 87.6
Unemployment Rate 89
Poverty Rate 89
Income vs. State Median 94
Child Poverty Rate 87
Disability Rate 70
Transfer Income Dependency 92
Consumer Credit Distress 87.4
Debt in Collections 92
Medical Debt 93
Auto Loan Delinquency 79
Credit Card Delinquency 88
Uninsured Rate 88
Subprime Credit Population 85
Economic Vitality 63.0
Wage-to-Rent Ratio 65
Rent-to-Income Ratio 88
Business Formation Rate 16
House Price Change (YoY) 66
Housing Cost Burden 55.2
Rent-Burdened (30%+) 75
Severely Rent-Burdened (50%+) 41
Mortgage-Burdened (30%+) 31
Homeownership Rate 59
Legal Distress 48.1
Bankruptcy Filing Rate 48

Scores are percentile-based: 50 = national median, higher = more distressed.

Neighbors and Peers

Neighboring Counties

CountyScoreZonevs. Putnam County
Putnam County, FL 75.1 Serious —
Bradford County, FL 78.0 Serious +2.8
Marion County, FL 71.9 Serious -3.2
Volusia County, FL 69.8 Serious -5.3
Clay County, FL 64.2 Elevated -11.0
Alachua County, FL 60.5 Elevated -14.7
Flagler County, FL 59.9 Elevated -15.2
St. Johns County, FL 40.7 Normal -34.4

Population Peers

CountyScoreZonevs. Putnam County
Craighead County, AR 75.1 Serious +0.0
Angelina County, TX 75.1 Serious -0.1
Newport News city, VA 75.3 Serious +0.2
Potter County, TX 74.7 Serious -0.4
Oktibbeha County, MS 74.6 Serious -0.5

Download Data

Export all distress indicators for Putnam County as a CSV file.

Find Help in Putnam County

HUD-Approved Housing Counselors

Free foreclosure prevention and financial counseling near Putnam County.

COMMUNITY LEGAL SERVICES OF MID-FLORIDA, INC. - PALATKA OFFICE
Palatka
386-255-6573 Website
Foreclosure PreventionMortgage HelpFinancial CounselingFinancial Counseling

See all counselors in Florida →

Find an Attorney

The Florida Bar — Lawyer Referral Service offers a lawyer referral service for bankruptcy, foreclosure defense, and consumer rights.

The Florida Bar — Lawyer Referral Service 1-800-342-8011

Free Legal Aid

Legal aid organizations serving Putnam County residents at no cost.

Florida Rural Legal Services (FRLS) 1-239-334-4554
Legal Services of Greater Miami (LSGMI) 1-305-576-0080
Coast to Coast Legal Aid of South Florida 1-954-736-2400
Community Legal Services of Mid-Florida (CLSMF) 1-800-405-1417
Bay Area Legal Services 1-800-625-2257
Legal Services of North Florida 1-850-385-9007
Three Rivers Legal Services 1-866-256-8091

Self-Help Resources

The Florida Bar — Foreclosure Crisis Help for Consumers Official Florida Bar resource page for homeowners facing foreclosure, including information on finding an attorney, legal aid referrals, and understanding the foreclosure process.
Florida Courts — Residential Mortgage Foreclosure Cases Florida Supreme Court page with information on residential mortgage foreclosure cases, including links to administrative orders, mediation resources, and the Managed Mediation program.
Florida AG — Resources Available to Distressed Homeowners Florida Attorney General's office page with resources for distressed homeowners, including information on mortgage fraud, foreclosure rescue scams, and how to file complaints.
Florida LawHelp Statewide legal aid directory connecting Floridians with free legal information and local legal aid providers for foreclosure prevention and other civil legal needs.

American Default Research does not endorse, rate, or rank any provider. Verify attorney credentials with your state bar.

Need legal help? Find a foreclosure defense attorney in Florida →

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Frequently Asked Questions

  • What is the distress score for Putnam County, Florida?

    Putnam County has a County Distress Index score of 75.1 out of 100, placing it in the Serious zone. It ranks 181st nationally out of 3,144 counties and 10th in Florida out of 67 counties.

  • What drives financial distress in Putnam County?

    The primary driver of distress in Putnam County is Structural Poverty, where the county scores 87.6 out of 100. This domain is measured by indicators including Unemployment Rate, Poverty Rate, Income vs. State Median.

  • How does Putnam County compare to neighboring counties?

    Putnam County (75.1) can be compared to its 7 neighboring counties: Bradford County, FL (78.0); Marion County, FL (71.9); Volusia County, FL (69.8).

  • How is the County Distress Index calculated?

    The County Distress Index uses PCA-weighted percentile scoring across five statistically derived factors: Consumer Credit Distress (47.5%), Housing Cost Burden (22.3%), Structural Poverty (13.6%), Economic Vitality (9.2%), and Legal Distress (7.4%). Each county's indicators are ranked against all 3,144 U.S. counties. A score of 50 means the county is at the national median; higher scores indicate greater distress.

  • How often is the CDI updated?

    Annually, aligned to Census American Community Survey and Urban Institute Debt in America release windows — the slowest-moving source inputs. Between annual refreshes, faster-cadence indicators (BLS unemployment, QCEW wages) may drive light mid-year updates if a specific component moves meaningfully. Current data compiled April 14, 2026; next full refresh early 2027.

  • What does the Serious zone mean?

    The CDI divides counties into five zones: Healthy (below 46), Normal (46–55), Elevated (55–71), Serious (71–86), and Crisis (86 and above). Putnam County's score of 75.1 sits in the Serious zone (71–86).

  • What data sources power Putnam County's CDI score?

    Putnam County's CDI score draws on Urban Institute Debt in America (Equifax credit-bureau panel), U.S. Census Bureau (American Community Survey 5-year, Small Area Income and Poverty Estimates), Bureau of Labor Statistics (LAUS, QCEW), U.S. Courts Administrative Office (F-5A bankruptcy filings), and HUD Fair Market Rents. Every number on this page traces to one of these public sources.

  • What is the population of Putnam County?

    Putnam County, Florida has a population of approximately 75,955 (2023 Census estimate), classified as a mid county.