Putnam County, West Virginia

County Distress Index: Normal · 46.0 | 56,962 people · 41st most distressed in West Virginia
American Default Research

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Putnam County, WV falls within the normal range for household financial distress at 46.0 — 1841st nationally out of 3144 counties. The primary driver is Consumer Credit Distress, where debt and delinquency levels sit above the national average. Within West Virginia, it ranks 41st of 55 counties. It scores lower than all 5 of its neighboring counties.

The Numbers Behind the Score

The CDI measures five statistically derived factors of household financial distress, PCA-weighted. Putnam County's primary driver is Consumer Credit Distress at 62.3 — above the national median.

Consumer Credit Distress Primary driver 62.3
Debt in Collections 69
Medical Debt 90
Auto Loan Delinquency 61
Credit Card Delinquency 64
Uninsured Rate 31
Subprime Credit Population 49
Housing Cost Burden 43.4
Rent-Burdened (30%+) 43
Severely Rent-Burdened (50%+) 63
Mortgage-Burdened (30%+) 30
Homeownership Rate 8
Economic Vitality 23.9
Wage-to-Rent Ratio 7
Rent-to-Income Ratio 16
Business Formation Rate 75
House Price Change (YoY) 36
Structural Poverty 23.5
Unemployment Rate 49
Poverty Rate 23
Income vs. State Median 8
Child Poverty Rate 17
Disability Rate 23
Transfer Income Dependency 29
Legal Distress 18.6
Bankruptcy Filing Rate 19

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

Neighbors and Peers

Neighboring Counties

CountyScoreZonevs. Putnam County
Putnam County, WV 46.0 Normal —
Cabell County, WV 68.2 Serious +22.1
Lincoln County, WV 63.5 Elevated +17.4
Kanawha County, WV 60.1 Elevated +14.0
Jackson County, WV 48.1 Normal +2.1
Mason County, WV 46.4 Normal +0.4

Population Peers

CountyScoreZonevs. Putnam County
Northumberland County, PA 46.0 Normal 0.0
Mesa County, CO 46.1 Normal +0.0
Columbia County, PA 46.0 Normal -0.0
Kent County, RI 46.0 Normal -0.0
Franklin County, WA 46.0 Normal -0.0

Download Data

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

Find Help in Putnam County

Find an Attorney

West Virginia State Bar Lawyer Referral Service offers a lawyer referral service for bankruptcy, foreclosure defense, and consumer rights.

West Virginia State Bar Lawyer Referral Service 304-558-2456

Free Legal Aid

Legal aid organizations serving Putnam County residents at no cost.

Legal Aid of West Virginia 1-866-255-4370
Mountain State Justice, Inc. 304-344-3144

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

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Frequently Asked Questions

  • What is the distress score for Putnam County, West Virginia?

    Putnam County has a County Distress Index score of 46.0 out of 100, placing it in the Normal zone. It ranks 1,841st nationally out of 3,144 counties and 41st in West Virginia out of 55 counties.

  • What drives financial distress in Putnam County?

    The primary driver of distress in Putnam County is Consumer Credit Distress, where the county scores 62.3 out of 100. This domain is measured by indicators including Debt in Collections, Medical Debt, Auto Loan Delinquency.

  • How does Putnam County compare to neighboring counties?

    Putnam County (46.0) can be compared to its 5 neighboring counties: Cabell County, WV (68.2); Lincoln County, WV (63.5); Kanawha County, WV (60.1).

  • 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 Normal 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 46.0 sits in the Normal zone (46–55).

  • 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, West Virginia has a population of approximately 56,962 (2023 Census estimate), classified as a mid county.