RANK #522 / 1001 NAT · #10 / 11 WV · POP 57,177
1YR FORECAST: +1.3%
5YR OUTLOOK: +28%
Hurricane, the largest incorporated city, is a notable town in Putnam County, West Virginia, known for its parks and recreational opportunities like Valley Park and the Waves of Fun water park. Located in western West Virginia, Putnam County sits between the metropolitan areas of Charleston and Huntington. Interstate 64 runs through the southern part of the county, and a recently upgraded section of US Route 35 connects to I-64, contributing to an average commute time of 28 minutes. The county features river valleys and rolling hills, with outdoor recreation options including walking trails, fishing ponds, and wildlife management areas.
Life in Putnam County often involves families and young professionals, with many residents owning their homes. The public school system is highly rated, with several schools recognized as top performers in the state. While public transportation options are limited, specialized services exist for seniors. The economy is seeing new activity, with recent investments in technology infrastructure, including a major data center project. Additionally, there has been investment in housing development to meet growing demand.
Putnam County's data profile doesn't fit any single market profile cleanly — its housing, labor, and demographic signals pull in different directions (home prices +2.4% YoY, population -0.1%, wages +5.5%). About 414 U.S. counties show this kind of mixed-signal pattern.
See all 414 Idiosyncratic Markets counties →Overvalued relative to economy
Above national median
Below-average climate & terrain
Below national median (15x)
Housing looks overvalued at 8.4x — home prices are high relative to local economic output. The typical U.S. county is 4–6x.
Estimated local headcount ranges. Larger employers shown as floor + "+"; smaller employers show exact counts where reported.
Bars show trailing 12-month growth. The dashed Forecast bars are the model's next-12-month projection; the whisker marks the ±1% range (cooling–accelerating).
Source: Redfin · Census BPS — Browse sales on Redfin →
Source: CDC/NCHS vital statistics via County Health Rankings (2020–2022 avg). Rates per 100,000 population. Grade based on homicide rate relative to national average (~6.3). Learn more →
| PROJECT | AMOUNT | STATUS |
|---|---|---|
|
Data Center Campus
Google
|
$1,000M | Planned |
|
Woodworth Farms Residential Development (400+ units)
Ward Communities (developed by Stonewall Capital)
|
$50M | Under Construction |
Source: public records, news, corporate announcements. Amounts are estimates where noted.
Bars show percentile rank among all 1001 counties.
Putnam County scores 47/100 on the Boom Town Index, landing in the middle of the pack among 1001 U.S. counties (#522). Median household income is $79,527 and job growth is running at +5.1%. The data points to a county with mixed signals — some positive indicators alongside areas that lag faster-growing peers.
By national standards, Putnam County is quite affordable. Homes here have a median value of $223,300, and the income-to-home-value ratio of 0.36 is well above the U.S. average — especially with median rent at just $952/month. Residents can generally buy a home without being cost-burdened.
Employers in Putnam County are hiring — job growth of +5.1% — but the population is close to flat (-0.1% YoY). Home values moved +2.4% over the past year. Labor demand is outpacing local population growth, which tends to tighten wages and housing.
There's a moderate stream of newcomers. About 2.69% of residents moved from another state, which is above average and suggests Putnam County has appeal as a relocation destination — though it's not among the highest-inflow counties nationally.