The Town FilesPutnam, Michigan
Township in Livingston County · population 7,890 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $344,900
- Household income
- $96,442
- Jan low / Jul high
- 14° / 83°
- Snow a year
- 33 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 16
- Median age
- 45.6
Putnam is a township of 7,890 people in Livingston County, Michigan. The median home is worth $344,900, above the typical Michigan town ($193,900). It ranks better for families than 83% of Michigan towns, more upscale than 83% of Michigan towns, more of a college town than 76% of Michigan towns.
How Putnam ranks
Percentile among Michigan towns with at least 500 people on The Town Files lifestyle rankings. 50 is typical for the state; 90 means better than 90% of Michigan towns.
Homes and cost of living
The median home in Putnam is worth $344,900, above the typical Michigan town ($193,900). Homes cost about 3.6 times the median household income of $96,442, which is more affordable than 16% of Michigan towns. Median rent is $1,186 a month. 87.5% of households own their home.
| Housing | Putnam | Typical Michigan town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $344,900 | $193,900 |
| Median rent | $1,186 | $955 |
| Median household income | $96,442 | $69,792 |
| Home value ÷ income | 3.6× | 2.8× |
| Homeownership | 87.5% | 86.8% |
| Median year built | 1987 | 1975 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 3.3% | — |
Who lives in Putnam
| People | Putnam | Typical Michigan town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 45.6 | 43.7 |
| Age 65 and over | 20.8% | 20.7% |
| Under 18 | 20.7% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 31.8% | 21.5% |
| Below the poverty line | 12.3% | 10.4% |
| Veterans | 7.4% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 1.6% | — |
| Work from home | 15.5% | 9.1% |
| Average commute | 35.0 min | 25.6 min |
| Homes with broadband | 96.6% | 88.8% |
Weather in Putnam
July highs average 83.2°F and January lows 14.4°F. About 33.1 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 33.2 inches of snow (typical Michigan town: 52.1 in). Expect about 13 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 154 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
16 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Putnam since 1950, compared with 10 for the typical Michigan town. 10 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an EF3, struck on March 15, 2012 about 4.9 miles from the town center. Tornadoes within 10 miles have caused 2 deaths and 4 injuries since 1950. The most recent was on May 15, 2025.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 43 times; the largest was 2.00 inches on May 27, 2015.
Severe weather in Livingston County since 1996
Livingston County has been included in 9 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for flood, other, hurricane.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| February 8, 2024 | Flood | DR-4757: Severe Storms, Tornadoes, And Flooding |
| March 27, 2020 | Biological | DR-4494: Covid-19 Pandemic |
| March 13, 2020 | Biological | EM-3455: Covid-19 |
| September 7, 2005 | Hurricane | EM-3225: Hurricane Katrina Evacuation |
| June 30, 2004 | Severe Storm | DR-1527: Severe Storms, Tornadoes, And Flooding |
Jobs and pay in Livingston County
Livingston County had 64,380 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $57,015 a year. Unemployment was 2.7% in 2023; in Putnam itself the ACS puts it at 2.4%.
Towns near Putnam
- Unadilla, MI5.4 mi · 3,333 people · home $258,300
- Dexter, MI5.9 mi · 6,696 people · home $466,300
- Marion, MI6.1 mi · 11,245 people · home $381,100
- Hamburg, MI6.2 mi · 21,259 people · home $384,700
- Lyndon, MI7.7 mi · 2,656 people · home $350,200
- Genoa, MI8.1 mi · 20,692 people · home $395,300
- Iosco, MI8.3 mi · 3,870 people · home $319,500
- Webster, MI9.0 mi · 6,575 people · home $564,000
Putnam questions
Is Putnam, Michigan a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Putnam scores better for retirees than 49% of Michigan towns and quieter than 28%. 20.8% of residents are 65 or older (median age 45.6).
How much does a house cost in Putnam?
The median owner-occupied home in Putnam is valued at $344,900 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $96,442, so homes cost about 3.6 times income. Median rent is $1,186 a month.
What is the weather like in Putnam?
July highs average 83.2°F and January lows 14.4°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 33.1 inches of precipitation a year and 33.2 inches of snow.
Does Putnam get tornadoes?
16 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Putnam since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was an EF3 on March 15, 2012. The typical Michigan town has had 10.
- U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates (2020–2024)
- U.S. Census Bureau, 2020 Census and 2025 Gazetteer (2020 / 2025)
- NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals (1991–2020)
- NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database (1950–2026)
- FEMA OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations (this product uses the FEMA OpenFEMA API but is not endorsed by FEMA) (1953–2026)
- NCES Common Core of Data (2023–24)
- BLS Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages; USDA ERS county unemployment (BLS LAUS) (2000–2024)
- The Town Files lifestyle rankings, built from federal demographic, school, crime and housing data (2025)