At a Glance
Median Income
$70,550
$34,916 per capita
Home Value
$275,900
Zillow: $440,227
Median Rent
$1,134/mo
31.2% of income on rent
Violent Crime
153/100K
949/100K property
Bachelor's Degree+
23.8%
93.1% high school+
Unemployment
8.4%
8.2% poverty rate
Obesity Rate
37.0%
16.5% smoking rate
How Palmer Compares to the U.S. Average
Each bar shows Palmer's value as a percentage of the national average (100% = U.S. avg)
Thin vertical line = U.S. national average (100%)
Is Palmer a Good Place to Live?
C+
2.9 / 5.0 - Fair
Based on economy, affordability, safety, and education metrics compared to national averages.
Economy & Jobs
Palmer residents earn a median household income of $70,550 , which is 6% below the national average of $75,149.
Per capita income is $34,916. The unemployment rate stands at 8.4% (133% above the U.S. rate of 3.6%). 8.2% of residents live below the poverty line. The area is home to 8,829 business establishments, including 785 restaurants.
Housing & Cost of Living
The median home value in Palmer is $275,900 , 2% below the national median of $281,900.
Zillow estimates the typical home at $440,227. Median rent is $1,134/month, with 31.2% of renters spending more than 30% of income on housing. The cost of living index is 102.4 (100 = national average). The median home was built in 1990.
Safety & Crime
Palmer reports 153 violent crimes per 100,000 residents
, which is 60% below the national average of 380/100K.
Property crime is 949/100K.
Education
23.8% of adults in Palmer hold a bachelor's degree or higher
(29% below the national average).
93.1% have completed high school. Local schools score 4.9/10 in standardized testing.
Climate & Weather
Palmer has an average annual temperature of 37°F (3°C).
Winters average 15°F in January while summers reach 59°F in July. Annual precipitation totals 12.6 inches.
Data Overview
People
Population6,141
Median Age32.9 yrs
Density1,211/mi²
Male / Female50% / 50%
Foreign Born3.3%
Veterans11.2%
Economy
B
Median Income$70,550
Per Capita$34,916
Unemployment8.4%
Poverty8.2%
County GDP$32,113M
Avg Weekly Wage$1,436
Housing
A
Home Value$275,900
Rent$1,134
Ownership62.4%
Zillow$440,227
Housing Units2,423
Rent Burden31.2%
Crime
F
Violent153/100K
Property949/100K
Health
Obesity37.0%
Diabetes8.3%
Smoking16.5%
Heart Disease5.5%
Premature Death9,853/100K
Climate
Avg Temp37°F
Rain12.6 in/yr
Elevation236 ft
Education
C+
Bachelor's+23.8%
High School+93.1%
Graduate+8.3%
School Score4.9/10
Community
2024 VoteR 44% / D 56%
Commute26 min
Broadband90.1%
Internet Speed134 Mbps
EV Stations3
Libraries5
Did You Know?
The median home in Palmer was built in 1990.
The nearest airport is Ted Stevens Anchorage International (41 miles).
The Gini coefficient (income inequality) is 0.429 (U.S. avg: 0.490).
Natural hazard risk is rated "Relatively High" by FEMA.
19.8% of the population has a disability.
Average internet download speed is 134 Mbps.
There are 785 restaurants in the area.
The county recorded 20 fatal vehicle crashes.