At a Glance
Median Income
$52,917
$27,261 per capita
Home Value
$80,400
Zillow: $130,833
Median Rent
$744/mo
19.4% of income on rent
Bachelor's Degree+
6.2%
90.4% high school+
Unemployment
0.9%
5.6% poverty rate
Obesity Rate
35.5%
14.3% 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?
B+
3.5 / 5.0 - Good
Based on economy, affordability, safety, and education metrics compared to national averages.
Economy & Jobs
Palmer residents earn a median household income of $52,917 , which is 30% below the national average of $75,149.
Per capita income is $27,261. The unemployment rate stands at 0.9% (75% below the U.S. rate of 3.6%). 5.6% of residents live below the poverty line. The area is home to 706 business establishments, including 80 restaurants.
Housing & Cost of Living
The median home value in Palmer is $80,400 , 71% below the national median of $281,900.
Zillow estimates the typical home at $130,833. Median rent is $744/month, with 19.4% of renters spending more than 30% of income on housing. The cost of living index is 100.0 (100 = national average). The median home was built in 1940.
Education
6.2% of adults in Palmer hold a bachelor's degree or higher
(82% below the national average).
90.4% have completed high school. Local schools score 5.3/10 in standardized testing.
Climate & Weather
Palmer has an average annual temperature of 54°F (12°C).
Winters average 28°F in January while summers reach 76°F in July. Annual precipitation totals 38.1 inches.
Data Overview
People
Population233
Median Age50.2 yrs
Density233/mi²
Male / Female47% / 53%
Foreign Born0.0%
Veterans2.6%
Economy
A
Median Income$52,917
Per Capita$27,261
Unemployment0.9%
Poverty5.6%
County GDP$1,970M
Avg Weekly Wage$982
Housing
A+
Home Value$80,400
Rent$744
Ownership89.9%
Zillow$130,833
Housing Units111
Rent Burden19.4%
Health
Obesity35.5%
Diabetes8.7%
Smoking14.3%
Heart Disease5.0%
Premature Death8,451/100K
Climate
Avg Temp54°F
Rain38.1 in/yr
Elevation618 ft
Education
F
Bachelor's+6.2%
High School+90.4%
Graduate+1.1%
School Score5.3/10
Community
2024 VoteR 73% / D 26%
Commute24 min
Broadband72.7%
Internet Speed122 Mbps
EV Stations1
Libraries5
Did You Know?
Palmer was founded in 1873.
The median home in Palmer was built in 1940.
The nearest airport is St Louis Regional (52 miles).
The Gini coefficient (income inequality) is 0.433 (U.S. avg: 0.490).
Natural hazard risk is rated "Relatively Low" by FEMA.
20.2% of the population has a disability.
Average internet download speed is 122 Mbps.
The county recorded 3 fatal vehicle crashes.