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Palmer Lake, CO

Full City Profile · Colorado · Douglas County County

4.7 /5.0
A+ Excellent
2,635 Population 853/sq mi density
$122,855 Median Income $51,872 per capita
$454,000 Home Value $528,830 Zillow
$1,913 Median Rent 22.5% income on rent
47°F Avg Temperature 326 sunny days/yr
A+
Overall
4.7 / 5.0
Strong
A+
Economy
4.7 / 5.0
$122,855 median income, 4.3% unemployment
A+
Affordability
4.6 / 5.0
$454,000 home value, $1,913/mo rent
A+
Education
4.7 / 5.0
46.3% bachelor's degree or higher
Palmer Lake experiences four distinct seasons with an average annual temperature of 47°F (8°C). Winters average 29°F in January while summers reach 68°F in July. The area gets 326 sunny days per year. Annual precipitation totals 22.5 inches. The area receives 121.1 inches of snow annually. Air quality is rated Good with a median AQI of 41.

Temperature

29°F Jan (-2°C) 68°F Jul (20°C)
Annual Average46.5°F
14% below US avg
January Average29°F (-2°C)
July Average68°F (20°C)
Sunny Days326 days/yr

Geography

Elevation7,138 ft (2,176 m)
Area3.1 sq mi (8.1 km²)
Population Density853/sq mi
Coordinates39.1158°N, 104.9092°W
TimezoneAmerica/Denver
CountyDouglas County County
Nearest AirportDenver International (DEN)
53 miles away

Precipitation & Snow

Annual Rainfall 22.5"
41% below US avg
Snowfall 121.1"
Wettest Month (Jul) 2.83"
Driest Month (Jan) 0.47"

Air Quality

AQI Median41.0
RatingGood

Air Pollutants (EPA 2023)

Ozone (O₃)0.0524 ppm
PM2.5 (Fine Particles)5.0 μg/m³

Natural Hazard Risk

Overall RiskRelatively Moderate
Risk Score88.7 / 100
Social Vulnerability10.6 / 100
Community Resilience73.7 / 100

Hazard Breakdown

Tornado Relatively High
Earthquake Relatively Low
Wildfire Relatively High
Flood Relatively Moderate
Hail Relatively High
Strong Wind Relatively High
Heat Wave Relatively Low
Winter Weather Very High
Lightning Very High
Ice Storm Relatively Low
Drought Relatively Low
Cold Wave Relatively Low
Landslide Relatively Low
Volcano Very Low
Avalanche Very Low
Source: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (Dec 2025)

Earthquake History

18 earthquakes (M2.5+) within 150 km since 1990. Strongest: M4.0. Most recent: M2.7 on Jun 13, 2025.

Dec 25, 1994 9 km NE of Larkspur, Colorado M4.0 21 km
Dec 23, 1995 7 km WNW of Rock Creek Park, Colorado M3.5 43 km
Jan 18, 1997 8 km SE of Westcreek, Colorado M3.3 17 km
Jan 26, 2008 12 km NE of Cotopaxi, Colorado M3.1 94 km
Jul 22, 2001 6 km WNW of Woodland Park, Colorado M3.1 22 km
Sep 12, 1990 13 km NW of Silverthorne, Colorado M3.0 129 km
Jan 19, 1997 8 km SE of Westcreek, Colorado M2.9 17 km
Aug 24, 2016 16 km ENE of Beulah Valley, Colorado M2.9 108 km
Feb 26, 2008 29 km WNW of Westcreek, Colorado M2.9 52 km
Dec 31, 1995 6 km WNW of Rock Creek Park, Colorado M2.8 45 km
Jan 19, 1997 8 km SE of Westcreek, Colorado M2.7 17 km
Apr 18, 1998 8 km SE of Westcreek, Colorado M2.7 17 km
Jun 13, 2025 7 km SE of Erie, Colorado M2.7 99 km
Sep 24, 2013 6 km NNE of Cotopaxi, Colorado M2.6 101 km
Jun 26, 2021 19 km WNW of Cañon City, Colorado M2.5 81 km
Jan 11, 1995 15 km SSE of Norrie, Colorado M2.5 148 km
Aug 4, 1994 6 km NNE of Smeltertown, Colorado M2.5 110 km
Aug 7, 2021 23 km NE of Sugar City, Colorado M2.5 145 km
Source: USGS (M2.5+, 1990-2025)

Tornado History

591 tornadoes (EF0+) within 100 km since 1950. Strongest: EF3. Total: 86 injuries.

Date Rating Distance Fatalities
Jun 6, 1990 EF3 89 km 0
Jun 15, 1988 EF3 68 km 0
Jun 12, 1982 EF3 85 km 0
Jun 24, 1979 EF3 30 km 0
Jun 13, 1977 EF3 23 km 0
May 18, 1975 EF3 78 km 0
Jun 8, 2014 EF2 49 km 0
Jun 7, 2012 EF2 62 km 0
Jun 15, 2009 EF2 27 km 0
May 10, 2004 EF2 79 km 0
May 28, 2001 EF2 56 km 0
May 28, 2001 EF2 54 km 0
Jul 13, 1996 EF2 88 km 0
Jun 6, 1990 EF2 79 km 0
Jun 15, 1988 EF2 68 km 0
Jun 5, 1988 EF2 99 km 0
Jun 5, 1988 EF2 94 km 0
Jul 2, 1987 EF2 86 km 0
Jun 20, 1987 EF2 77 km 0
Jun 8, 1986 EF2 67 km 0
Source: NOAA SPC (EF0+, 1950-2024)

Wildfire History

20 wildfires (100+ acres) within 100 km. Largest: HAYMAN (129,417 ac, 2002).

Year Name Acres Distance
2002 HAYMAN 129,417 35 km
1986 UNNAMED 25,771 90 km
2012 WALDO CANYON 20,112 21 km
2016 IMPACT AREA 19,918 60 km
1998 UNNAMED 18,218 61 km
2018 WESTON PASS 13,169 97 km
2013 BLACK FOREST 11,885 20 km
1996 BUFFALO CREEK 11,690 42 km
2000 HIGH MEADOWS 9,607 50 km
2008 TA-25 8,253 56 km
2024 RANGE 135 7,766 60 km
2001 MVD PSFRXASST 4 7,375 24 km
2002 MILNE/SQUIRREL 6,568 54 km
2021 MARSHALL 6,286 97 km
2018 APACHE COMPLEX 5,182 69 km
2009 QUARRY 5,141 52 km
2017 MILNE 5,113 60 km
2002 UNNAMED 4,911 66 km
2002 HANOVER 4,903 69 km
2018 CARSON MIDWAY 4,773 68 km
Source: NIFC/IRWIN (100+ acres)

Monthly Weather

Month Avg Temperature Precipitation Summary
January 29°F (-2°C) 0.5 in Driest
February 27°F (-3°C) 0.5 in
March 31°F (-0°C) 1.2 in
April 38°F (3°C) 1.6 in
May 47°F (9°C) 2.3 in
June 57°F (14°C) 2.1 in
July 68°F (20°C) 2.8 in Warmest, Wettest
August 60°F (16°C) 2.8 in
September 53°F (12°C) 1.5 in
October 43°F (6°C) 1.0 in
November 32°F (-0°C) 0.8 in
December 25°F (-4°C) 0.6 in Coldest

Palmer Lake has a seasonal temperature swing of 43°F / from 25°F in December to 68°F in July. Total annual precipitation is 17.6 inches, with July being the wettest month (2.8") and January the driest (0.5").

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