At a Glance
Median Income
$54,861
$28,888 per capita
Home Value
$102,900
Zillow: $277,062
Median Rent
$785/mo
22.5% of income on rent
Bachelor's Degree+
17.2%
96.8% high school+
Unemployment
0.4%
3.8% poverty rate
Obesity Rate
39.3%
15.6% 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+
3.8 / 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 $54,861 , which is 27% below the national average of $75,149.
Per capita income is $28,888. The unemployment rate stands at 0.4% (89% below the U.S. rate of 3.6%). 3.8% of residents live below the poverty line. The area is home to 275 business establishments, including 10 restaurants.
Housing & Cost of Living
The median home value in Palmer is $102,900 , 63% below the national median of $281,900.
Zillow estimates the typical home at $277,062. Median rent is $785/month, with 22.5% of renters spending more than 30% of income on housing. The cost of living index is 90.1 (100 = national average). The median home was built in 1944.
Education
17.2% of adults in Palmer hold a bachelor's degree or higher
(49% below the national average).
96.8% have completed high school. Local schools score 5.1/10 in standardized testing.
Climate & Weather
Palmer has an average annual temperature of 52°F (11°C).
Winters average 25°F in January while summers reach 77°F in July. Annual precipitation totals 27.3 inches.
Data Overview
People
Population446
Median Age38.3 yrs
Density842/mi²
Male / Female46% / 54%
Foreign Born0.2%
Veterans6.2%
Economy
A
Median Income$54,861
Per Capita$28,888
Unemployment0.4%
Poverty3.8%
County GDP$554M
Avg Weekly Wage$1,105
Housing
A+
Home Value$102,900
Rent$785
Ownership85.6%
Zillow$277,062
Housing Units186
Rent Burden22.5%
Health
Obesity39.3%
Diabetes9.1%
Smoking15.6%
Heart Disease5.5%
Premature Death8,240/100K
Climate
Avg Temp52°F
Rain27.3 in/yr
Elevation1,795 ft
Education
C
Bachelor's+17.2%
High School+96.8%
Graduate+8.8%
School Score5.1/10
Community
2024 VoteR 82% / D 17%
Commute31 min
Broadband95.9%
Internet Speed26 Mbps
EV Stations2
Libraries3
Did You Know?
The median home in Palmer was built in 1944.
The nearest airport is Central Nebraska Regional (18 miles).
The Gini coefficient (income inequality) is 0.421 (U.S. avg: 0.490).
Natural hazard risk is rated "Relatively Low" by FEMA.
12.3% of the population has a disability.
The county recorded 5 fatal vehicle crashes.