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Palmerton, PA

Full City Profile · Pennsylvania · Carbon County County

3.1 /5.0
B Good
5,624 Population 2,259/sq mi density
$71,471 Median Income $43,680 per capita
$161,500 Home Value $248,727 Zillow
$913 Median Rent 23.9% income on rent
50°F Avg Temperature 271 sunny days/yr
38 Violent Crime/100K 1,669 property/100K
B
Overall
3.1 / 5.0
Good overall score based on economy, affordability, safety and education
A
Economy
4.3 / 5.0
$71,471 median income, 1.1% unemployment
A+
Affordability
5.0 / 5.0
$161,500 home value, $913/mo rent
F
Safety
1.0 / 5.0
38 violent crimes/100K
C
Education
2.3 / 5.0
16.2% bachelor's degree or higher
Palmerton experiences four distinct seasons with an average annual temperature of 50°F (10°C). Winters average 27°F in January while summers reach 72°F in July. The area gets 271 sunny days per year. Annual precipitation totals 51.9 inches. The area receives 27.3 inches of snow annually. Air quality is rated Good with a median AQI of 40.

Temperature

27°F Jan (-3°C) 72°F Jul (22°C)
Annual Average50.0°F
7% below US avg
January Average27°F (-3°C)
July Average72°F (22°C)
Sunny Days271 days/yr

Geography

Elevation540 ft (165 m)
Area1.0 sq mi (2.5 km²)
Population Density2,259/sq mi
Coordinates40.8041°N, 75.6171°W
TimezoneAmerica/New_York
CountyCarbon County County
Nearest AirportLehigh Valley International (ABE)
14 miles away

Precipitation & Snow

Annual Rainfall 51.9"
37% above US avg
Snowfall 27.3"
Wettest Month (May) 4.65"
Driest Month (Feb) 2.68"

Air Quality

AQI Median40.0
RatingGood

Natural Hazard Risk

Overall RiskRelatively Low
Risk Score59.4 / 100
Social Vulnerability35.0 / 100
Community Resilience61.2 / 100

Hazard Breakdown

Tornado Relatively Low
Hurricane Relatively Low
Earthquake Very Low
Wildfire Very Low
Flood Relatively Low
Hail Very Low
Strong Wind Relatively Moderate
Heat Wave Relatively Moderate
Winter Weather Relatively Moderate
Lightning Relatively High
Ice Storm Relatively Low
Drought No Rating
Cold Wave Relatively Moderate
Landslide Relatively Low
Avalanche Very Low
Source: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (Dec 2025)

Earthquake History

35 earthquakes (M2.5+) within 150 km since 1990. Strongest: M4.8. Most recent: M2.8 on Aug 5, 2025.

Apr 5, 2024 2024 Tewksbury, New Jersey Earthquake M4.8 73 km
Jan 16, 1994 2 km W of Sinking Spring, Pennsylvania M4.6 64 km
Jan 16, 1994 0 km E of Sinking Spring, Pennsylvania M4.2 62 km
Apr 5, 2024 7 km WSW of Gladstone, New Jersey M3.7 74 km
Oct 23, 1990 3 km W of Hancocks Bridge, New Jersey M3.2 144 km
Aug 26, 2003 4 km NNW of Milford, New Jersey M3.1 48 km
Jan 9, 1992 4 km WNW of Robertsville, New Jersey M3.1 118 km
Jun 3, 2010 4 km ENE of Franklintown, Pennsylvania M3.1 140 km
Nov 14, 1997 0 km S of Rothsville, Pennsylvania M3.0 91 km
Aug 3, 2025 0 km W of Little Ferry, New Jersey M3.0 132 km
Feb 3, 2009 1 km ESE of Victory Gardens, New Jersey M3.0 92 km
Apr 24, 2009 1 km S of Franklintown, Pennsylvania M2.9 145 km
Apr 27, 2024 7 km WSW of Gladstone, New Jersey M2.9 74 km
Jan 16, 1994 0 km SSE of Sinking Spring, Pennsylvania M2.9 63 km
May 24, 2024 6 km E of Califon, New Jersey M2.9 73 km
Sep 15, 2019 5 km ESE of East Berlin, Pennsylvania M2.8 147 km
May 10, 1993 1 km NW of Whitfield, Pennsylvania M2.8 61 km
Aug 5, 2025 1 km N of Hillsdale, New Jersey M2.8 135 km
Jun 10, 2025 10 km NW of Forksville, Pennsylvania M2.8 122 km
Jul 1, 2009 3 km ESE of Pennsville, New Jersey M2.8 130 km
Source: USGS (M2.5+, 1990-2025)

Hurricane History

2 hurricanes (Cat 1+) within 500 km since 1980. Strongest: Category 2. Most recent: Bob (1991, Cat 2).

Year Name Category Closest
1991 Bob Category 2 294 km
1985 Gloria Category 2 193 km
Source: NOAA IBTrACS (Cat 1+, 1980-2026)

Tornado History

296 tornadoes (EF0+) within 100 km since 1950. Strongest: EF3. Total: 10 fatalities, 183 injuries.

Date Rating Distance Fatalities
Jul 29, 2021 EF3 91 km 0
Jun 2, 1998 EF3 98 km 2
May 31, 1998 EF3 43 km 0
May 31, 1998 EF3 70 km 0
Jul 27, 1994 EF3 64 km 3
Oct 18, 1990 EF3 80 km 0
Jul 26, 1981 EF3 5 km 0
Mar 21, 1976 EF3 42 km 0
May 28, 1973 EF3 76 km 0
May 28, 1973 EF3 94 km 0
Jun 18, 1970 EF3 73 km 1
Jun 24, 1960 EF3 93 km 0
Mar 22, 1955 EF3 93 km 1
Nov 4, 1950 EF3 80 km 0
Feb 21, 2023 EF2 97 km 0
Sep 1, 2021 EF2 84 km 1
Jul 29, 2021 EF2 76 km 0
Aug 4, 2020 EF2 98 km 0
Oct 31, 2019 EF2 99 km 0
May 28, 2019 EF2 76 km 0
Source: NOAA SPC (EF0+, 1950-2024)

Tsunami History

2 tsunamis recorded within 500 km.

Year Location Cause Max Wave Deaths Distance
1895 HIGH BRIDGE, NJ Earthquake - - 64 km
1840 PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA Earthquake - - 117 km
Source: NOAA/NCEI Historical Tsunami Database. Sorted by wave height.

Wildfire History

9 wildfires (100+ acres) within 100 km. Largest: 16 MILE (7,896 ac, 2016).

Year Name Acres Distance
2016 16 MILE 7,896 59 km
2009 PENOBSCOT 2,091 48 km
2004 CRYSTAL LAKE 1,838 44 km
2012 HOPEWELL FIRE 812 67 km
2020 SEVEN PINES 790 47 km
2015 RAZOR FIRE 728 6 km
2015 PIPELINE 1 666 36 km
2016 BEAR TOWN 649 53 km
1999 WORTHINGTO 514 47 km
Source: NIFC/IRWIN (100+ acres)

Monthly Weather

Month Avg Temperature Precipitation Summary
January 27°F (-3°C) 3.2 in Coldest
February 28°F (-2°C) 2.7 in Driest
March 37°F (3°C) 3.5 in
April 47°F (9°C) 3.6 in
May 58°F (15°C) 4.7 in Wettest
June 67°F (19°C) 4.2 in
July 72°F (22°C) 4.1 in Warmest
August 71°F (22°C) 4.1 in
September 64°F (18°C) 4.1 in
October 53°F (11°C) 3.5 in
November 42°F (6°C) 3.9 in
December 32°F (0°C) 3.4 in

Palmerton has a seasonal temperature swing of 45°F / from 27°F in January to 72°F in July. Total annual precipitation is 45.1 inches, with May being the wettest month (4.7") and February the driest (2.7").

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