The Town FilesPalmer Lake, Colorado
Town in El Paso County · population 2,636 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $485,700
- Household income
- $125,357
- Jan low / Jul high
- 16° / 83°
- Snow a year
- 121 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 14
- Median age
- 51.9
Palmer Lake is a town of 2,636 people in El Paso County, Colorado. The median home is worth $485,700, close to the typical Colorado town ($471,100). It ranks better for families than 85% of Colorado towns, better for cycling than 76% of Colorado towns, more upscale than 71% of Colorado towns.
How Palmer Lake ranks
Percentile among Colorado towns with at least 500 people on The Town Files lifestyle rankings. 50 is typical for the state; 90 means better than 90% of Colorado towns.
Homes and cost of living
The median home in Palmer Lake is worth $485,700, close to the typical Colorado town ($471,100). Homes cost about 3.9 times the median household income of $125,357, which is more affordable than 83% of Colorado towns. Median rent is $1,911 a month. 90.1% of households own their home.
| Housing | Palmer Lake | Typical Colorado town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $485,700 | $471,100 |
| Median rent | $1,911 | $1,582 |
| Median household income | $125,357 | $86,246 |
| Home value ÷ income | 3.9× | 5.1× |
| Homeownership | 90.1% | 72.7% |
| Median year built | 1990 | 1982 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 2.5% | — |
Who lives in Palmer Lake
| People | Palmer Lake | Typical Colorado town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 51.9 | 40.1 |
| Age 65 and over | 22.9% | 16.9% |
| Under 18 | 11.7% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 44.0% | 37.8% |
| Below the poverty line | 4.4% | 8.8% |
| Veterans | 10.2% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 7.7% | — |
| Work from home | 28.8% | 15.3% |
| Average commute | 21.8 min | 24.2 min |
| Homes with broadband | 97.6% | 92.9% |
Weather in Palmer Lake
July highs average 82.5°F and January lows 16.3°F. About 22.5 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 121.1 inches of snow (typical Colorado town: 47.4 in). Expect about 7 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 184 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
14 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Palmer Lake since 1950, compared with 11 for the typical Colorado town. 2 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F2, struck on June 13, 1977 about 9.4 miles from the town center. The most recent was on June 8, 2014.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 140 times; the largest was 2.75 inches on June 13, 1992.
Severe weather in El Paso County since 1996
El Paso County has been included in 20 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for fire, flood, drought.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| August 25, 2023 | Flood | DR-4731: Severe Storms, Flooding, And Tornadoes |
| March 28, 2020 | Biological | DR-4498: Covid-19 Pandemic |
| March 13, 2020 | Biological | EM-3436: Covid-19 |
| July 16, 2015 | Flood | DR-4229: Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Flooding, Landslides, And Mudslides |
| September 14, 2013 | Flood | DR-4145: Severe Storms, Flooding, Landslides, And Mudslides |
Jobs and pay in El Paso County
El Paso County had 309,483 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $67,491 a year. Unemployment was 3.3% in 2023; in Palmer Lake itself the ACS puts it at 5.5%.
Public schools in Palmer Lake
1 public school with 284 students, about 12.3 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Palmer Lake Elementary School | PK-6 | 284 | 12.3 |
Towns near Palmer Lake
- Woodmoor, CO3.6 mi · 9,536 people · home $771,900
- Monument, CO4.5 mi · 10,399 people · home $636,700
- Gleneagle, CO6.9 mi · 6,649 people · home $605,400
- Air Force Academy, CO8.7 mi · 6,608 people · home —
- Woodland Park, CO11.4 mi · 7,920 people · home $549,200
- Black Forest, CO12.8 mi · 15,097 people · home $856,200
- Manitou Springs, CO17.8 mi · 4,858 people · home $561,200
- Castle Rock, CO18.2 mi · 73,158 people · home $652,900
Palmer Lake questions
Is Palmer Lake, Colorado a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Palmer Lake scores better for retirees than 48% of Colorado towns and quieter than 69%. 22.9% of residents are 65 or older (median age 51.9).
How much does a house cost in Palmer Lake?
The median owner-occupied home in Palmer Lake is valued at $485,700 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $125,357, so homes cost about 3.9 times income. Median rent is $1,911 a month.
What is the weather like in Palmer Lake?
July highs average 82.5°F and January lows 16.3°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 22.5 inches of precipitation a year and 121.1 inches of snow.
Does Palmer Lake get tornadoes?
14 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Palmer Lake since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F2 on June 13, 1977. The typical Colorado town has had 11.
- U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates (2020–2024)
- U.S. Census Bureau, 2020 Census and 2025 Gazetteer (2020 / 2025)
- NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals (1991–2020)
- NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database (1950–2026)
- FEMA OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations (this product uses the FEMA OpenFEMA API but is not endorsed by FEMA) (1953–2026)
- NCES Common Core of Data (2023–24)
- BLS Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages; USDA ERS county unemployment (BLS LAUS) (2000–2024)
- The Town Files lifestyle rankings, built from federal demographic, school, crime and housing data (2025)