The Town FilesPalmer, Minnesota
Township in Sherburne County · population 2,517 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $382,700
- Household income
- $120,625
- Jan low / Jul high
- 3° / 82°
- Snow a year
- 48 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 10
- Median age
- 46.1
Palmer is a township of 2,517 people in Sherburne County, Minnesota. The median home is worth $382,700, above the typical Minnesota town ($301,800). It ranks easier by car than 94% of Minnesota towns, better for families than 88% of Minnesota towns, more upscale than 76% of Minnesota towns.
How Palmer ranks
Percentile among Minnesota towns with at least 500 people on The Town Files lifestyle rankings. 50 is typical for the state; 90 means better than 90% of Minnesota towns.
Homes and cost of living
The median home in Palmer is worth $382,700, above the typical Minnesota town ($301,800). Homes cost about 3.2 times the median household income of $120,625, which is more affordable than 62% of Minnesota towns. 98.3% of households own their home.
| Housing | Palmer | Typical Minnesota town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $382,700 | $301,800 |
| Median rent | — | $991 |
| Median household income | $120,625 | $87,375 |
| Home value ÷ income | 3.2× | 3.4× |
| Homeownership | 98.3% | 88.6% |
| Median year built | 1987 | 1979 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 10.8% | — |
Who lives in Palmer
| People | Palmer | Typical Minnesota town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 46.1 | 42.7 |
| Age 65 and over | 18.4% | 20.0% |
| Under 18 | 23.6% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 36.6% | 26.2% |
| Below the poverty line | 2.1% | 6.9% |
| Veterans | 8.7% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 0.3% | — |
| Work from home | 12.5% | 11.1% |
| Average commute | 33.3 min | 24.5 min |
| Homes with broadband | 95.0% | 90.2% |
Weather in Palmer
July highs average 81.6°F and January lows 2.9°F. About 28.5 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 47.9 inches of snow (typical Minnesota town: 47.0 in). Expect about 9 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 172 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
10 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Palmer since 1950, compared with 14 for the typical Minnesota town. 3 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F2, struck on July 22, 1967 about 4.9 miles from the town center and killed 1. Tornadoes within 10 miles have caused 2 deaths and 15 injuries since 1950. The most recent was on August 12, 2010.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 51 times; the largest was 4.00 inches on July 26, 2019.
Severe weather in Sherburne County since 1996
Sherburne County has been included in 10 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for flood, drought, hurricane.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| April 7, 2020 | Biological | DR-4531: Covid-19 Pandemic |
| March 13, 2020 | Biological | EM-3453: Covid-19 |
| September 13, 2005 | Hurricane | EM-3242: Hurricane Katrina Evacuation |
| August 25, 1997 | Severe Storm | DR-1187: Severe Storms, Tornadoes, High Winds, Flooding |
| April 8, 1997 | Flood | DR-1175: Severe Flooding, High Winds,Severe Storms |
Jobs and pay in Sherburne County
Sherburne County had 28,090 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $57,774 a year. Unemployment was 3.2% in 2023; in Palmer itself the ACS puts it at 0.2%.
Towns near Palmer
- Haven, MN6.1 mi · 2,610 people · home $346,800
- Becker, MN9.0 mi · 5,496 people · home $418,700
- Becker, MN9.5 mi · 4,877 people · home $271,300
- Foley, MN10.3 mi · 2,711 people · home $203,800
- St. Cloud, MN10.8 mi · 68,881 people · home $225,000
- Sauk Rapids, MN11.2 mi · 13,862 people · home $256,100
- Blue Hill, MN12.4 mi · 2,507 people · home $373,300
- St. Augusta, MN12.7 mi · 3,497 people · home $388,400
Palmer questions
Is Palmer, Minnesota a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Palmer scores better for retirees than 30% of Minnesota towns and quieter than 60%. 18.4% of residents are 65 or older (median age 46.1).
How much does a house cost in Palmer?
The median owner-occupied home in Palmer is valued at $382,700 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $120,625, so homes cost about 3.2 times income. Median rent is — a month.
What is the weather like in Palmer?
July highs average 81.6°F and January lows 2.9°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 28.5 inches of precipitation a year and 47.9 inches of snow.
Does Palmer get tornadoes?
10 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Palmer since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F2 on July 22, 1967. The typical Minnesota town has had 14.
- 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)