The Town FilesPalmer, Pennsylvania
Township in Northampton County · population 22,317 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $318,800
- Household income
- $116,014
- Jan low / Jul high
- 22° / 86°
- Snow a year
- 41 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 11
- Median age
- 47.3
Palmer is a township of 22,317 people in Northampton County, Pennsylvania. The median home is worth $318,800, above the typical Pennsylvania town ($214,250). It ranks more upscale than 86% of Pennsylvania towns, better for cycling than 84% of Pennsylvania towns, more vibrant than 83% of Pennsylvania towns.
How Palmer ranks
Percentile among Pennsylvania towns with at least 500 people on The Town Files lifestyle rankings. 50 is typical for the state; 90 means better than 90% of Pennsylvania towns.
Homes and cost of living
The median home in Palmer is worth $318,800, above the typical Pennsylvania town ($214,250). Homes cost about 2.7 times the median household income of $116,014, which is more affordable than 59% of Pennsylvania towns. Median rent is $1,769 a month. 81.8% of households own their home.
| Housing | Palmer | Typical Pennsylvania town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $318,800 | $214,250 |
| Median rent | $1,769 | $996 |
| Median household income | $116,014 | $75,278 |
| Home value ÷ income | 2.7× | 2.8× |
| Homeownership | 81.8% | 81.5% |
| Median year built | 1979 | 1971 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.9% | — |
Who lives in Palmer
| People | Palmer | Typical Pennsylvania town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 47.3 | 44.2 |
| Age 65 and over | 24.2% | 21.1% |
| Under 18 | 17.5% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 42.1% | 23.8% |
| Below the poverty line | 4.5% | 8.5% |
| Veterans | 7.5% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 12.5% | — |
| Work from home | 15.0% | 10.6% |
| Average commute | 28.4 min | 25.9 min |
| Homes with broadband | 92.8% | 89.0% |
Weather in Palmer
July highs average 85.6°F and January lows 21.5°F. About 51.0 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 41.1 inches of snow (typical Pennsylvania town: 31.8 in). Expect about 21 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 119 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
11 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Palmer since 1950, compared with 10 for the typical Pennsylvania town. The strongest, an EF1, struck on May 6, 2025 about 9.9 miles from the town center. The most recent was on May 6, 2025.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 37 times; the largest was 2.00 inches on August 17, 2007.
Severe weather in Northampton County since 1996
Northampton County has been included in 24 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for flood, drought, hurricane.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| September 10, 2021 | Hurricane | DR-4618: Remnants Of Hurricane Ida |
| March 30, 2020 | Biological | DR-4506: Covid-19 Pandemic |
| March 13, 2020 | Biological | EM-3441: Covid-19 |
| November 27, 2018 | Severe Storm | DR-4408: Severe Storms And Flooding |
| March 23, 2016 | Snowstorm | DR-4267: Severe Winter Storm And Snowstorm |
Jobs and pay in Northampton County
Northampton County had 120,976 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $60,298 a year. Unemployment was 3.5% in 2023; in Palmer itself the ACS puts it at 4%.
Towns near Palmer
- Palmer Heights, PA0.9 mi · 3,734 people · home $309,100
- Wilson, PA1.6 mi · 8,259 people · home $210,700
- Easton, PA2.5 mi · 28,127 people · home $196,300
- Forks, PA3.0 mi · 16,074 people · home $358,900
- Lower Nazareth, PA3.2 mi · 6,922 people · home $422,200
- Chestnut Hill, PA3.2 mi · 6,689 people · home $375,000
- Eastlawn Gardens, PA3.4 mi · 3,435 people · home $391,500
- Nazareth, PA3.8 mi · 6,053 people · home $240,300
Palmer questions
Is Palmer, Pennsylvania a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Palmer scores better for retirees than 35% of Pennsylvania towns and quieter than 20%. 24.2% of residents are 65 or older (median age 47.3).
How much does a house cost in Palmer?
The median owner-occupied home in Palmer is valued at $318,800 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $116,014, so homes cost about 2.7 times income. Median rent is $1,769 a month.
What is the weather like in Palmer?
July highs average 85.6°F and January lows 21.5°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 51.0 inches of precipitation a year and 41.1 inches of snow.
Does Palmer get tornadoes?
11 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Palmer since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was an EF1 on May 6, 2025. The typical Pennsylvania town has had 10.
- 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)