The Town FilesPalmer, Tennessee
Town in Grundy County · population 551 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $78,900
- Household income
- $56,447
- Jan low / Jul high
- 32° / 88°
- Snow a year
- 3 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 8
- Median age
- 40.2
Palmer is a town of 551 people in Grundy County, Tennessee. The median home is worth $78,900, below the typical Tennessee town ($204,650). It ranks better for first-time buyers than 91% of Tennessee towns, easier by car than 76% of Tennessee towns.
How Palmer ranks
Percentile among Tennessee towns with at least 500 people on The Town Files lifestyle rankings. 50 is typical for the state; 90 means better than 90% of Tennessee towns.
Homes and cost of living
The median home in Palmer is worth $78,900, below the typical Tennessee town ($204,650). Homes cost about 1.4 times the median household income of $56,447, which is more affordable than 99% of Tennessee towns. Median rent is $583 a month. 86.1% of households own their home.
| Housing | Palmer | Typical Tennessee town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $78,900 | $204,650 |
| Median rent | $583 | $863 |
| Median household income | $56,447 | $57,917 |
| Home value ÷ income | 1.4× | 3.7× |
| Homeownership | 86.1% | 69.7% |
| Median year built | 1984 | 1980 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.0% | — |
Who lives in Palmer
| People | Palmer | Typical Tennessee town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 40.2 | 40.8 |
| Age 65 and over | 11.5% | 18.4% |
| Under 18 | 30.0% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 7.4% | 18.2% |
| Below the poverty line | 14.7% | 14.2% |
| Veterans | 5.8% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 0.0% | — |
| Work from home | 3.5% | 8.2% |
| Average commute | 40.2 min | 25.9 min |
| Homes with broadband | 91.0% | 88.2% |
Weather in Palmer
July highs average 87.5°F and January lows 31.7°F. About 63.7 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 3.1 inches of snow (typical Tennessee town: 3.5 in). Expect about 32 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 63 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
8 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Palmer since 1950, compared with 16 for the typical Tennessee town. 5 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an EF4, struck on April 27, 2011 about 8.3 miles from the town center. The most recent was on December 11, 2021.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 22 times; the largest was 2.75 inches on May 20, 2006.
Severe weather in Grundy County since 1996
Grundy County has been included in 22 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for fire, flood, tornado.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| February 6, 2026 | Winter Storm | DR-4898: Severe Winter Storm |
| January 24, 2026 | Winter Storm | EM-3635: Severe Winter Storm |
| June 19, 2025 | Severe Storm | DR-4878: Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Tornadoes, And Flooding |
| April 2, 2025 | Severe Storm | EM-3625: Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Tornadoes, And Flooding |
| May 17, 2023 | Severe Storm | DR-4712: Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, And Tornado |
Jobs and pay in Grundy County
Grundy County had 2,070 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $39,399 a year. Unemployment was 4.5% in 2023; in Palmer itself the ACS puts it at 8.7%.
Towns near Palmer
- Gruetli-Laager, TN4.2 mi · 1,742 people · home $154,700
- Coalmont, TN8.4 mi · 784 people · home $151,400
- Dunlap, TN9.9 mi · 5,357 people · home $192,100
- Altamont, TN11.1 mi · 1,117 people · home $91,900
- Whitwell, TN11.7 mi · 1,641 people · home $140,500
- Tracy City, TN12.5 mi · 1,406 people · home $136,300
- Powells Crossroads, TN12.8 mi · 1,296 people · home $187,800
- Lone Oak, TN15.5 mi · 1,198 people · home $257,500
Palmer questions
Is Palmer, Tennessee a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Palmer scores better for retirees than 2% of Tennessee towns and quieter than 57%. 11.5% of residents are 65 or older (median age 40.2).
How much does a house cost in Palmer?
The median owner-occupied home in Palmer is valued at $78,900 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $56,447, so homes cost about 1.4 times income. Median rent is $583 a month.
What is the weather like in Palmer?
July highs average 87.5°F and January lows 31.7°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 63.7 inches of precipitation a year and 3.1 inches of snow.
Does Palmer get tornadoes?
8 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Palmer since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was an EF4 on April 27, 2011. The typical Tennessee town has had 16.
- 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)