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Living in
Palmetto.
About
Life in Palmetto
Palmetto is a community of 13,449 people in Florida. The median household income is $62,621, median rent runs about $1,366 per month, and median home values are around $313,400. Unemployment is low at 4.2%, suggesting a relatively healthy local job market.
Palmetto at a Glance
Population, income, housing and more
Median Age
49.8 yrs
Poverty Rate
13.5%
Foreign-Born
10.4%
Broadband Internet
89.7%
of households
Population Growth
+1.9%
recent change · Census Bureau
Median household income
Demographics10.4% foreign-born, most often from Mexico
Who lives in Palmetto: race and ethnicity, ages, households, languages and countries of origin
In Palmetto, the largest foreign-born group is from Mexico (55.1%), and 18.1% of residents speak Spanish at home.
Under 18
20.1%
of residents
65 and Older
30.0%
of residents
Households with Kids
18.6%
anyone under 18
Living Alone
28.0%
of households
Married Couples
47.1%
of households
Avg Household Size
2.55
people
Race & Ethnicity
Hispanic or Latino of any race; other groups are non-Hispanic
Top countries of origin (foreign-born)
Languages Spoken at Home
Cost of Livingrent 18% below FL average
Rent, home values, and income in Palmetto
In Palmetto, rent runs 18% below the FL average, and home values are 13% below the FL average.
Median rent (per month)
Median home value
Rent Burdened
55.6%
spending 30%+ of income on rent
Severely Rent Burdened
32.2%
spending 50%+
Cost of Living Index
102.4
metro area (BEA) · US avg = 100
Median Property Tax
$2,393
per year, owner-occupied homes
Homeowners
68.8%
of occupied homes are owned
Typical Home Built
1983
median year built
Vacant Homes
25.9%
of housing units
Home Value Trend
Latest: $350,433 (September 2026)
Jobs & Economyunemployment about average for FL
Unemployment in Palmetto
Unemployment in Manatee County, which includes Palmetto, is close to the FL average.
Unemployment rate
Palmetto: Manatee County rate (county-wide) · BLS annual average
Unemployment Rate — 10 Year Trend
Manatee County (county-wide) · Annual averages
Palmetto is about 3% of Manatee County’s population, so county-wide figures may differ from local conditions.
What Palmetto Residents Do for Work · share of employed residents by industry
City residents, wherever they work
Commute25.5 min avg
How Palmetto residents get to work, and the nearest airports
In Palmetto, most residents drive alone to work (72%), and 59% get there in under 30 minutes.
How People Get to Work
Commute Time Distribution
Nearest airports · with airline service
- 9 mi
Sarasota Bradenton International Airport (SRQ)
Small hub2.2M passengers boarded in 2025
- 31 mi
Tampa International Airport (TPA)
Major hub12.1M passengers boarded in 2025
Straight-line distance. Size is the FAA’s hub category, based on passenger traffic: regional airports may have only a few flights a day.
Safetyviolent crime 67% above national average
Crime rates for 2024
Violent crime in Palmetto runs 67% above the national average.
Violent Crime Rate
607.5
per 100,000 residents
Above average (363 national, 2024)
Property Crime Rate
1,786
per 100,000 residents
About average (1,767 national, 2024)
Palmetto Police Department
Natural DisastersThunderstorm Wind most common — 1 event in 2025
Natural hazard risk, storms and earthquakes
FEMA National Risk Index
Relatively High
97.6 / 100
Compares expected losses from natural hazards, social vulnerability and community resilience against every US county (higher = more risk).
Manatee County, county-wide · FEMA NRI December 2025
In Manatee County, which includes Palmetto, the most common type is thunderstorm wind, with 1 recorded event in 2025.
Most common events:
Storm events by year
| Year | Events | Top Type | Property Damage |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 1 | Thunderstorm Wind | $15,000 |
| 2024 | 8 | Lightning | $160,000 |
| 2023 | 2 | Tropical Storm | None reported |
| 2022 | 13 | Hail | $1000.4M |
| 2021 | 9 | Thunderstorm Wind | $1.1M |
| 2020 | 10 | Thunderstorm Wind | $10.8M |
| 2019 | 2 | Thunderstorm Wind | $30,000 |
| 2018 | 5 | Wildfire | $330,000 |
Property damage is the National Weather Service's estimate filed with each event. “None reported” means the events were logged with $0 damage; “Not estimated” means no estimate was filed. Storms covering several counties aren't counted here, since NOAA doesn't split their damage by county.
0 earthquakes of magnitude 2.5+ within 100 miles in the past year
Manatee County, county-wide
Palmetto is about 3% of Manatee County’s population, so county-wide figures may differ from local conditions.
Air Quality36 median AQI — Good
Days by air quality category (2025)
Air quality in Manatee County, which includes Palmetto, is typically good — 332 good-air days per year.
Median AQI
36
Good Days
332
per year
Moderate Days
33
per year
Unhealthy Days
0
per year
Manatee County, county-wide
Palmetto is about 3% of Manatee County’s population, so county-wide figures may differ from local conditions.
Climate92°F summers, 54°F winters
30-year climate averages (1991–2020) — monthly temperatures and precipitation
Palmetto has hot summers (avg high 92°F) and warm winters (avg low 54°F).
Spring (Mar–May)
83°/63°F
avg high / low
Summer (Jun–Aug)
92°/75°F
avg high / low
Fall (Sep–Nov)
85°/68°F
avg high / low
Winter (Dec–Feb)
74°/54°F
avg high / low
Annual Precipitation
56.3"
Annual Snowfall
0.0"
Hot Days/Year
116
days above 90°F
Freeze Days/Year
1
days below 32°F
Rainy Days/Year
114
Average month
Show month-by-month table ↓Hide table ↑
| Month | High | Low | Precip |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 72°F | 52°F | 2.76" |
| Feb | 75°F | 55°F | 1.99" |
| Mar | 78°F | 58°F | 3.11" |
| Apr | 83°F | 63°F | 2.53" |
| May | 88°F | 69°F | 3.49" |
| Jun | 91°F | 74°F | 9.03" |
| Jul | 92°F | 75°F | 8.91" |
| Aug | 92°F | 76°F | 10.07" |
| Sep | 90°F | 74°F | 7.43" |
| Oct | 85°F | 68°F | 2.88" |
| Nov | 79°F | 60°F | 1.82" |
| Dec | 74°F | 55°F | 2.26" |
Healthcare
Hospitals, ratings, and health insurance in Palmetto
Uninsured
15.0%
of residents
No hospitals inside Palmetto's limits — nearest hospitals · within 15 miles
Manatee Memorial Hospital
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available · 2.1 mi away · Bradenton
Centerstone of Florida
Psychiatric · 4 mi away · Bradenton
HCA Florida Blake Hospital
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available · 4.1 mi away · Bradenton
Adult Health · vs. the typical US place
Share of adults. Modeled estimates, not counted cases. “US” = the typical US place.
Medicare-certified hospitals only. Doesn’t include clinics, urgent care, or freestanding ERs.
Education18.7:1 student/teacher ratio
Schools and degree attainment in Palmetto
Palmetto's student/teacher ratio is 18.7:1 (higher than the national average of 16:1), and 28.1% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Public Schools
10
within city limits
Private Schools
0
within city limits
College Degree Rate
28.1%
adults 25+ with bachelor's or higher
Student/Teacher Ratio
18.7:1
National avg 16:1
Schools located within city limits (2023) — school-level metrics change slowly year to year
Colleges Near Palmetto (within 15 miles)
State College of Florida-Manatee-Sarasota
6.1 mi awayPublic · 2-year · 7,379 students · in-state tuition $2,540 · 35% graduate · median earnings $45,866 (10 yrs after entry)
Private nonprofit · 4-year · 1,888 students · in-state tuition $53,436 · 64% graduate · median earnings $57,875 (10 yrs after entry)
Ringling College of Art and Design
11.5 mi awayPrivate nonprofit · 4-year · 1,662 students · in-state tuition $60,170 · 74% graduate · median earnings $55,053 (10 yrs after entry)
Public · 4-year · 843 students · in-state tuition $6,916 · 66% graduate · median earnings $53,164 (10 yrs after entry)
Galen Health Institutes-Sarasota
14.8 mi awayPrivate for-profit · 2-year · 574 students · in-state tuition $18,790 · median earnings $69,188 (10 yrs after entry)
Degree-granting colleges with 100+ students, placed by campus location (main campuses only — branch campuses are reported under their parent school)
Parks & Recreationclosest: De Soto National Memorial, 4 mi
Nearby national parks, recreation areas and public libraries for Palmetto
Palmetto has 1 nearby national park or recreation area, closest being De Soto National Memorial (4 mi away).
Nearby National Parks & Recreation Areas
De Soto National Memorial
National Memorial
4 mi awayPublic Libraries in Palmetto
Palmetto Branch
923 Sixth Street West, Palmetto
Cities Near Palmetto
The closest cities within 60 miles
Planning a move to Palmetto?
Read our full moving guide — what it's really like to live here.
Palmetto FAQ
Is Palmetto, Florida affordable?⌄
Palmetto's median rent is $1,366/month, which is close to the national average. The median household income is $62,621/year. Median home value is $313,400.
Is Palmetto, Florida safe?⌄
Palmetto's violent crime rate was 608 per 100,000 residents in 2024, which is significantly above the national average of 363/100k that year. Property crime rate is 1786 per 100,000. As with any city, crime rates vary by neighborhood.
What is the job market like in Palmetto, Florida?⌄
Manatee County, which includes Palmetto, has an unemployment rate of 4.2%, which is close to the national average of 4.3%.
What is the cost of living in Palmetto, Florida?⌄
The cost of living in Palmetto is primarily driven by housing. Median rent is $1,366/month and median household income is $62,621/year. The median home value is $313,400. About 56% of renters spend more than 30% of their income on housing.
How is the commute in Palmetto, Florida?⌄
The average commute in Palmetto is 26 minutes, which is about average compared to the national average of 26 minutes.
Data from the US Census Bureau, BLS, FBI, NOAA, EPA, Zillow Research and other public sources. Where our data comes from