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Living in
Palmer.
About
Life in Palmer
Palmer Town is a community of 12,372 people in Massachusetts. The median household income is $78,789, median rent runs about $1,075 per month, and median home values are around $271,000. The unemployment rate is 5.2%.
Palmer at a Glance
Population, income, housing and more
Median Age
47.8 yrs
Poverty Rate
8.3%
Foreign-Born
1.2%
Broadband Internet
90.4%
of households
Population Growth
-0.7%
recent change · Census Bureau
Median household income
Demographics1.2% foreign-born, most often from Poland
Who lives in Palmer: race and ethnicity, ages, households, languages and countries of origin
In Palmer, the largest foreign-born group is from Poland (29.3%), and 1.7% of residents speak French/Haitian at home.
Under 18
15.1%
of residents
65 and Older
20.9%
of residents
Households with Kids
19.8%
anyone under 18
Living Alone
35.1%
of households
Married Couples
36.2%
of households
Avg Household Size
2.24
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 39% below MA average
Rent, home values, and income in Palmer
In Palmer, rent runs 39% below the MA average, and home values are 52% below the MA average.
Median rent (per month)
Median home value
Rent Burdened
50.9%
spending 30%+ of income on rent
Severely Rent Burdened
25.5%
spending 50%+
Cost of Living Index
96.1
metro area (BEA) · US avg = 100
Median Property Tax
$4,540
per year, owner-occupied homes
Homeowners
71.5%
of occupied homes are owned
Typical Home Built
1962
median year built
Vacant Homes
7.0%
of housing units
Jobs & Economyunemployment 0.7 pts above MA average
Unemployment in Palmer
Unemployment in Palmer is 0.7 percentage points higher than the MA average.
Unemployment rate
City-level rate · BLS annual average
Unemployment Rate — 10 Year Trend
City-level (BLS) · Annual averages
What Palmer Residents Do for Work · share of employed residents by industry
City residents, wherever they work
Commute31.3 min avg
How Palmer residents get to work, and the nearest airports
In Palmer, most residents drive alone to work (82%), and 56% get there in under 30 minutes.
How People Get to Work
Commute Time Distribution
Nearest airports · with airline service
- 24 mi
Bradley International Airport (BDL)
Medium hub3.3M passengers boarded in 2025
- 69 mi
Boston Logan International Airport (BOS)
Major hub21.0M 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 38% above national average
Crime rates for 2025
Violent crime in Palmer runs 38% above the national average.
Violent Crime Rate
453.5
per 100,000 residents
Above average (329 national, 2025)
Property Crime Rate
688.4
per 100,000 residents
Below average (1,552 national, 2025)
Palmer Police Department
Natural DisastersThunderstorm Wind most common — 11 events in 2025
Natural hazard risk, storms and earthquakes
FEMA National Risk Index
Relatively Moderate
92.8 / 100
Compares expected losses from natural hazards, social vulnerability and community resilience against every US county (higher = more risk).
Hampden County, county-wide · FEMA NRI December 2025
In Hampden County, which includes Palmer, the most common type is thunderstorm wind, with 11 recorded events in 2025.
Most common events:
Storm events by year
| Year | Events | Top Type | Property Damage |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 11 | Thunderstorm Wind | $48,900 |
| 2024 | 12 | Thunderstorm Wind | $21,400 |
| 2023 | 17 | Thunderstorm Wind | $98,800 |
| 2022 | 12 | Thunderstorm Wind | $67,700 |
| 2021 | 22 | Thunderstorm Wind | $158,800 |
| 2020 | 34 | Strong Wind | $349,700 |
| 2019 | 28 | Thunderstorm Wind | $564,700 |
| 2018 | 19 | Flood | $151,400 |
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
Hampden County, county-wide
Palmer is about 3% of Hampden County’s population, so county-wide figures may differ from local conditions.
Air Quality39 median AQI — Good
Days by air quality category (2025)
Air quality in Hampden County, which includes Palmer, is typically good — 281 good-air days per year.
Median AQI
39
Good Days
281
per year
Moderate Days
79
per year
Unhealthy Days
0
per year
Hampden County, county-wide
Palmer is about 3% of Hampden County’s population, so county-wide figures may differ from local conditions.
Climate80°F summers, 17°F winters
30-year climate averages (1991–2020) — monthly temperatures and precipitation
Palmer has mild summers (avg high 80°F) and very cold winters (avg low 17°F).
Spring (Mar–May)
56°/34°F
avg high / low
Summer (Jun–Aug)
80°/57°F
avg high / low
Fall (Sep–Nov)
61°/41°F
avg high / low
Winter (Dec–Feb)
36°/17°F
avg high / low
Annual Precipitation
48.6"
Annual Snowfall
43.0"
Hot Days/Year
8
days above 90°F
Freeze Days/Year
143
days below 32°F
Rainy Days/Year
128
Average month
Show month-by-month table ↓Hide table ↑
| Month | High | Low | Precip |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 33°F | 15°F | 3.46" |
| Feb | 35°F | 15°F | 3.09" |
| Mar | 44°F | 24°F | 3.71" |
| Apr | 57°F | 34°F | 3.68" |
| May | 68°F | 45°F | 3.57" |
| Jun | 77°F | 54°F | 4.21" |
| Jul | 82°F | 60°F | 4.21" |
| Aug | 80°F | 58°F | 4.78" |
| Sep | 73°F | 52°F | 4.53" |
| Oct | 60°F | 40°F | 4.78" |
| Nov | 49°F | 31°F | 3.48" |
| Dec | 38°F | 22°F | 4.01" |
Healthcare1 hospital, avg 4.0/5
Hospitals, ratings, and health insurance in Palmer
Palmer has 1 hospital, averaging 4.0 out of 5 on CMS's quality rating — above-average care.
Hospitals
1
within city limits
Uninsured
1.2%
of residents
Avg Hospital Rating
4.0 / 5
Baystate Wing Hospital
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available
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.
Education9.9:1 student/teacher ratio
Schools and degree attainment in Palmer
Palmer's student/teacher ratio is 9.9:1 (lower than the national average of 16:1), and 23.5% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Public Schools
3
within city limits
Private Schools
0
within city limits
College Degree Rate
23.5%
adults 25+ with bachelor's or higher
Student/Teacher Ratio
9.9:1
National avg 16:1
Schools located within city limits (2023) — school-level metrics change slowly year to year
Colleges Near Palmer (within 15 miles)
Springfield Technical Community College
14.8 mi awayPublic · 2-year · 4,759 students · in-state tuition $6,004 · 37% graduate · median earnings $45,410 (10 yrs after entry)
Western New England University
11.9 mi awayPrivate nonprofit · 4-year · 2,603 students · in-state tuition $49,490 · 66% graduate · median earnings $81,107 (10 yrs after entry)
Private nonprofit · 4-year · 1,751 students · in-state tuition $46,700 · 74% graduate · median earnings $59,623 (10 yrs after entry)
American International College
13.7 mi awayPrivate nonprofit · 4-year · 1,017 students · in-state tuition $45,530 · 48% graduate · median earnings $66,151 (10 yrs after entry)
Private nonprofit · 4-year · 839 students · in-state tuition $61,124 · 61% graduate · median earnings $47,422 (10 yrs after entry)
Springfield College-Regional Online and Continuing Education
13.9 mi awayPrivate nonprofit · 4-year · 176 students · 57% graduate · median earnings $59,623 (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: New England National Scenic Trail, 13 mi
Nearby national parks, recreation areas and public libraries for Palmer
Palmer has 8 nearby national parks or recreation areas, closest being New England National Scenic Trail (13 mi away).
Nearby National Parks & Recreation Areas
New England National Scenic Trail
National Scenic Trail
13 mi awaySpringfield Armory National Historic Site
National Historic Site
15 mi awayColtsville National Historical Park
National Historical Park
49 mi awayBlackstone River Valley National Historical Park
National Historical Park
52 mi awayRoger Williams National Memorial
National Memorial
52 mi awayMinute Man National Historical Park
National Historical Park
55 mi awayLowell National Historical Park
National Historical Park
60 mi awayFrederick Law Olmsted National Historic Site
National Historic Site
61 mi awayPublic Libraries in Palmer
Palmer Public Library
1455 North Main St., Palmer
Cities Near Palmer
The closest cities within 60 miles
Planning a move to Palmer?
Read our full moving guide — what it's really like to live here.
Palmer FAQ
Is Palmer, Massachusetts affordable?⌄
Palmer's median rent is $1,075/month, which is below the national average, making it relatively affordable. The median household income is $78,480/year. Median home value is $271,400.
Is Palmer, Massachusetts safe?⌄
Palmer's violent crime rate was 454 per 100,000 residents in 2025, which is above the national average of 329/100k that year. Property crime rate is 688 per 100,000. As with any city, crime rates vary by neighborhood.
What is the job market like in Palmer, Massachusetts?⌄
Palmer has an unemployment rate of 5.2%, which is slightly above the national average of 4.3%.
What is the cost of living in Palmer, Massachusetts?⌄
The cost of living in Palmer is primarily driven by housing. Median rent is $1,075/month and median household income is $78,480/year. The median home value is $271,400. About 51% of renters spend more than 30% of their income on housing.
How is the commute in Palmer, Massachusetts?⌄
The average commute in Palmer is 31 minutes, which is longer than 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