Palmer, AK
Census place 0258660 · pop 6,268
Sales & income are statewide.
The breakdown — worst first
U.S. median +2.4% · worse than most cities
-12.1% population change (5yr) · 5-year population change — are people moving in, or fleeing?
U.S. median 3.6% · worse than most cities
5.0% unemployment · Share of the labor force out of work. Published by county, not city — every city in the county shares this figure.
U.S. median 14.6% · worse than most cities
16.0% of adults · Share of adults who currently smoke.
U.S. median $1,756/mo · worse than most cities
$2,174/mo typical rent · Typical monthly rent (Zillow Observed Rent Index, all home types).
U.S. median 24 min · worse than most cities
27 min average one-way commute · Average one-way commute to work, in minutes.
U.S. median 24.3% · worse than most cities
24.5% have a bachelor's degree or higher · Share of adults 25+ with a bachelor's degree or higher.
U.S. median 0.43 · worse than most cities
Gini 0.45 (0 = equal, 1 = unequal) · Gini index of household income (0 = equal, 1 = unequal).
U.S. median 36.5% · worse than most cities
36.5% of adults · Share of adults with obesity (BMI ≥ 30).
U.S. median 12.1% · worse than most cities
13.0% live in poverty · Share of residents living below the federal poverty line.
U.S. median $67,857 · worse than most cities
$72,201 median household income · Median household income — a proxy for local economic health.
U.S. median 9.3% · worse than most cities
9.8% of adults · Adults 18–64 without health insurance.
U.S. median $214,900 · worse than most cities
$294,900 median home value · Median home value — how expensive it is to buy in. Higher = less affordable.
U.S. median 67.2% · worse than most cities
63.1% own their home · Share of occupied homes that are owner-occupied.
U.S. median 77/100 · worse than most cities
89/100 FEMA risk (higher = riskier) · FEMA National Risk Index — wildfire, flood, earthquake, heat and more. Published by county, not city — every city in the county shares this figure.
U.S. median 90.0% · worse than most cities
91.6% of homes have broadband · Share of households with a broadband internet subscription.
U.S. median 0.99% · better than most cities
0.96% of home value paid in property tax · Median real-estate taxes paid as a share of home value.
U.S. median 17.4% · better than most cities
16.6% of adults · Adults reporting frequent poor mental health (14+ days a month).
U.S. median 152/100k · better than most cities
153 violent crimes per 100k · Violent crimes (murder, rape, robbery, aggravated assault) per 100,000 residents.
U.S. median 964/100k · better than most cities
949 property crimes per 100k · Burglary, theft, motor-vehicle theft and arson per 100,000 residents.
U.S. median 26.5% · better than most cities
22.3% of adults · Adults with no leisure-time physical activity.
U.S. median 1 days · better than most cities
0 unhealthy-air days per year · Days per year with unhealthy air (AQI above 100). Published by county, not city — every city in the county shares this figure.
U.S. median 42 AQI · better than most cities
15 median AQI · Median air quality index — lower is cleaner air. Published by county, not city — every city in the county shares this figure.
Frequently asked
- Is Palmer, AK a good place to live?
- By the numbers, Palmer scores 46/100 — a D− (Rough) on Shcity, which ranks U.S. cities on public data across 22 metrics like crime, cost, jobs and health. Its strongest area is air quality (aqi) and its weakest is population growth (5yr). Alaska overall ranks #25 of 50 states. Whether it's "good" depends on what you value — re-weight the factors to score it your way.
- How safe is Palmer, AK?
- Palmer reports 153 violent crimes per 100k and 949 property crimes per 100k — better than most U.S. cities on violent crime.
- Is Palmer, AK expensive to live in?
- Palmer has a median home value of $294,900 and typical rent around $2,174/mo — pricier than most U.S. cities.
- What's the biggest downside of living in Palmer, AK?
- Its weakest measured area is population growth (5yr) (-12.1%) — 1/100, worse than most U.S. cities.
- What is Palmer, AK best at?
- Its strongest measured area is air quality (aqi) (15 AQI) — 99/100, better than most U.S. cities. (A county-level figure.)
Sources: U.S. Census (ACS), CDC PLACES, FBI Crime Data Explorer, BLS, EPA AirData, FEMA National Risk Index, and Zillow.