Shcity← All cities

Palmer Town, MA

Census place 2552144 · pop 12,381

D−44/ 100
🫤 Rough
D−
in MA
📍 Massachusetts ranks #34 of 50 states →
🏆 Uninsured5.2% · top 8%
🚽 Crime715/100k · bottom 8%
Taxes
1.67% property · US 0.99%6.25% sales · US 7.00%up to 9.00% income · US 4.63%

Sales & income are statewide.

Google Maps ↗Zillow ↗Wikipedia ↗

The breakdown — worst first

Violent crime rate715/100k8

U.S. median 152/100k · worse than most cities

715 violent crimes per 100k · Violent crimes (murder, rape, robbery, aggravated assault) per 100,000 residents.

Commute time31 min12

U.S. median 24 min · worse than most cities

31 min average one-way commute · Average one-way commute to work, in minutes.

Unemployment rateCounty-level4.8%15

U.S. median 3.6% · worse than most cities

4.8% unemployment · Share of the labor force out of work. Published by county, not city — every city in the county shares this figure.

Property-tax burden1.67%19

U.S. median 0.99% · worse than most cities

1.67% of home value paid in property tax · Median real-estate taxes paid as a share of home value.

Poor mental health19.1%20

U.S. median 17.4% · worse than most cities

19.1% of adults · Adults reporting frequent poor mental health (14+ days a month).

Adult smoking15.3%31

U.S. median 14.6% · worse than most cities

15.3% of adults · Share of adults who currently smoke.

Bachelor's degree or higher23.5%33

U.S. median 24.3% · worse than most cities

23.5% have a bachelor's degree or higher · Share of adults 25+ with a bachelor's degree or higher.

Income inequality0.4536

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).

Population growth (5yr)+1.2%37

U.S. median +2.4% · worse than most cities

+1.2% population change (5yr) · 5-year population change — are people moving in, or fleeing?

Broadband access90.4%41

U.S. median 90.0% · worse than most cities

90.4% of homes have broadband · Share of households with a broadband internet subscription.

Physical inactivity26.1%44

U.S. median 26.5% · worse than most cities

26.1% of adults · Adults with no leisure-time physical activity.

Unhealthy air daysCounty-level2 days51

U.S. median 1 days · better than most cities

2 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.

Housing cost$271,40052

U.S. median $214,900 · better than most cities

$271,400 median home value · Median home value — how expensive it is to buy in. Higher = less affordable.

Median household income$78,48055

U.S. median $67,857 · better than most cities

$78,480 median household income · Median household income — a proxy for local economic health.

Natural disaster riskCounty-level84/10058

U.S. median 77/100 · better than most cities

84/100 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.

Adult obesity33.0%61

U.S. median 36.5% · better than most cities

33.0% of adults · Share of adults with obesity (BMI ≥ 30).

Poverty rate8.3%67

U.S. median 12.1% · better than most cities

8.3% live in poverty · Share of residents living below the federal poverty line.

Homeownership71.5%70

U.S. median 67.2% · better than most cities

71.5% own their home · Share of occupied homes that are owner-occupied.

Air quality (AQI)County-level37 AQI81

U.S. median 42 AQI · better than most cities

37 median AQI · Median air quality index — lower is cleaner air. Published by county, not city — every city in the county shares this figure.

Property crime rate357/100k88

U.S. median 964/100k · better than most cities

357 property crimes per 100k · Burglary, theft, motor-vehicle theft and arson per 100,000 residents.

Uninsured adults5.2%92

U.S. median 9.3% · better than most cities

5.2% of adults · Adults 18–64 without health insurance.

Not measured for Palmer Town: Rent. Not every public source covers every city — EPA air monitors and Zillow rent only reach some places, and national crime data is still being added.

Frequently asked

Is Palmer Town, MA a good place to live?
By the numbers, Palmer Town scores 44/100 — a D− (Rough) on Shcity, which ranks U.S. cities on public data across 21 metrics like crime, cost, jobs and health. Its strongest area is uninsured adults and its weakest is violent crime rate. Massachusetts overall ranks #34 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 Town, MA?
Palmer Town reports 715 violent crimes per 100k and 357 property crimes per 100k — worse than most U.S. cities on violent crime.
Is Palmer Town, MA expensive to live in?
Palmer Town has a median home value of $271,400 — more affordable than most U.S. cities.
What's the biggest downside of living in Palmer Town, MA?
Its weakest measured area is violent crime rate (715/100k) — 8/100, worse than most U.S. cities.
What is Palmer Town, MA best at?
Its strongest measured area is uninsured adults (5.2%) — 92/100, better than most U.S. cities.

Sources: U.S. Census (ACS), CDC PLACES, FBI Crime Data Explorer, BLS, EPA AirData, FEMA National Risk Index, and Zillow.