City profile · Illinois · Census ACS 2023

Palmer, IL

Population, income, housing, safety, climate and schools for Palmer - drawn straight from Census ACS, FBI UCR, NOAA, NCES, HUD and FEMA, refreshed on the 2024–2025 release cycle.

233
Residents
$52,917
Median income
$80,400
Median home
$974
Median rent (state)

Palmer - the verdict

Out of every US city with 1,000+ residents, Palmer places in the 24th percentile for household income. Source: Census ACS.

24th
percentile, household income
4th
percentile, home value
17th
percentile, median rent
📝 How we sourced this

Population, income, and housing-cost figures come from the U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey 5-year estimates (B-series tables). Crime data uses FBI UCR; climate uses NOAA Climate Normals; school counts come from NCES Common Core of Data; permits use the Census Building Permits Survey (BPS). See our methodology page for the full ETL pipeline and OMB / FIPS join keys.

Data Snapshot: Palmer, IL

Palmer is a small town in Illinois, home to 233 residents per U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates. Median household income here is $52,917 per year, in the lower quartile of U.S. cities for household income, with a poverty rate of 5.6%. Typical homes in Palmer are valued around $80,400, and the median resident age is 50.2 years. Educational attainment runs 6.2% of adults with a bachelor's degree or higher. Separately, 51.7% of working-age residents are in the labor force.

Housing supply pressure shows in Census Building Permit Survey data: 0 residential units were authorized in 2024 (No Permits).

Illinois tracks close to the national cost-of-living baseline: the state registers 100.0 on a 100-equals-national-average index (Near Average) per BEA Regional Price Parities 2024. Statewide, HUD pegs Fair Market Rent for a two-bedroom unit at $974 monthly. Monthly utility costs average around $240 across Illinois, per EIA 2023 residential energy estimates. Commute times here average 22.4 minutes, with 93.3% driving alone and 6.7% working from home, per Census ACS commuting data. FEMA's National Risk Index rates natural-hazard exposure at 54.0 out of 100 (Low).

Population

233 residents

Census ACS 2023 - Illinois

Median Household Income

$52,917 /yr

Poverty 5.6%

Cost of Living Index (state)

100.0 (US=100)

Near Average - BEA RPP 2024, Illinois average

How does Palmer compare to other US cities?

Palmer measured against every US city with 1,000+ residents, computed live from the same Census and FBI data shown throughout this page.

Household income 24% higher than other cities
Home value 4% pricier than other cities
Median rent 17% pricier than other cities

"Safer than" reflects total crime rate from FBI UCR; the others use Census ACS estimates.

How we calculate these percentiles & ranks

Each percentile compares Palmer against every qualifying US city; each in-state rank narrows that to Illinois only. Full formula and direction notes: methodology.

Illinois-relative analysis

Bachelor's Degree or Higher places Palmer near the bottom of Illinois's cities

Among the 1,336 Illinois cities PlainCities tracks with reported bachelor's degree or higher data, Palmer ranks #1,220 - the 9th percentile within the state. This is a different, narrower cut than the nationwide percentiles above: it compares Palmer only against its own state's cities, not the full US field.

Median Household Income
#1,020 of 1,311
22nd percentile in Illinois
Median Gross Rent
#818 of 1,336
37th percentile in Illinois
Median Home Value
#1,067 of 1,315
19th percentile in Illinois
Poverty Rate
#791 of 1,335
40th percentile in Illinois
Bachelor's Degree or Higher
#1,220 of 1,336
9th percentile in Illinois

Ranked by raw value (highest first); a higher rank is not automatically "better" for every measure, see each metric's own context above. This is a comparison within Illinois only, not a livability score. See the methodology for the source and calculation.

24thIncome percentile

24th percentile nationally for median household income. Source: Census ACS 2023 / FBI UCR 2023.

How Palmer's home value compares nationally

Median home value vs. every US city (population 1,000+)

$80,400 Among the most affordable more affordable than 96% of 15,600 US cities

$0–$25,000: 5 US cities (0%). Below this entry. $25,000–$50,000: 54 US cities (0%). Below this entry. $50,000–$75,000: 352 US cities (2%). Below this entry. $75,000–$100,000: 1,086 US cities (7%). This entry sits in this band. $100,000–$125,000: 1,516 US cities (10%). Above this entry. $125,000–$150,000: 1,170 US cities (8%). Above this entry. $150,000–$175,000: 1,278 US cities (8%). Above this entry. $175,000–$200,000: 1,229 US cities (8%). Above this entry. $200,000–$225,000: 1,035 US cities (7%). Above this entry. $225,000–$250,000: 976 US cities (6%). Above this entry. $250,000–$275,000: 754 US cities (5%). Above this entry. $275,000–$300,000: 712 US cities (5%). Above this entry. $300,000–$325,000: 521 US cities (3%). Above this entry. $325,000–$350,000: 526 US cities (3%). Above this entry. $350,000–$375,000: 465 US cities (3%). Above this entry. $375,000–$400,000: 393 US cities (3%). Above this entry. $400,000–$425,000: 317 US cities (2%). Above this entry. $425,000–$450,000: 300 US cities (2%). Above this entry. $450,000–$475,000: 307 US cities (2%). Above this entry. $475,000–$500,000: 250 US cities (2%). Above this entry. $500,000–$525,000: 160 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $525,000–$550,000: 156 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $550,000–$575,000: 172 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $575,000–$600,000: 172 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $600,000–$625,000: 163 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $625,000–$650,000: 167 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $650,000–$675,000: 135 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $675,000–$700,000: 101 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $700,000–$725,000: 95 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $725,000–$750,000: 71 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $750,000–$775,000: 65 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $775,000–$800,000: 70 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $800,000–$825,000: 57 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $825,000–$850,000: 67 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $850,000–$875,000: 60 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $875,000–$900,000: 58 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $900,000–$925,000: 47 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $925,000–$950,000: 37 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $950,000–$975,000: 31 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $975,000–$1,000,000: 470 US cities (3%). Above this entry. $1,000,000–$1,025,000: 0 US cities (0%). Above this entry. Palmer $0 $1,025,000 every US city, bucketed by value

Each bar is a $25K-wide band; taller bars hold more US cities. The dashed line + filled bar mark this entry. Hover or tap any bar for its full count, share, and where it sits relative to this entry.

Source U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year Estimates · 2023

Income distribution context

Household income distribution - Palmer, IL Palmer, IL's reported median household income shown against the U.S. national quintile-share pattern (not Palmer, IL-specific quintile data). The Lorenz curve traces the national cumulative income share against cumulative population share, perfect equality is the diagonal; observed inequality bows below. $ Household Income Distribution Palmer, IL median $52,917/yr, vs. U.S. national quintile pattern QUINTILE SHARE OF AGGREGATE INCOME Lowest 20% 3.4% Second 20% 9.2% Middle 20% 15.1% Fourth 20% 23.2% Top 20% 49.1% LORENZ CURVE cumulative income vs. population 100% 0% 100% pop. 0%
Palmer, IL's median household income (Census ACS 5-year estimate) plotted against the U.S. national income-quintile distribution pattern for context; the quintile shares and Lorenz curve are national figures, not computed specifically for Palmer, IL. Diagonal = perfect equality.

Key socioeconomic indicators

Bachelor's degree or higher (adults 25+) 6.2%

Census ACS S1501, educational attainment

Poverty rate (households below FPL) 5.6%

Census ACS S1701, poverty status

Labor force participation (adults 16+) 51.7%

Census ACS S2301, share of working-age residents in the labor force

Population
233
Median Income
$52,917
Median Home Value
$80,400
Median Age
50.2
Poverty Rate
5.6%
Labor force participation
51.7%
Bachelor's Degree+
6.2%

Population Change

Annual U.S. Census Bureau Population Estimates Program (PEP) estimates, 2020–2025

See the fastest-growing cities →
195 residents200 residents205 residents210 residents 202020212022202320242025 206 residents 199 residents ▼ -3.4%
Palmer's Census PEP population estimates, 2020–2025.

Housing Supply

Census Bureau Building Permits Survey (BPS) - annual residential permits authorized

Total Permits (2024)
0
housing units authorized
Single-Family
0
detached homes
Multifamily
0
apartments & condos

5-Year Permit Trend (2019–2024)

Year Total
2019 0
2020 0
2021 0
2022 0
2023 0
2024 0

Commute Patterns

How workers travel to work, Census ACS 2023

Average Commute Time
22.4 minutes
Drive Alone
93.3%
Carpool
0.0%
Public Transit
0.0%
Walk
0.0%
Work from Home
6.7%

Based on 105 workers 16 and over.

Monthly Utility Costs

State-average estimates for Illinois - EIA 2023 residential energy data

Electricity
$100
avg/month
Natural Gas
$90
avg/month
Water & Sewer
$50
avg/month
Total Utilities
$240
estimated/month

Estimates reflect Illinois state averages. Actual costs vary by home size, usage, and local rates. Source: U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) 2023.

Living Costs & Risk

Cost of living is a Illinois state average from BEA; rent and hazard risk are county-level figures from HUD and FEMA for the county Palmer sits in

Cost of Living Index
100.0
Near Average
US average = 100 · BEA RPP 2024
Typical 2-BR Rent
$974/mo
HUD Fair Market Rent
County-level FMR estimate
Natural Hazard Risk
54.0 / 100
Low
FEMA NRI composite score (county)

Similar Cities in Illinois

Parkersburg
233 people
Lima
231 people
Coatsburg
230 people
Lake Ka-Ho
236 people
Middletown
236 people
Pulaski
230 people

Cities of a Similar Size Nationwide

Population-matched peers from other states, closest to Palmer's 233 residents (Census ACS 5-Year 2023).

Delta, AL
233 people
Nauvoo, AL
233 people
Sierraville, CA
233 people
Quasset Lake, CT
233 people
Allentown, GA
233 people
Wenona, GA
233 people

Cities with a Similar Household Income Nationwide

Median-household-income-matched peers from other states, closest to Palmer's $52,917 (Census ACS 5-Year 2023, table B19013).

Shonto, AZ
$52,917 median income
Havana, AR
$52,917 median income
Beaver Dam, IN
$52,917 median income
Fulton, IN
$52,917 median income
Patriot, IN
$52,917 median income
Marne, IA
$52,917 median income

Race & Ethnicity Composition

Race and ethnicity - Palmer, IL Race categories sum to one hundred percent per Census methodology. Hispanic or Latino is shown separately as an ethnicity overlay; it cuts across all race categories per OMB Directive 15. Race & Ethnicity Composition Palmer, IL - Census ACS, OMB race + ethnicity categories RACE, sums to 100% 99.6% ETHNICITY, Hispanic or Latino (any race) 0.0% White 99.6% Black or African American 0.0% Asian 0.0% American Indian 0.0% Native Hawaiian 0.0% Some other race 0.0% Two or more races 0.4% Per OMB Directive 15: Hispanic/Latino ethnicity is reported separately from the race categories.
Race categories sum to 100%. Hispanic or Latino ethnicity is reported separately and cuts across race per Census/OMB methodology.

City-level race and ethnicity, Census ACS 5-year 2023 (tables B02001, B03001), OMB Directive 15 categories.

How Palmer compares to nearby Illinois cities

Population + median household income, sourced from Census Bureau ACS 5-year B01001 (population) and B19013 (median household income).

City Population Median Household Income
Palmer (this city) 233 $52,917
Parkersburg 233 $42,417
Lima 231 $71,250
Coatsburg 230 $68,750
Census ACS 5-year FIPS IL Census BPS 2024 OMB Bulletin 23-01

What do people ask about Palmer, IL?

What is the population of Palmer, IL? +

The population of Palmer, IL stands at 233 according to U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates.

What is the median household income in Palmer, IL? +

The median household income in Palmer is $52,917 per year, based on Census ACS 2023 data.

What is the cost of living in Palmer? +

BEA does not publish a city-level cost-of-living figure for Palmer; the closest available measure is the Illinois state average, a cost of living index of 100.0 (U.S. average = 100), rated "Near Average" based on BEA Regional Price Parities 2024 data. Costs within Illinois vary by metro area.

What is the median home value in Palmer, IL? +

A typical home in Palmer is worth $80,400, according to Census ACS 2023 estimates.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year 2023, Census BPS 2024, Census ACS B08301/B08136, U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) 2023, BEA Regional Price Parities 2024, HUD Fair Market Rents 2026, FEMA National Risk Index.

Read our methodology - how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.

Primary sources: Census ACS, FBI UCR, NOAA Climate Normals, NCES.

Citation & verification links Data sourced from the U.S. Census Bureau. See our methodology for details. Retrieved and formatted by PlainCities

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Every figure on PlainCities is rendered directly from Census ACS source data, no number is typed in by an editor. This page draws directly on Census ACS source data, no figure is typed in by an editor. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error.