City profile · Pennsylvania · Census ACS 2023

Palmer Heights, PA

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

3,963
Residents
$115,292
Median income
$289,400
Median home
$1,634
Median rent (state)

Palmer Heights - the verdict

Measured against every US city with at least 1,000 residents, Palmer Heights lands in the 85th percentile for household income. Source: Census ACS.

85th
percentile, household income
63rd
percentile, home value
64th
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 Heights, PA

Palmer Heights is a small town in Pennsylvania, home to 3,963 residents per U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates. The typical household in Palmer Heights brings in $115,292 a year, placing it in the top quartile of U.S. cities for household income, with a poverty rate of 1.5%. Typical homes in Palmer Heights are valued around $289,400, and the median resident age is 47.6 years. About 39.0% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher, while 60.2% of working-age residents are in the labor force.

Pennsylvania tracks close to the national cost-of-living baseline: BEA Regional Price Parities 2024 puts Pennsylvania at 97.6 on a 100-equals-national-average scale (Near Average). A typical two-bedroom carries a HUD Fair Market Rent of $1,634 per month statewide. Statewide, average monthly utility bills in Pennsylvania run around $260, per EIA 2023 residential energy data. FEMA's National Risk Index rates natural-hazard exposure at 90.0 out of 100 (Very High).

Population

3,963 residents

Census ACS 2023 - Pennsylvania

Median Household Income

$115,292 /yr

Poverty 1.5%

Cost of Living Index (state)

97.6 (US=100)

Near Average - BEA RPP 2024, Pennsylvania average

How does Palmer Heights compare to other US cities?

Here's how Palmer Heights stacks up against the full field of US cities (population 1,000+), computed live from Census and FBI data.

Household income 85% higher than other cities
Home value 63% pricier than other cities
Median rent 64% 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 Heights against every qualifying US city; each in-state rank narrows that to Pennsylvania only. Full formula and direction notes: methodology.

Pennsylvania-relative analysis

Median Gross Rent places Palmer Heights toward the top of Pennsylvania's cities

Among the 1,865 Pennsylvania cities PlainCities tracks with reported median gross rent data, Palmer Heights ranks #200 - the 85th percentile within the state. This is a different, narrower cut than the nationwide percentiles above: it compares Palmer Heights only against its own state's cities, not the full US field.

Median Household Income
#141 of 1,765
92nd percentile in Pennsylvania
Median Gross Rent
#200 of 1,865
85th percentile in Pennsylvania
Median Home Value
#260 of 1,790
85th percentile in Pennsylvania
Poverty Rate
#1,372 of 1,856
26th percentile in Pennsylvania
Bachelor's Degree or Higher
#316 of 1,861
83rd percentile in Pennsylvania

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 Pennsylvania only, not a livability score. See the methodology for the source and calculation.

85thIncome percentile

85th percentile nationally for median household income. Source: Census ACS 2023 / FBI UCR 2023.

How Palmer Heights's home value compares nationally

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

$289,400 37th percentile more affordable than 37% 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%). Below this entry. $100,000–$125,000: 1,516 US cities (10%). Below this entry. $125,000–$150,000: 1,170 US cities (8%). Below this entry. $150,000–$175,000: 1,278 US cities (8%). Below this entry. $175,000–$200,000: 1,229 US cities (8%). Below this entry. $200,000–$225,000: 1,035 US cities (7%). Below this entry. $225,000–$250,000: 976 US cities (6%). Below this entry. $250,000–$275,000: 754 US cities (5%). Below this entry. $275,000–$300,000: 712 US cities (5%). This entry sits in this band. $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 Heights $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 Heights, PA Palmer Heights, PA's reported median household income shown against the U.S. national quintile-share pattern (not Palmer Heights, PA-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 Heights, PA median $115,292/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 Heights, PA'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 Heights, PA. Diagonal = perfect equality.

Key socioeconomic indicators

Bachelor's degree or higher (adults 25+) 39.0%

Census ACS S1501, educational attainment

Poverty rate (households below FPL) 1.5%

Census ACS S1701, poverty status

Labor force participation (adults 16+) 60.2%

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

Population
3,963
Median Income
$115,292
Median Home Value
$289,400
Median Age
47.6
Poverty Rate
1.5%
Labor force participation
60.2%
Bachelor's Degree+
39.0%

Commute Patterns

How workers travel to work, Census ACS 2023

Drive Alone
86.9%
Carpool
3.1%
Public Transit
0.0%
Walk
1.0%
Work from Home
5.5%
Other
3.5%

Based on 1,876 workers 16 and over.

Monthly Utility Costs

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

Electricity
$120
avg/month
Natural Gas
$88
avg/month
Water & Sewer
$52
avg/month
Total Utilities
$260
estimated/month

Estimates reflect Pennsylvania 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 Pennsylvania state average from BEA; rent and hazard risk are county-level figures from HUD and FEMA for the county Palmer Heights sits in

Cost of Living Index
97.6
Near Average
US average = 100 · BEA RPP 2024
Typical 2-BR Rent
$1,634/mo
HUD Fair Market Rent
County-level FMR estimate
Natural Hazard Risk
90.0 / 100
Very High
FEMA NRI composite score (county)

Similar Cities in Pennsylvania

Carroll Valley
3,962 people
Brookville
3,959 people
Pennsburg
3,958 people
St. Davids
3,950 people
Schnecksville
3,948 people
Saw Creek
3,980 people

Cities of a Similar Size Nationwide

Population-matched peers from other states, closest to Palmer Heights's 3,963 residents (Census ACS 5-Year 2023).

Horace, ND
3,964 people
Wallace, FL
3,965 people
Belleville, MI
3,961 people
Pomona, NY
3,961 people
Mullins, SC
3,965 people
White Bluff, TN
3,961 people

Cities with a Similar Household Income Nationwide

Median-household-income-matched peers from other states, closest to Palmer Heights's $115,292 (Census ACS 5-Year 2023, table B19013).

Glezen, IN
$115,278 median income
Clay, CA
$115,313 median income
Warsaw, MN
$115,313 median income
Middletown, DE
$115,252 median income
Woods Cross, UT
$115,335 median income
St. Charles, IL
$115,350 median income

Race & Ethnicity Composition

Race and ethnicity - Palmer Heights, PA 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 Heights, PA - Census ACS, OMB race + ethnicity categories RACE, sums to 100% 84.0% 6.8% 6.1% ETHNICITY, Hispanic or Latino (any race) 10.7% White 84.0% Black or African American 2.1% Asian 1.0% American Indian 0.0% Native Hawaiian 0.0% Some other race 6.8% Two or more races 6.1% 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 Heights compares to nearby Pennsylvania 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 Heights (this city) 3,963 $115,292
Carroll Valley 3,962 $90,505
Brookville 3,959 $56,215
Pennsburg 3,958 $103,698
Census ACS 5-year FIPS PA OMB Bulletin 23-01

What do people ask about Palmer Heights, PA?

What is the population of Palmer Heights, PA? +

Palmer Heights, PA counts 3,963 residents according to U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates.

What is the median household income in Palmer Heights, PA? +

Palmer Heights households earn a median of $115,292 annually, based on Census ACS 2023 data.

What is the cost of living in Palmer Heights? +

BEA does not publish a city-level cost-of-living figure for Palmer Heights; the closest available measure is the Pennsylvania state average, a cost of living index of 97.6 (U.S. average = 100), rated "Near Average" based on BEA Regional Price Parities 2024 data. Costs within Pennsylvania vary by metro area.

What is the median home value in Palmer Heights, PA? +

Homes in Palmer Heights carry a median value of $289,400, according to Census ACS 2023 estimates.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year 2023, 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.