The Town FilesPalmer, Alaska
City in Matanuska-Susitna Borough · population 5,888 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $294,900
- Household income
- $72,201
- Jan low / Jul high
- 8° / 68°
- Snow a year
- 83 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 0
- Median age
- 32.9
Palmer is a city of 5,888 people in Matanuska-Susitna Borough, Alaska. The median home is worth $294,900, close to the typical Alaska town ($289,500). It ranks more walkable than 97% of Alaska towns, more vibrant than 95% of Alaska towns, hipper than 85% of Alaska towns.
How Palmer ranks
Percentile among Alaska towns with at least 500 people on The Town Files lifestyle rankings. 50 is typical for the state; 90 means better than 90% of Alaska towns.
Homes and cost of living
The median home in Palmer is worth $294,900, close to the typical Alaska town ($289,500). Homes cost about 4.1 times the median household income of $72,201, which is more affordable than 24% of Alaska towns. Median rent is $1,125 a month. 63.1% of households own their home.
| Housing | Palmer | Typical Alaska town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $294,900 | $289,500 |
| Median rent | $1,125 | $1,146 |
| Median household income | $72,201 | $78,155 |
| Home value ÷ income | 4.1× | 3.3× |
| Homeownership | 63.1% | 72.6% |
| Median year built | 1990 | 1989 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.6% | — |
Who lives in Palmer
| People | Palmer | Typical Alaska town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 32.9 | 37.2 |
| Age 65 and over | 15.7% | 13.2% |
| Under 18 | 21.5% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 24.5% | 22.4% |
| Below the poverty line | 13.0% | 11.9% |
| Veterans | 11.1% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 3.3% | — |
| Work from home | 8.6% | 7.4% |
| Average commute | 26.8 min | 12.5 min |
| Homes with broadband | 91.6% | 88.6% |
Weather in Palmer
July highs average 67.6°F and January lows 8.3°F. About 12.6 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 82.5 inches of snow (typical Alaska town: 64.0 in). Expect about 0 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 187 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
NOAA's Storm Events Database has no tornado within 10 miles of Palmer since 1950.
Severe weather in Matanuska-Susitna Borough since 1996
Matanuska-Susitna Borough has been included in 20 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for fire, flood, biological.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| April 7, 2026 | Winter Storm | DR-4904: Severe Storm |
| March 14, 2022 | Severe Storm | DR-4646: Severe Winter Storm And Straight-Line Winds |
| April 9, 2020 | Biological | DR-4533: Covid-19 Pandemic |
| March 13, 2020 | Biological | EM-3446: Covid-19 |
| August 22, 2019 | Fire | FM-5290: Deshka Landing Fire |
Jobs and pay in Matanuska-Susitna Borough
Matanuska-Susitna Borough had 29,515 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $58,329 a year. Unemployment was 4.8% in 2023; in Palmer itself the ACS puts it at 6.9%.
Public schools in Palmer
13 public schools with 5,565 students, about 17.8 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Colony High School | 9-12 | 1,092 | 20.6 |
| Colony Middle School | PK-8 | 757 | 22.3 |
| Palmer High School | 9-12 | 649 | 15.5 |
| Palmer Middle School | 6-8 | 567 | 18.3 |
| Pioneer Peak Elementary | PK-5 | 471 | 15.2 |
| Birchtree Charter School (charter) | K-8 | 407 | 19.4 |
| Sherrod Elementary | K-5 | 369 | 15.4 |
| Swanson Elementary | PK-2 | 343 | 14.9 |
| Butte Elementary | PK-5 | 272 | 15.1 |
| Academy Charter School (charter) | K-8 | 267 | 13.4 |
| Mat-Su Middle College School | 8-12 | 204 | 102.0 |
| Valley Pathways | PK-12 | 153 | 12.8 |
Towns near Palmer
- Farm Loop, AK2.9 mi · 2,747 people · home $431,300
- Gateway, AK4.1 mi · 5,748 people · home $446,200
- Butte, AK6.0 mi · 3,589 people · home $374,600
- North Lakes, AK6.6 mi · 9,450 people · home $357,600
- South Lakes, AK6.6 mi · 5,229 people · home $377,500
- Fishhook, AK10.8 mi · 5,048 people · home $416,300
- Tanaina, AK11.1 mi · 8,817 people · home $328,500
- Wasilla, AK11.4 mi · 9,054 people · home $358,400
Palmer questions
Is Palmer, Alaska a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Palmer scores better for retirees than 41% of Alaska towns and quieter than 7%. 15.7% of residents are 65 or older (median age 32.9).
How much does a house cost in Palmer?
The median owner-occupied home in Palmer is valued at $294,900 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $72,201, so homes cost about 4.1 times income. Median rent is $1,125 a month.
What is the weather like in Palmer?
July highs average 67.6°F and January lows 8.3°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 12.6 inches of precipitation a year and 82.5 inches of snow.
Does Palmer get tornadoes?
No tornado has been recorded within 10 miles of Palmer in NOAA's Storm Events Database since 1950.
- U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates (2020–2024)
- U.S. Census Bureau, 2020 Census and 2025 Gazetteer (2020 / 2025)
- NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals (1991–2020)
- NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database (1950–2026)
- FEMA OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations (this product uses the FEMA OpenFEMA API but is not endorsed by FEMA) (1953–2026)
- NCES Common Core of Data (2023–24)
- BLS Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages; USDA ERS county unemployment (BLS LAUS) (2000–2024)
- The Town Files lifestyle rankings, built from federal demographic, school, crime and housing data (2025)