The Town FilesPalmer Heights, Pennsylvania
Community in Northampton County · population 3,734 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $309,100
- Household income
- $99,815
- Jan low / Jul high
- 22° / 86°
- Snow a year
- 41 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 12
- Median age
- 48.5
Palmer Heights is a community of 3,734 people in Northampton County, Pennsylvania. The median home is worth $309,100, above the typical Pennsylvania town ($214,250). It ranks better for cycling than 91% of Pennsylvania towns, more of a college town than 86% of Pennsylvania towns, more walkable than 79% of Pennsylvania towns.
How Palmer Heights ranks
Percentile among Pennsylvania towns with at least 500 people on The Town Files lifestyle rankings. 50 is typical for the state; 90 means better than 90% of Pennsylvania towns.
Homes and cost of living
The median home in Palmer Heights is worth $309,100, above the typical Pennsylvania town ($214,250). Homes cost about 3.1 times the median household income of $99,815, which is more affordable than 39% of Pennsylvania towns. 98.4% of households own their home.
| Housing | Palmer Heights | Typical Pennsylvania town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $309,100 | $214,250 |
| Median rent | — | $996 |
| Median household income | $99,815 | $75,278 |
| Home value ÷ income | 3.1× | 2.8× |
| Homeownership | 98.4% | 81.5% |
| Median year built | 1966 | 1971 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.0% | — |
Who lives in Palmer Heights
| People | Palmer Heights | Typical Pennsylvania town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 48.5 | 44.2 |
| Age 65 and over | 31.5% | 21.1% |
| Under 18 | 17.7% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 37.2% | 23.8% |
| Below the poverty line | 4.8% | 8.5% |
| Veterans | 7.1% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 8.5% | — |
| Work from home | 6.8% | 10.6% |
| Average commute | 22.6 min | 25.9 min |
| Homes with broadband | 91.3% | 89.0% |
Weather in Palmer Heights
July highs average 85.6°F and January lows 21.5°F. About 51.0 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 41.1 inches of snow (typical Pennsylvania town: 31.8 in). Expect about 21 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 119 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
12 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Palmer Heights since 1950, compared with 10 for the typical Pennsylvania town. The strongest, an EF1, struck on August 7, 2023 about 8.9 miles from the town center. The most recent was on August 7, 2023.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 38 times; the largest was 2.00 inches on August 17, 2007.
Severe weather in Northampton County since 1996
Northampton County has been included in 24 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for flood, drought, hurricane.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| September 10, 2021 | Hurricane | DR-4618: Remnants Of Hurricane Ida |
| March 30, 2020 | Biological | DR-4506: Covid-19 Pandemic |
| March 13, 2020 | Biological | EM-3441: Covid-19 |
| November 27, 2018 | Severe Storm | DR-4408: Severe Storms And Flooding |
| March 23, 2016 | Snowstorm | DR-4267: Severe Winter Storm And Snowstorm |
Jobs and pay in Northampton County
Northampton County had 120,976 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $60,298 a year. Unemployment was 3.5% in 2023; in Palmer Heights itself the ACS puts it at 4.9%.
Towns near Palmer Heights
- Palmer, PA0.9 mi · 22,317 people · home $318,800
- Wilson, PA1.4 mi · 8,259 people · home $210,700
- Easton, PA2.6 mi · 28,127 people · home $196,300
- Lower Nazareth, PA3.1 mi · 6,922 people · home $422,200
- Forks, PA3.8 mi · 16,074 people · home $358,900
- Chestnut Hill, PA3.9 mi · 6,689 people · home $375,000
- Eastlawn Gardens, PA4.2 mi · 3,435 people · home $391,500
- Nazareth, PA4.2 mi · 6,053 people · home $240,300
Palmer Heights questions
Is Palmer Heights, Pennsylvania a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Palmer Heights scores better for retirees than 17% of Pennsylvania towns and quieter than 16%. 31.5% of residents are 65 or older (median age 48.5).
How much does a house cost in Palmer Heights?
The median owner-occupied home in Palmer Heights is valued at $309,100 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $99,815, so homes cost about 3.1 times income. Median rent is — a month.
What is the weather like in Palmer Heights?
July highs average 85.6°F and January lows 21.5°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 51.0 inches of precipitation a year and 41.1 inches of snow.
Does Palmer Heights get tornadoes?
12 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Palmer Heights since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was an EF1 on August 7, 2023. The typical Pennsylvania town has had 10.
- 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)