The Town FilesPalmerton, Pennsylvania
Borough in Carbon County · population 5,593 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $180,000
- Household income
- $68,143
- Jan low / Jul high
- 19° / 82°
- Snow a year
- 27 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 10
- Median age
- 48.3
Palmerton is a borough of 5,593 people in Carbon County, Pennsylvania. The median home is worth $180,000, below the typical Pennsylvania town ($214,250). It ranks hipper than 94% of Pennsylvania towns, better for first-time buyers than 93% of Pennsylvania towns, more of a college town than 89% of Pennsylvania towns.
How Palmerton 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 Palmerton is worth $180,000, below the typical Pennsylvania town ($214,250). Homes cost about 2.6 times the median household income of $68,143, which is more affordable than 64% of Pennsylvania towns. Median rent is $931 a month. 57.9% of households own their home.
| Housing | Palmerton | Typical Pennsylvania town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $180,000 | $214,250 |
| Median rent | $931 | $996 |
| Median household income | $68,143 | $75,278 |
| Home value ÷ income | 2.6× | 2.8× |
| Homeownership | 57.9% | 81.5% |
| Median year built | 1947 | 1971 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.0% | — |
Who lives in Palmerton
| People | Palmerton | Typical Pennsylvania town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 48.3 | 44.2 |
| Age 65 and over | 26.7% | 21.1% |
| Under 18 | 13.0% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 18.3% | 23.8% |
| Below the poverty line | 15.9% | 8.5% |
| Veterans | 4.2% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 3.4% | — |
| Work from home | 5.2% | 10.6% |
| Average commute | 30.0 min | 25.9 min |
| Homes with broadband | 77.8% | 89.0% |
Weather in Palmerton
July highs average 81.7°F and January lows 18.7°F. About 51.9 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 27.3 inches of snow (typical Pennsylvania town: 31.8 in). Expect about 4 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 132 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
10 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Palmerton since 1950, compared with 10 for the typical Pennsylvania town. 3 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F3, struck on July 26, 1981 about 3.1 miles from the town center. The most recent was on July 29, 2021.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 24 times; the largest was 2.75 inches on August 17, 2007.
Severe weather in Carbon County since 1996
Carbon County has been included in 18 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for flood, drought, hurricane.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| March 30, 2020 | Biological | DR-4506: Covid-19 Pandemic |
| March 13, 2020 | Biological | EM-3441: Covid-19 |
| October 29, 2012 | Hurricane | EM-3356: Hurricane Sandy |
| September 8, 2011 | Flood | EM-3340: Remnants Of Tropical Storm Lee |
| June 30, 2006 | Severe Storm | DR-1649: Severe Storms, Flooding, And Mudslides |
Jobs and pay in Carbon County
Carbon County had 16,676 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $44,741 a year. Unemployment was 3.9% in 2023; in Palmerton itself the ACS puts it at 1.8%.
Public schools in Palmerton
4 public schools with 1,314 students, about 12.2 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Palmerton Area HS | 9-12 | 504 | 12.6 |
| S S Palmer El Sch | 2-6 | 392 | 10.9 |
| Palmerton Area JHS | 7-8 | 271 | 13.6 |
| Parkside Education Center | K-1 | 147 | 12.3 |
Towns near Palmerton
- Lower Towamensing, PA2.5 mi · 3,046 people · home $232,400
- Slatington, PA3.5 mi · 4,283 people · home $191,500
- Towamensing, PA3.7 mi · 4,427 people · home $249,400
- Franklin, PA4.3 mi · 4,356 people · home $234,700
- Washington, PA4.6 mi · 6,551 people · home $282,100
- Lehigh, PA4.7 mi · 10,774 people · home $280,800
- Lehighton, PA5.4 mi · 5,248 people · home $213,600
- East Penn, PA6.0 mi · 2,748 people · home $228,500
Palmerton questions
Is Palmerton, Pennsylvania a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Palmerton scores better for retirees than 19% of Pennsylvania towns and quieter than 9%. 26.7% of residents are 65 or older (median age 48.3).
How much does a house cost in Palmerton?
The median owner-occupied home in Palmerton is valued at $180,000 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $68,143, so homes cost about 2.6 times income. Median rent is $931 a month.
What is the weather like in Palmerton?
July highs average 81.7°F and January lows 18.7°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 51.9 inches of precipitation a year and 27.3 inches of snow.
Does Palmerton get tornadoes?
10 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Palmerton since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F3 on July 26, 1981. 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)