United States › Alaska › Palmer CITY · 2020 ACS
Palmer Alaska · 5,888 residents · 5.07 sq mi
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COMPARE TO 1990 Census 2000 Census 2009 ACS 2010 ACS 2011 ACS 2012 ACS 2013 ACS 2014 ACS 2015 ACS 2016 ACS 2017 ACS 2018 ACS 2019 ACS 2021 ACS 2022 ACS 2023 ACS 2024 ACS
The short version
Palmer is home to 5,888 people in Alaska. This skews young, with a median age of 34.0. About 21% of adults have finished a four-year degree. 1,355 more people live here than in 2000. 3% of residents were born outside the United States. That trails the Alaska median by roughly 23%.
At a glance
Lower income
below the US median
US median: $66,278
Younger
median age 34.0
US median: 38.8
Less educated
21% hold a bachelor's degree
US average: 33%
Less affordable
home values up 40%, inflation adjusted
US median home: $265,253
Section 01
Population & growth from 28.8 in 2000
US average: 38.8
Population, 1990 – 2024
2K 4K 5K 7K 8K 1990 2000 2010 2020 2024 Palmer Age distribution, 2020
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Section 02
Income & economy $60,156
−12%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $45,571 in 2000
US average: $66,278
from $17,203 in 2000
US average: $35,364
Households earning $100K+
from 33.7% in 2009
US average: 43.9%
from 12.7% in 2000
US average: 12.8%
Workforce by industry, 2020
Professional, scientific, technical 5%
Agriculture, forestry, fishing 3.8%
Transportation & warehousing 2.6%
Arts, entertainment, food 2%
Education & health services 0.7%
Public administration 0.3%
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$215,500
+40%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $102,300 in 2000
US average: $265,253
$974
+4%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $623 in 2000
US average: $1,124
from 64.5% in 2000
36.9% rent
from 3.38 people in 2009
US average: 2.61
from 3.0 in 2009
Years of local income it takes to buy a local home, on a scale of about 0 to 15. Lower is more affordable.
Section 04
Race & ethnicity 2000
White, non-Hispanic 79.3%(3,595)
Hispanic / Latino 3.5%(159)
2020
White, non-Hispanic 69.6%(4,099)
Hispanic / Latino 6.2%(364)
No data for the years selected.
Section 04 · Origins
Detailed origins & ancestry Ancestry
+ 27 more ancestry groups with data from 14.5% in 2000
US average: 32.9%
High school or higher
from 87.5% in 2000
US average: 88.5%
from 6.4% in 2000
US average: 12.7%
Section 06
Commute & transportation from 27.8 min in 2000
US average: 26.9
from 64.6% in 2009
US average: 75.1%
from 7.4% in 2009
US average: 8.4%
Section 07
Work & employment from 10.1% in 2011
US average: 5.4%
from 66.6% in 2011
US average: 63.4%
Women 20-64 in the labor force
US average: 73.3%
from 30.3% in 2009
US average: 39.3%
Section 08
People & community from 1.8% in 2009
US average: 13.5%
from 19.9% in 2013
US average: 8.8%
Computer in household
US average: 91.9%
Marital status (2024)
Men 15+
Never married 47.3%(1,205)
SHARE WITHIN EACH SEX · POPULATION 15 AND OVER · 2024
Section 09
Health coverage from 19.9% in 2013
US average: 8.8%
Direct-purchase
US average: 13.7%
VA health care
US average: 2.3%
Any private
US average: 68.1%
Any public
US average: 35.2%
Shares are "alone or in combination": a person with both Medicare and Medicaid counts in each, so categories overlap and do not sum to 100%.
Section 09 · Service history
Veterans Veterans by period of service, 2020
Gulf War (2001 or later) 44.3%(275)
Gulf War (1990s) 30.9%(192)
Share of the 621 veterans here. A veteran who served across eras counts in each, so shares can total more than 100%. Peacetime-only service is included in the total but not shown as an era.
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Drill deeper
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Frequently asked
How many people live in Palmer, Alaska? Palmer, Alaska has about 5,888 residents according to the 2020 American Community Survey.
What is the median household income in Palmer, Alaska? The typical household in Palmer, Alaska earns about $60,156 a year. Half of households make more than that, and half make less.
Is Palmer, Alaska expensive? In Palmer, Alaska, the median home is worth about $215,500, and the typical rent is about $974 a month.
How educated are people in Palmer, Alaska? About 21.2% of adults age 25 and over in Palmer, Alaska hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
What is the poverty rate in Palmer, Alaska? About 12.9% of people in Palmer, Alaska live below the federal poverty line.
Has Palmer, Alaska grown since 1990? Yes, Palmer, Alaska has grown since 1990. The population has added about 3,022 residents, a change of about 105 percent over that period.
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