Population 8,325 · Census ACS 2020–24
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Median age by neighborhoodHistory and comparison ↓︎
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Population and households in Palmer
Household size in Palmer
| Period | Palmer | Puerto Rico | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 3.17 | 3.07 | 2.68 |
| 2010–14 | 2.86 | 2.93 | 2.73 |
| 2015–19 | 2.92 | 2.79 | 2.71 |
| 2020–24 | 2.69 | 2.54 | 2.65 |
| Change | −0.48 | −0.53 | −0.03 |
Households in Palmer average 2.69 people, about the same as the country as a whole (2.65). The typical household here is bigger than in Puerto Rico overall, where it has 2.54 people. Since 2006–10, household size has dropped from 3.17, a much bigger shift than nationally.
Household size: the average number of people living in each occupied home. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25010).
Median age in Palmer
| Period | Palmer | Puerto Rico | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 37.7 | 36.7 | 37.7 |
| 2010–14 | 41.6 | 38.9 | 38.6 |
| 2015–19 | 41.1 | 42.5 | 39.6 |
| 2020–24 | 48.7 | 45.0 | 40.1 |
| Change | +11.0 | +8.3 | +2.3 |
With a median age of 48.7, Palmer is noticeably older than the country as a whole (40.1), an age mix that tilts toward empty nesters and retirees. Since 2006–10, the median age has climbed from 37.7, a much bigger shift than nationally. Of the 110 Puerto Rico cities with 5,000+ people, only ten are older.
Median age: the age that splits residents into two equal halves. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B01002).
Single-parent households in Palmer
| Period | Palmer | Puerto Rico | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 17.7% | 18.1% | 12.3% |
| 2010–14 | 17.0% | 18.1% | 12.3% |
| 2015–19 | 12.5% | 16.6% | 11.6% |
| 2020–24 | 10.9% | 15.6% | 11.6% |
| Change | −6.7 pts | −2.5 pts | −0.6 pts |
Single-parent households are about as common in Palmer as they are nationally: 10.9%, against 11.6%. Single parents are less common here than in Puerto Rico overall (15.6%). Since 2006–10, the single-parent share has fallen 6.7 points, a much bigger shift than nationally.
Single-parent households: households where one adult with no spouse present lives with children under 18. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B11003).
Housing in Palmer
Renters in Palmer
| Period | Palmer | Puerto Rico | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 19.4% | 27.5% | 33.3% |
| 2010–14 | 26.0% | 30.5% | 35.6% |
| 2015–19 | 24.3% | 31.9% | 36.0% |
| 2020–24 | 26.7% | 32.1% | 34.8% |
| Change | +7.3 pts | +4.5 pts | +1.5 pts |
Most households in Palmer own their homes; 26.7% rent, below the national share of 34.8%. Among homeowners, 63.9% have no mortgage at all, well above the national share of 39.8%. Rentals cluster in the east; owners are most common in the southwest. Since 2006–10, the renter share has risen 7.3 points, a much bigger shift than nationally.
Renters: occupied homes that are rented rather than owned. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25003).
Vacant homes in Palmer
| Period | Palmer | Puerto Rico | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 26.2% | 15.6% | 11.4% |
| 2010–14 | 34.0% | 18.7% | 11.4% |
| 2015–19 | 34.9% | 22.1% | 11.1% |
| 2020–24 | 25.0% | 19.1% | 9.6% |
| Change | −1.2 pts | +3.5 pts | −1.8 pts |
Vacancy is high in Palmer: 25.0% of homes are empty, far above the national rate of 9.6%. In resort and lake areas that usually means seasonal and vacation homes; elsewhere it can point to weak demand. Vacancy has edged down 1.2 points since 2006–10, mirroring the country.
Vacant homes: homes with no one living in them, including vacation homes and homes for sale or rent. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25002).
Age of homes in Palmer
| Period | Palmer | Puerto Rico | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 1981 | 1978 | 1974 |
| 2010–14 | 1983 | 1980 | 1975 |
| 2015–19 | 1986 | 1980 | 1977 |
| 2020–24 | 1984 | 1981 | 1980 |
| Change | +3 | +3 | +6 |
The housing in Palmer is a little younger than the country's: half of it was built after 1984, against 1980 nationally. The median year built has moved up from 1981 in 2006–10, a sign of steady new building. Newer construction is concentrated in the northwest, while the center has the oldest housing.
Age of homes: the year that splits the housing stock into older and newer halves. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25035).
Rent in Palmer
| Period | Palmer | Puerto Rico | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | $531 | $489 | $965 |
| 2010–14 | $633 | $528 | $1,040 |
| 2015–19 | $610 | $553 | $1,213 |
| 2020–24 | $767 | $658 | $1,571 |
| Change | +$236 | +$168 | +$606 |
Rent in Palmer runs $767 a month at the median, utilities included, well below the U.S. median of $1,571. Even so, rents here are higher than in Puerto Rico as a whole ($658). Rents are up $236 a month from 2006–10, a 44% rise, a slower climb than the nation's. Rent takes 40.3% of the typical renter's income, well over the 30% mark often used to define affordable rent, so many renters here are stretched.
Rent: monthly rent plus the utilities renters pay themselves. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25064).
Education in Palmer
Bachelor's degrees in Palmer
| Period | Palmer | Puerto Rico | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 18.6% | 21.9% | 28.4% |
| 2010–14 | 20.4% | 24.1% | 29.6% |
| 2015–19 | 20.2% | 26.3% | 32.1% |
| 2020–24 | 21.7% | 30.2% | 35.6% |
| Change | +3.1 pts | +8.3 pts | +7.2 pts |
College degrees are relatively uncommon in Palmer: 21.7% of adults 25 and older hold a bachelor's or higher, well below the national share of 35.6%. Since 2006–10, the share with a degree has risen 3.1 points, in line with the national trend. College graduates are most concentrated in the northwest and least in the northeast.
Bachelor's degrees: adults 25 and older with a bachelor's degree or higher. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B15003).
High school graduates in Palmer
| Period | Palmer | Puerto Rico | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 64.3% | 67.8% | 84.9% |
| 2010–14 | 68.4% | 72.1% | 86.1% |
| 2015–19 | 74.1% | 76.7% | 87.7% |
| 2020–24 | 78.1% | 81.4% | 89.3% |
| Change | +13.8 pts | +13.6 pts | +4.3 pts |
More than one in five adults in Palmer never finished high school, well above the national share: only 78.1% have a diploma or equivalent, against 89.3% nationally. The share with a diploma has risen 13.8 points since 2006–10, a much bigger shift than nationally.
High school graduates: adults 25 and older with a high school diploma, GED or more. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B15003).
Jobs in Palmer
| Period | Palmer | Puerto Rico | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 21.4% | 16.9% | 8.1% |
| 2010–14 | 27.6% | 18.7% | 9.4% |
| 2015–19 | 26.1% | 16.5% | 5.6% |
| 2020–24 | 17.2% | 10.9% | 5.4% |
| Change | −4.2 pts | −6.0 pts | −2.7 pts |
Unemployment in Palmer runs well above the national rate: 17.2% of the labor force was out of work and looking, against 5.4%. Only ten of the 110 Puerto Rico cities with 5,000+ people have higher unemployment. Unemployment is down 4.2 points from 2006–10, as it has nationally.
Unemployment: people looking for work as a share of everyone working or looking. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B23025).
Palmer compared with nearby cities
| City | Household size | Median age | Single parents | Renters | Vacant homes | Median year built | Median rent | Bachelor's degree | High school diploma | Unemployment |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Palmer | 2.69 | 48.7 | 10.9% | 26.7% | 25.0% | 1984 | $767 | 21.7% | 78.1% | 17.2% |
| Luquillo | 2.53 | 46.0 | 13.8% | 31.5% | 28.6% | 1983 | $743 | 26.6% | 82.8% | 17.1% |
| Rio Grande | 2.62 | 44.4 | 19.6% | 30.3% | 18.9% | 1984 | $605 | 24.4% | 79.6% | 15.9% |
| Loiza | 2.62 | 43.3 | 22.5% | 31.9% | 18.7% | 1990 | $583 | 16.4% | 78.0% | 27.7% |
| Canovanas | 2.67 | 44.9 | 14.6% | 26.7% | 16.7% | 1987 | $670 | 28.0% | 79.8% | 13.0% |
| Puerto Real | 2.44 | 42.6 | 20.2% | 34.7% | 26.5% | 1981 | $646 | 28.8% | 87.0% | 15.9% |
| Duque | 2.54 | 46.2 | 13.9% | 19.3% | 23.1% | 1980 | $520 | 11.1% | 72.4% | 9.9% |
| Fajardo | 1.72 | 58.8 | 15.7% | 52.9% | 67.4% | 1979 | $625 | 19.7% | 79.9% | 0.0% |
| Ceiba | 2.43 | 47.9 | 14.3% | 26.3% | 28.3% | 1985 | $561 | 23.3% | 80.9% | 9.2% |
| Naguabo | 2.96 | 36.5 | 17.7% | 24.8% | 23.5% | 1984 | $491 | 23.9% | 77.8% | 5.9% |
| Roosevelt Roads Naval Station | 2.50 | 48.0 | 17.5% | 6.4% | 58.8% | 1995 | $447 | 48.0% | 83.0% | 1.1% |
All figures 2020–24.
Cities with similar populations: Lamesa, TX · Lago Vista, TX · Lagrange, IN · Lake Alfred, FL · Lake Bluff, IL · Lake Dallas, TX · Lake Hopatcong, NJ · Lake Mills, WI · Lake Mohawk, NJ · Lake of the Woods, VA
About these numbers
Every figure on this page is a BestNeighborhood calculation from the Census Bureau's American Community Survey (ACS), built up from the Census block groups that make up Palmer. Each ACS 5-year release pools five years of responses; this page shows the last 15 releases, 2006–10 through 2020–24. Neighboring releases share four of their five years, so they move gradually and small changes between them are within the survey's margin of error; in small places the lines can jump from one release to the next for the same reason. The maps show the same measures for each neighborhood, ranked against the whole country.
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