Palmer

Population: 6,141
Median household income: $70,550
Median home value: $275,900

Palmer, a community in Matanuska-Susitna Borough, Alaska, has 6,141 residents. The median household income of $70,550 is below the Matanuska-Susitna Borough median ($90,625).

From 2019 to 2023, Palmer's population declined 13.9% from 7,131 to 6,141, while its median home value rose 33.2% from $207,200 to $275,900.

65.4% of homes are single-family detached houses. The typical home was built around 1989.

Demographics

ACS 2019–2023

Population: 6,141
Median age: 32.9 yrs
Median household income: $70,550
Median home value: $275,900
Median gross rent: $1,134
Housing units: 2,516
Homeownership rate: 62.4%
Bachelor's degree or higher: 23.8%
Unemployment rate: 8.4%

Trends

ACS 5-year · 2019–2023

Population

7,1316,141

Median household income

$62,339$70,550

Median home value

$207,200$275,900

Median gross rent

$976$1,134

Year	Population	Median household income	Median home value	Median gross rent
2019	7,131	$62,339	$207,200	$976
2020	7,359	$60,156	$215,500	$974
2021	5,978	$62,068	$224,500	$1,053
2022	6,091	$68,929	$256,400	$1,101
2023	6,141	$70,550	$275,900	$1,134

Each year is a US Census Bureau ACS 5-year estimate ending that year.

Age distribution

Under 56.8%

5 to 1716.0%

18 to 2413.3%

25 to 3417.4%

35 to 4411.9%

45 to 5410.1%

55 to 649.3%

65 to 748.8%

75 and over6.3%

	Count	Share
Under 5	418	6.8%
5 to 17	980	16.0%
18 to 24	817	13.3%
25 to 34	1,067	17.4%
35 to 44	730	11.9%
45 to 54	623	10.1%
55 to 64	574	9.3%
65 to 74	543	8.8%
75 and over	389	6.3%

Race & ethnicity

	Count	Share
White (non-Hispanic)	4,369	71.1%
Black or African American	165	2.7%
American Indian & Alaska Native	512	8.3%
Asian	83	1.4%
Native Hawaiian & Pacific Islander	116	1.9%
Some other race	17	0.3%
Two or more races	559	9.1%
Hispanic or Latino (any race)	320	5.2%

Educational attainment (age 25+)

No high school diploma6.9%

High school graduate36.5%

Some college or associate's32.8%

Bachelor's degree15.3%

Graduate or professional degree8.5%

	Count	Share
No high school diploma	270	6.9%
High school graduate	1,433	36.5%
Some college or associate's	1,289	32.8%
Bachelor's degree	602	15.3%
Graduate or professional degree	332	8.5%

Commute to work

Mean travel time to work: 26 min

Drove alone76.7%

Carpooled10.1%

Public transit0.4%

Walked3.7%

Bicycle0.3%

Worked from home6.2%

Other means2.6%

How workers get to work

	Count	Share
Drove alone	2,089	76.7%
Carpooled	274	10.1%
Public transit	12	0.4%
Walked	101	3.7%
Bicycle	9	0.3%
Worked from home	168	6.2%
Other means	71	2.6%

Travel time

	Count	Share
Under 15 min	1,009	39.5%
15 to 29 min	605	23.7%
30 to 44 min	280	11.0%
45 to 59 min	368	14.4%
60+ min	294	11.5%

Households

Average household size: 2.54
Poverty rate: 11.0% (648 of 5,870)

	Count	Share
Family households	1,358	58.8%
Nonfamily households	953	41.2%

Housing

Median year structure built: 1989

Occupancy

	Count	Share
Occupied	2,311	91.9%
Vacant	205	8.1%

Tenure (of occupied units)

	Count	Share
Owner-occupied	1,441	62.4%
Renter-occupied	870	37.6%

1-unit, detached65.4%

1-unit, attached3.9%

2 to 4 units7.6%

5 to 19 units13.6%

20 or more units8.4%

Mobile home & other1.1%

Units in structure

	Count	Share
1-unit, detached	1,645	65.4%
1-unit, attached	99	3.9%
2 to 4 units	191	7.6%
5 to 19 units	342	13.6%
20 or more units	211	8.4%
Mobile home & other	28	1.1%

Geography

Place GEOID: 0258660
Type (LSAD): 25
Land area: 5.07 sq mi
Water area: 0 sq mi
Center point: 61.5972, -149.1147