Palmer Heights is a small town of 3,894 in Pennsylvania, with a median household income of $108,173
and a 6.8% unemployment rate.
Its cost of living index is 98 (US average = 100), which is
2% below the national average.
Strengths:
Palmer Heights stands out for solid school ratings (A), short average commutes.
Trade-offs:
Potential downsides include an elevated unemployment rate. Whether Palmer Heights is right for you depends on your priorities — the full breakdown is below.
All Palmer Heights city data on this page comes from official government sources —
the US Census Bureau, FBI, NCES, BEA, and NOAA — updated annually.
Cost of Living
Index: 98.4
Palmer Heights's overall cost of living index is 98.4,
where 100 represents the US national average.
Living in Palmer Heights costs roughly 2% less than the average American city.
Metric
Palmer Heights, PA
National Avg
Median Home Value
$257,800
$244,900
Median Monthly Rent
$1,308
$1,163
Homeownership Rate
96.0%
65.9%
Median Household Income
$108,173
$74,755
Crime & Safety
Very Safe
Palmer Heights's violent crime rate is 93.0 per 100,000 residents
— 76% lower than the national average of ~380 per 100,000.
Violent Crime
93.0 /100k
Property Crime
590.9 /100k
Vertical marker = national average. Source: FBI UCR Program.
Schools & Education
Palmer Heights is served primarily by Colonial IU 20.
The student-to-teacher ratio is 4.7:1
(better than the national average of ~16:1).
Metric
Palmer Heights, PA
National Avg
School District
Colonial IU 20
—
Elementary Schools
N/A
—
Middle Schools
N/A
—
High Schools
N/A
—
Student/Teacher Ratio
4.7:1
16:1
Bachelor's Degree or Higher
31.2%
35.4%
High School Diploma or Higher
94.1%
91.1%
Weather & Climate
Palmer Heights sees average highs of 37.7°F in January
and 85.6°F in July,
with 51.0 inches of annual precipitation
and 41.1 inches of snow per year.
Palmer Heights's cost of living index is 98, where 100 is the national average.
That makes Palmer Heights roughly 2% less expensive than a typical US city — a meaningful affordability advantage.
The median home price is $257,800 and median rent is $1,308/month.
Palmer Heights's violent crime rate is 93.0 per 100,000 residents — the national average is ~380 per 100,000. Property crime is 590.9 per 100,000 (national avg ~2,100). Data from the FBI Uniform Crime Reporting Program.
Public schools in Palmer Heights are operated by Colonial IU 20.
The district has several elementary, several middle, and several high schools.
The student-to-teacher ratio is 4.7:1. 31.2% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Palmer Heights, PA has a population of 3,894, a median household income of $108,173, and an unemployment rate of 6.8%.
Whether it's right for you depends on your priorities — use the compare tool above to stack it against another city you're considering.
Palmer Heights averages 37.7°F in January and 85.6°F in July. Annual rainfall is 51.0 inches
with about 41.1 inches of snow per year.
Based on NOAA 30-year climate normals (1991–2020).
Palmer Heights, PA is covered by 1 ZIP code: 18045.
The population of Palmer Heights, Pennsylvania is 3,894 with a median age of 47.5. Source: US Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.
Key numbers for living in Palmer Heights: cost of living index 98 (100 = US average), median home $257,800, median household income $108,173, crime index 26 (100 = US average, lower is safer), schools rated A. Whether these are benefits or drawbacks depends on where you're coming from — compare Palmer Heights side by side with your current city to see the trade-offs.