Compare towns
Plum vs Spring vs Palmer
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Pennsylvania.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Plum has the most people working from home (23.7%).
Spring has the shortest commute (24 min average).
Palmer has grown the fastest since 2010 (+7.9%).
What matters to you?
Pick a few. We’ll pull those rows to the top and mark which town comes out ahead on each. There’s no overall score: what matters is up to you.
| Measure | Plum | Spring | Palmer |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 26,723 |
28,601Highest |
22,424Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +0.1%Lowest PA: +2.4% |
+4.7% PA: +2.4% |
+7.9%Highest PA: +2.4% |
| Median age | 44.4±1.6 9% above PA |
42.2±2.3Lowest 3% above PA |
47.3±1.2Highest 16% above PA |
| Kids under 18 | 21.2%±2.4Highest PA: 20.4% |
19.8%±2 PA: 20.4% |
17.5%±2.8Lowest PA: 20.4% |
| Plum and Spring are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 22.8%±2 PA: 19.5% |
19.4%±1.8Lowest PA: 19.5% |
24.2%±2.1Highest PA: 19.5% |
| Palmer and Plum are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 45%Highest PA: 35.2% |
44.5% PA: 35.2% |
42.1%Lowest PA: 35.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.3%±1.1Lowest PA: 6.1% |
7.8%±1.1Highest PA: 6.1% |
6.7%±1.6 PA: 6.1% |
| Spring and Palmer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $98,705±$4k 27% above PA |
$94,837±$10kLowest 22% above PA |
$116,014±$13kHighest 49% above PA |
| Palmer and Plum are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $227,600±$7kLowest 11% below PA |
$286,900±$11k 13% above PA |
$318,800±$12kHighest 25% above PA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,177±$55Lowest about the PA average |
$1,416±$95 17% above PA |
$1,769±$291Highest 46% above PA |
| Palmer and Spring are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,948Lowest 19% above PA |
$4,603 39% above PA |
$5,330Highest 61% above PA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 40.4%±8.8Lowest PA: 48.2% |
49.3%±13 PA: 48.2% |
57%±12.9Highest PA: 48.2% |
| Palmer and Spring are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 3.6%Lowest PA: 11.7% |
5.1%Highest PA: 11.7% |
4.5% PA: 11.7% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.7% PA: 69.3% |
75.3%Lowest PA: 69.3% |
81.8%Highest PA: 69.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1972Lowest 7 yrs newer than PA |
1975 10 yrs newer than PA |
1979Highest 14 yrs newer than PA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 31 minHighest 18% above PA |
24 minLowest 10% below PA |
28 min 8% above PA |
| Work from home | 23.7%±2.8Highest PA: 15.6% |
14.9%±2.2Lowest PA: 15.6% |
15%±2.7 PA: 15.6% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #340 of 764 in PA | #365 of 764 in PA | #385 of 764 in PA |
| School district | Plum Borough SD | Wilson SD | Easton Area SD |
| High school in town | Plum SHS | Wilson HS | Easton Area HS |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 17.5Highest |
16.1Lowest |
16.7 |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet |
PA average · Sources: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates 2020–2024; 2010 & 2020 decennial census; NCES Common Core of Data. “±” is the Census margin of error. Property tax is top-coded by the Census at $10,000+. School rank compares math and reading proficiency against the state average.