Palmer, PA housing market
Home prices around Palmer have risen about 56% over the past 5 years. Builders were permitted 18 new homes in 2025.
Home values, sales, trends and how Palmer compares with the towns next door — updated as new data is published.
Home prices up 56% in 5 years
The federal house price index for the ZIP code around Palmer rose 56% over the past 5 years, faster than across Pennsylvania (48%). Last year prices rose 4.4%. Carrying the Census median home value forward with that index puts the typical Palmer home at roughly $541,000 today.
Show as a table
| Year | Change that year | Since 2000 | Pennsylvania since 2000 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | +4.4% | +169% | +164% |
| 2024 | +5.9% | +157% | +152% |
| 2023 | +9.9% | +143% | +138% |
| 2022 | +13% | +121% | +122% |
| 2021 | +13% | +95% | +96% |
| 2020 | +4.9% | +72% | +79% |
| 2019 | +3.7% | +64% | +72% |
| 2018 | +5.2% | +58% | +66% |
| 2017 | +2.8% | +50% | +59% |
| 2016 | +2.8% | +46% | +53% |
| 2015 | +2.8% | +42% | +49% |
| 2014 | −0.3% | +39% | +46% |
| 2013 | −0.2% | +39% | +43% |
| 2012 | −3.8% | +39% | +42% |
| 2011 | −5.4% | +45% | +45% |
| 2010 | −3.8% | +53% | +48% |
| 2009 | −6.4% | +59% | +52% |
| 2008 | −3.7% | +70% | +57% |
| 2007 | −0.2% | +77% | +59% |
| 2006 | +10% | +77% | +55% |
| 2005 | +14% | +60% | +44% |
| 2004 | +16% | +41% | +29% |
| 2003 | +7.9% | +22% | +17% |
| 2002 | +6.2% | +13% | +12% |
| 2001 | +6.3% | +6.3% | +6.2% |
| 2000 | — | — | — |
How Palmer ranks on rising home prices →
Federal Housing Finance Agency House Price Index (annual, developmental) for ZIP code 18045, weighted by land area. It tracks repeat sales and appraisals of the same homes, so it shows how prices changed, not what homes cost. The estimated value scales the Census (ACS 2020-2024) median home value by that change.
18 new homes permitted in 2025
Builders were permitted 18 new homes in Palmer in 2025, all single-family houses, worth about $10.7 million to build. That's 0.8 per 1,000 residents, slower than across Pennsylvania (2). Over the past 10 years, Palmer has permitted 337 homes in all.
Homes vs. people, 2010–2020
Between the 2010 and 2020 censuses, Palmer gained 1,626 residents while 427 new homes were permitted: about 3.8 new residents per new home. Population grew faster than building, so existing homes filled up: a sign of tight supply. Across Pennsylvania: 1.4 new residents per new home.
How Palmer ranks on housing keeping up with growth →
Residents: U.S. Census Bureau, 2010 and 2020 censuses. New homes: permits issued 2010–2019.
Show as a table
| Year | New homes | Single-family | 2+ per building | Value |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 (Jan–Aug) | 12 | 12 | 0 | $6.9 million |
| 2025 | 18 | 18 | 0 | $10.7 million |
| 2024 | 50 | 50 | 0 | $25.2 million |
| 2023 | 51 | 51 | 0 | $23.1 million |
| 2022 | 8 | 8 | 0 | $3.6 million |
| 2021 | 104 | 104 | 0 | $57.5 million |
| 2020 | 49 | 49 | 0 | $24.6 million |
| 2019 | 30 | 30 | 0 | $14.7 million |
| 2018 | 22 | 22 | 0 | $9 million |
| 2017 | 2 | 2 | 0 | $900,000 |
| 2016 | 3 | 3 | 0 | $1.2 million |
| 2015 | 4 | 4 | 0 | $1.7 million |
| 2014 | 213 | 29 | 184 | $25.7 million |
| 2013 | 30 | 30 | 0 | $6.8 million |
| 2012 | 42 | 42 | 0 | $9.5 million |
| 2011 | 51 | 51 | 0 | $3.9 million |
| 2010 | 30 | 30 | 0 | $2.3 million |
| 2009 | 14 | 14 | 0 | $2.5 million |
| 2008 | 20 | 20 | 0 | $3.6 million |
| 2007 | 224 | 224 | 0 | $24.2 million |
| 2006 | 274 | 274 | 0 | $29.6 million |
| 2005 | 366 | 366 | 0 | $39.4 million |
| 2004 | 217 | 217 | 0 | $25.2 million |
| 2003 | 249 | 245 | 4 | $26.1 million |
| 2002 | 148 | 117 | 31 | $16.6 million |
| 2001 | 60 | 60 | 0 | $6.8 million |
| 2000 | 59 | 59 | 0 | $7.2 million |
How Palmer ranks on new homes being built →
Homes authorized by building permits, counted in the year the permit was issued. U.S. Census Bureau, Building Permits Survey, through August 2026.
Palmer and its neighbors
| Town | Typical value | 1-yr change | 2-bed rent | New homes 2025 | Median income |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Palmer | — | +4.4%† | $2,230 | 18 | $116,014 |
| Forks | — | +7.2%† | $1,820 | 297 | $110,190 |
| Easton | $383K | +3.5% | $1,710 | 0 | $69,348 |
| Stockertown | — | — | $1,720 | 0 | $109,167 |
| Wilson | — | +13%† | $1,670 | 0 | $82,902 |
| Tatamy | $443K | +4.5% | $1,720 | 0 | $122,188 |
| Lower Nazareth | — | +5.7%† | $1,810 | 1 | $125,995 |
† FHFA price index change, where Zillow has no home value for the town.
2.7 years of income
The typical Palmer home costs about 2.7 years of the town's median household income, less than across Pennsylvania (3.7 years).
How Palmer ranks on affordability →
Home value ÷ ACS median household income.
Owners, rent & taxes
U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 2020-2024.
A two-bedroom rents for about $2,230
HUD's Fair Market Rent for a two-bedroom in Palmer is $2,230 a month, utilities included: roughly what a modest, recently rented unit costs. Renters already in Palmer pay a median of $1,769, so moving in tends to cost more than staying put. A two-bedroom takes about 23% of the town's median household income.
Studio $1,540 · 4 bedrooms $3,000
U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, FY2026 Fair Market Rents by ZIP code (18045; Allentown-Bethlehem-Easton, PA HUD Metro FMR Area), weighted by land area. A Fair Market Rent is the 40th-percentile rent plus utilities for a standard unit. Median rent: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey.
Recent listings in Palmer
Home values: Zillow Home Value Index (ZHVI), Zillow Research. Sales, days on market and supply: Redfin Data Center. Income, ownership, taxes and rent: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey. New homes: U.S. Census Bureau, Building Permits Survey. Price trend: Federal Housing Finance Agency House Price Index. Fair Market Rents: U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development. Listings link to their publishers.