PalmerMI
309 people live in this town, settled in 1873.
Is Palmer a good place to live?
Among 702 Michigan towns, just 5 have a lower share of working residents who work in town than Palmer. Palmer’s density of trails is 3.2 miles per square mile, above both the Michigan town median (0.3) and the median of U.S. towns (0.4). Palmer has fewer than 1,000 residents, too few for fair grades; the figures below are still real.
309 people, and everyone knows the way
In a town this size, neighbors are the best guide. Ask them anything.
Moving to Palmer: who provides what
Palmer is unincorporated, so Marquette County and regional agencies provide most services.
EPA SDWIS (Oct 9, 2026) · HIFLD + EIA-861 2025 · Census 2020 ZCTAs · NCES 2024–25 · registration: vote.gov, updated Sep 12, 2025.
The data
Ordered by what stands out in Palmer.
About half of Palmer’s working residents commute to Marquette
Among residents in Palmer, 5.2% live below the poverty line. Commuting out is the norm in the town: 1% of working residents work locally. Its typical journey to work stands at 30 minutes. For half of commuters, work is under 12 miles away.
| Palmer | Michigan towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average trip to work | 30 minutes | 25 minutes | 25 minutes |
| Below the poverty line | 5.2% | 8.9% | 9.6% |
| Median household income | $66,000 | $77,000 | $80,000 |
Where working residents work
Census LEHD 2021 · ACS
Palmer faces a low natural-hazard risk, led by cold waves
Palmer’s risk rating from FEMA comes in at 31 of 100. Expected losses in Palmer break down as 47% from cold waves and 33% from inland flooding.
FEMA National Risk Index · OpenFEMA
Snowy winters and pleasant summers in Palmer
A winter brings about 197 inches of snow, with January nights at 6° and July afternoons at 78°.
Typical low → high °F
NOAA U.S. Climate Normals, 1991–2020
How healthy Palmer is
For adults in Palmer, the share who get no exercise outside work is 21%. In Palmer, 29% of adults feel lonely, and 32% sleep under 7 hours.
| Palmer | Michigan towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Binge drink (CDC PLACES) | 19% | 17% | 16% |
| Feel lonely (CDC PLACES) | 29% | 32% | 33% |
| Sleep under 7 hours (CDC PLACES) | 32% | 34% | 36% |
| Depression (CDC PLACES) | 28% | 27% | 23% |
| What stands out | Palmer | MI |
|---|---|---|
| More older adults who have lost all their teeth | 16.8% | 10.2% |
CDC PLACES 2025 · modeled estimates for adults · CMS · HRSA
Census ACS, 2020–24 · Zillow Home Value Index · Redfin Data Center
Trails & parks © OpenStreetMap contributors · Conserved land: USGS PAD-US
Everything we know about Palmer
Colleges nearby
1 within 15 miles of the center of Palmer
About 1 of every 100 Palmer residents are enrolled in college, against 6 across Michigan.
99% of working residents leave Palmer for work
Where Palmer’s working residents go each day. Line width shows the share.
Census LEHD 2021
Questions about Palmer
Short answers, built from the data on this page.
Is Palmer, MI a good place to live?
Palmer has fewer than 1,000 residents, too few for fair grades; the figures below are still real.