THE POPULATION AND HOUSING OF PALMER

 

 

This section describes the characteristics of Palmer Township’s population and housing, according to the 2000 U.S. Census, unless otherwise noted.  Some information from the 2000 Census has not yet been released.

 

Total Population

 

Changes in population provide important information on how an area changes over time.  Population trends also help in making assumptions about future growth in an area.  Palmer Township’s population was 16,809 in 2000, according to the latest U.S. Census Bureau data.  This was an increase of 1,844 residents (11.0%) since 1990.  The Township’s housing market was more active in the 1990's than in the 1980's, during which 1,039 residents were added.  

 

 

TOTAL POPULATION

Palmer Township and Northampton County - 1960-2000

Municipality
1960 Pop.
1970 Pop.
1980 Pop
1990 Pop
2000 Pop
Change 1990 to 2000
% Change 1990 to 2000
Palmer Township
8,823
12,684
12,926
14,965
16,809
1,844
11.0
Northampton County
210,412
214,545
225,418
247,105
267,066
19,961
7.5

 Age Distribution

 

Age trends provide important information about a community’s residents.  Palmer Township’s median age was 42.7 years in 2000, which was considerably older than the Northampton County’s age of 38.5 years.  Residents 45 and older accounted for 46.3% of the Township’s total population in 2000.  This high proportion of middle age to elderly people, is typical of an older more developed municipality.   This same age group accounted for 39.2% of the county’s total population for the same time period.  In 2000, 5-19 year olds were the largest age group in both Palmer Township (18%) and Northampton County (21%).   

 

 

 

AGE DISTRIBUTION

Palmer Township and Northampton County - 2000

Age
Palmer Township
Northampton County
Number
Percent
Number
Percent
Under 5
922
5.5
14,862
5.6
5-19
2,973
17.6
55,857
20.8
20-24
561
3.3
16,213
6.1
25-34
1,926
11.5
32,026
12.0
35-44
2,664
15.8
43,636
16.3
45-54
2,522
15.0
38,039
14.2
55-64
1,783
10.6
24,403
9.2
65-74
1,737
10.4
20,825
7.8
75+
1,721
10.3
21,205
8.0
Total
16,809
100.0
267,066
100.0

 

 

Gender

 

Gender refers to the number of males and females in a population.  There are no special conditions in Palmer Township that have altered the traditional 50/50 balance between total males and total females.

GENDER

Palmer Township and Northampton Couny - 2000

Area
Total Population
Males
Females
Number
Percent
Number
Percent
Palmer Township
16,809
8,118
48.3
8,891
51.7
Northampton County
267,066
129,961
48.7
137,105
51.3

 

Household Size

 

Households refer to all persons living in a housing unit, whether related or not.  Average household size is another indicator of the difference between Palmer Township and Northampton County.  Palmer had an average of 2.46 persons per household in 2000, compared to 2.53 in Northampton County.  This correlates with the Township’s proportion of older residents, many of whom live in one or two-person households.  Later marriages, more divorces, fewer children and more elderly households have contributed to a drop in average household size across the nation since 1970. 

AVERAGE PERSONS PER HOUSEHOLD

Palmer Township and Northampton County - 1990 - 2000

Area
Average Persons Per Household
1990
2000
Palmer Township
2.67
2.46
Northampton County
2.53

 

Total Housing Units

 

Trends in total housing units mirror population trends.  However, even areas losing population tend to add housing units to accommodate new households being created by singles, divorced people and the elderly.  Between 1990 and 2000, Palmer Township added a significant number of housing units increasing their housing stock by 17.7%.  This was higher than Northampton County’s increase of 10.7% for the same time period.

 

TOTAL HOUSING UNITS
Palmer Township and Northampton County - 1990 - 2000

Area
Total Housing Units
Change 1990 - 2000
1990
2000
Number
Percent
Palmer Township
5,647
6,865
1,218
17.7
Northampton County
95,345
106,710
11,365
10.7

 

Housing Ownership and Vacancy

 

The amount of rental housing in an area affects housing affordability and the ability to accommodate the life cycle changes described earlier.  More rental housing usually signifies an area more affordable to singles, young families and older people.  Areas with high rates of owner-occupied housing may be less accessible to singles, starter families and elderly. 

 

According to the 2000 Census, approximately 85 percent of the homes in Palmer Township were owner-occupied.  This is a much higher rate than Northampton County’s 70 percent of owner-occupied units for the same time period.  In addition, Palmer Township had a lower percentage of vacant housing units compared to Northampton County in 2000.

HOUSING OWNERSHIP AND VACANCY

Palmer Township and Northampton County - 2000

Area
Owner-Occupied
Renter-Occupied
Vacant
Total
No.
%
No.
%
No.
%
No.
%
Palmer Township
5,788
84.3
928
13.5
149
2.2
6,865
100
Northampton County
74,464
69.8
27,077
25.4
5,169
4.8
106,710
100

 

 

Race and Hispanic Origin

 

In the 2000 Census, 393 residents reported they were of Hispanic or Latino origin.  In 2000, 428 residents reported they were at least partly African-American.  These two groups may overlap.

 

Education Levels

 

In 2000, of Palmer residents age 25 or older:  a) 88 percent reported that they graduated high school, and b) 24 percent reported they held a college bachelor’s degree or higher levels of education.

 

Place of Residence

 

As of 2000, 65 percent of Palmer residents were living in the same house as they did in 1995.  From 1995 to 2000, 10 percent of residents reported that they have moved to Palmer from a different State. 

 

Travel Time to Work

 

In 2000, the average travel time of Palmer Township residents to work was 25 minutes.  While a high 10 percent of residents reported that they carpooled to work, only one-half of one percent said they used public transit to reach work.

 

Income

 

According to the Census, the median household income of Palmer residents in 1999 was $55,419.  This means that half of households had total incomes over this amount, while half had incomes under this amount.  This income was 23 percent higher than the County-wide median.  As of 1999, 6 percent of families in Palmer reported that they had incomes below the poverty level.  Among households with children under age 5, this percent was 11 percent.