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City · 5,622 residents · Carbon County, Pennsylvania

Palmerton , Pennsylvania

In Palmerton, a typical home is worth $180,000 and typical rent is $931 a month. Compared with all of Carbon County, the typical home value is 15% lower, typical rent is 6% lower, and the share of households that own their home is 19 points lower.

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  • Typical home value

    $180,000

    15% below the county

    29% below Pennsylvania

    • Palmerton
    • Carbon
    • Pennsylvania

  • Typical rent

    $931a month

    6% below the county

    23% below Pennsylvania

    • Palmerton
    • Carbon
    • Pennsylvania

  • Typical household income

    $68,143a year

    About the same as the county

    13% below Pennsylvania

    • Palmerton
    • Carbon
    • Pennsylvania

  • Households that own their home

    58%

    19 points below the county

    11 points below Pennsylvania

    • Palmerton
    • Carbon
    • Pennsylvania

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, Average 2020–2024

Market now, with Zillow data

Zillow data
Typical home value
$255,592
about the same as 12 months ago

From Zillow (ZHVI), September 2026. The Census figures above are 5-year averages (2020–2024).

Palmerton is in Carbon County. The FHA loan limit ($541,287 for a one-unit home), the fair market rents and the help on this page are those of all of Carbon County. See the county

Data updated: October 1, 2026 11 official sources

Only here

What sets Palmerton apart

What this place has that others do not, from public data, most unusual first.

  1. Nearby, in Tamaqua, the typical home value is $83,700: 54% less than in Palmerton ($180,000).

  2. 58% of households in Palmerton own their home, against 76% in Carbon County.

  3. 20% of households in Palmerton have no internet at home (9% in Carbon County).

Sources: U.S. Census Bureau (Average 2020–2024).

The homes here

Housing in Palmerton

What homes there are in Palmerton, what they cost, how that changed and how people live, from Census figures (2020–2024).

What homes there are

U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-year, 2020–2024

Kind of home

Homes in Palmerton are varied: detached houses are the largest group, at 48%, against 69% in Carbon County.

Year built

All homes, occupied or empty. A figure the Census cannot measure precisely enough here is not shown.

Census tables: B25024, B25034, B25035, B25041

What it costs here

U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-year, 2020–2024

Value of owner-occupied homes
Monthly rent with utilities

With a mortgage

$1,419 a month

Carbon County: $1,535 a month

Owners with a mortgage

65%

Carbon County: 56%

Value: what owners think their home is worth. Rent: rent plus utilities, for homes of every size. The FHA limit is the most an FHA loan (Federal Housing Administration) lends for a one-unit home; the fair market rent (FMR) is the one HUD uses for housing vouchers.

Census tables: B25075, B25063, B25088, B25081

How it changed

U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-year, 2015–2019 and 2020–2024

Change since 2015–2019

The typical home value in Palmerton rose 53% since 2015–2019, more than in Carbon County (44%).

The typical rent in Palmerton stayed about the same over that time: the difference is within the Census margin of error.

Change between two 5-year periods that do not overlap, in each period's dollars, not adjusted for inflation.

Census tables: B25077, B25064, B19013

How people live

U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-year, 2020–2024

MeasurePalmertonCarbon CountyPennsylvaniaUnited States
Rental vacancy Unreliable estimate13.3%4.9%5.5%
Homeowner vacancy Unreliable estimateUnreliable estimate0.8%0.9%
More than one person per room Unreliable estimate1.5%1.6%3.4%
People per household 1.992.372.392.53
Drive alone 84%77%68%69%
Carpool 6%11%8%9%
Public transit Unreliable estimateUnreliable estimate4%3%
Walk or bike Unreliable estimate2%4%3%
Work from home Unreliable estimate10%16%15%
Other means Unreliable estimateUnreliable estimate1%2%
Typical commute Unreliable estimateUnreliable estimate20 to 29 minutes20 to 29 minutes

On average, a household in Palmerton has 1.99 people, fewer than in Carbon County (2.37).

In Palmerton, 84% of workers drive alone to work; in Carbon County, 77%.

Vacancy: empty homes offered for rent or for sale. Rooms: every room in the home, not only bedrooms. Commute: the minute range of the typical worker.

Census tables: B25004, B25003, B25014, B25010, B08301, B08303

Do the math

What would you pay each month for a home in Palmerton?

A typical home is tight for the typical income

We start with a typical home in Palmerton, worth $180,000, an FHA loan with 3.5% down and the latest average rate (7.18%). That payment would take 28% of the typical household income in Palmerton, which is $68,143 a year. For that payment to be 28% of income, a household would need to earn about $68,932 a year.

The calculator's FHA and conventional loan limits are those of all of Carbon County.

Your numbers

Local data
$

Starts at the typical home value in Palmerton. Change it to the price you have in mind.

Loan type
Your credit score

Your score changes which loans apply and FHA's minimum down payment. Your real rate also depends on your credit.

Down payment
%

That is $6,300 (3.5% of the price). The usual minimum for this loan is 3.5%.

This week's average ± a quarter or half point.

Term

National average as of November 5, 2026 (Freddie Mac); your rate may be different.

Adjust advanced details

Estimated monthly payment

Local data

$1,608

at 7.18% · 30 years

Loan amount
$176,740
Total interest
$254,287
Paid off in
November 2056

Includes $3,040 FHA upfront mortgage insurance premium.

Does it fit the income?

  • Comfortable

    up to $1,590 a month

  • Tight

    $1,590 to $2,044 a month

    Your payment · 28%

  • Hard

    more than $2,044 a month

Compared with the typical household income in Palmerton ($68,143 a year). Reference: HUD calls paying more than 30% of income for housing a cost burden.

Show the result as
per month$1,608
Principal & interest$1,197
Property tax$257
Home insurance$75
FHA mortgage insurance (MIP)$80

You need at least $6,300 for the down payment, plus closing costs.

Next step

This is an estimate to give you an idea, not a loan offer. Your real payment depends on your rate, your credit, and the insurance and taxes on the home you buy.

The city and its county

Palmerton and Carbon County

Palmerton is in Carbon County, Pennsylvania. The U.S. Census Bureau publishes its own numbers for the city: home values, rent, household income, how many households own their home and the property tax. They are American Community Survey estimates (average 2020–2024).

Palmerton's own numbers

Typical home value
$180,000
Typical monthly rent
$931
Typical yearly household income
$68,143
Households that own their home
58%
Effective property tax rate
1.71%

U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey (average 2020–2024).

Numbers for all of Carbon County

FHA limit, one-unit home
$541,287
Conventional limit, one unit
$832,750
HUD fair market rent, 2 bedrooms
$1,839
Price change over 5 years (FHFA)
+73%
Homes in a high flood-risk zone
2.4%

HUD, FHFA and FEMA don't publish these numbers by city.

Other numbers are not published by city, only for the whole county: FHA and conventional loan limits, HUD’s fair market rents, FHFA’s price index and FEMA’s flood data. On this page, those numbers always say they are for all of Carbon County.

Everything about Carbon County

Buying

Buying a home in Palmerton

A typical home in Palmerton is worth $180,000: 15% below the county and 29% below Pennsylvania. With the typical household income in Palmerton ($68,143 a year), a typical home costs 2.6 times what the household earns in a year.

Years of income to pay for a typical home

The typical home value divided by the typical household income for one year. The lower it is, the less buying weighs.

  • Palmerton 2.6 years
  • Carbon 3.1 years
  • Pennsylvania 3.3 years
  • United States 4.1 years
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, Average 2020–2024

How prices have changed in Carbon County

According to FHFA’s house price index, home prices in Carbon County rose 109% in the 10 years through 2025.

FHFA does not publish this index by city: these are the numbers for all of Carbon County.

Period County Pennsylvania U.S.
Last year (2025) +9.3% +4.7% +2.9%
5 years (2020–2025) +73% +48% +47%
10 years (2015–2025) +109% +77% +85%

The index follows the price of the same homes over time (sales and appraisals with Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac loans). It is not the average price of a home. FHFA considers its annual county indexes experimental. Source: FHFA, 2025 data

Palmerton next to Carbon County, Pennsylvania and the U.S.

Three numbers side by side. “Typical” means the median: half are above it and half below.

Typical home value
  • Palmerton $180,000
  • Carbon $211,400
  • Pennsylvania $254,500
  • United States $332,700
Typical monthly rent
  • Palmerton $931
  • Carbon $994
  • Pennsylvania $1,209
  • United States $1,413
Typical yearly household income
  • Palmerton $68,143
  • Carbon $67,554
  • Pennsylvania $77,971
  • United States $80,734
See the full table
Palmerton next to Carbon County and Pennsylvania
Measure Palmerton Carbon County Pennsylvania U.S.
Typical home value $180,000 $211,400 $254,500 $332,700
Typical monthly rent $931 $994 $1,209 $1,413
Typical yearly household income $68,143 $67,554 $77,971 $80,734
Households that own their home 58% 76% 69% 65%
Typical yearly property tax $3,085 $3,088 $3,311 $3,119
Effective property tax rate 1.71% 1.46% 1.3% 0.94%
Renters with high rent for their income 43% 44% 48% 51%

“Typical” means the median: half are above and half are below. ▲ and ▼ say whether the city is above or below Carbon County. “High rent” is the Census measure: renter households that pay 30% or more of their income in rent.

Four ways to pay for a typical home in Palmerton

For a typical $180,000 home in Palmerton, at Freddie Mac's average rate (7.18% as of November 5, 2026) over 30 years. The monthly payment adds principal and interest, Palmerton's typical property tax, an example home insurance and mortgage insurance when it applies.

  • FHA, 3.5% down $1,608a month

    Least cash to close
    Down payment
    $6,300
    Cash to close
    $11,700
    Rate
    7.18%
    Mortgage insurance
    FHA MIP · $80

  • Conventional, 5% down $1,575a month

    Down payment
    $9,000
    Cash to close
    $14,400
    Rate
    7.18%
    Mortgage insurance
    PMI · $86

  • Conventional, 20% down, no PMI $1,307a month

    Down payment
    $36,000
    Cash to close
    $41,400
    Rate
    7.18%
    Mortgage insurance
    None

  • ITIN, 15% down (example) $1,473a month

    Down payment
    $27,000
    Cash to close
    $32,400
    Rate
    8.18%
    Mortgage insurance
    None

The option that asks for the least cash to close is FHA, 3.5% down.

  • Cash to close = down payment plus 3% of the price in closing costs (example).
  • Minimum score: FHA requires 580 or higher for the minimum down payment (HUD Handbook 4000.1). * Fannie Mae requires 620 when a loan is underwritten by hand; its automated system has no fixed minimum.
  • The ITIN row is an example with a rate 1 percentage point higher: ITIN loans follow no federal rule and each lender sets its own down payment and rate. Nothing in this table promises an approval.

How much house can I afford? Estimate closing costs

Taxes and floods

Two costs that change from place to place

Property tax and flood insurance raise or lower what you pay each month. Here are the numbers for Palmerton and for Carbon County.

Property tax

Effective rate in Palmerton

1.71%of the home’s value each year

$3,085 a year for the typical owner in Palmerton.

  • Palmerton 1.71%
  • Carbon 1.46%
  • Pennsylvania 1.3%

What Pennsylvania publishes Property Tax/Rent Rebate Program (PTRR) (Pennsylvania Department of Revenue)

Exemptions and deadlines in Pennsylvania

Flood risk in Carbon County

FEMA does not publish these numbers by city: they are for all of Carbon County.

Homes in the high-risk zone
2.4%
770
Of those, with NFIP insurance
15%
County Pennsylvania U.S.
Homes in the high-risk zone 2.4% 2% 3.5%
Of those, with NFIP insurance 15% 23% 48%

Most homeowners insurance policies do not cover flood damage.

Look up your address on FEMA’s map

Renting

Renting in Palmerton

Typical rent in Palmerton is $931 a month: 6% below the county. In Palmerton, 43% of renter households pay 30% or more of their income in rent.

HUD publishes a fair market rent for all of Carbon County, by unit size. To pay the 2-bedroom one ($1,839 a month) without spending more than 30% of your income, you would need to earn $35.37 an hour working full time.

HUD fair market rent for all of Carbon County

What you need to earn to pay it without spending more than 30% of income, working full time.

Size Fair rent a month Hourly wage Yearly income
Studio $1,302 $25.04 $52,080
1 bedroom $1,519 $29.21 $60,760
2 bedrooms $1,839 $35.37 $73,560
3 bedrooms $2,306 $44.35 $92,240
4 bedrooms $2,482 $47.73 $99,280

Includes basic utilities. It isn't the lowest or highest rent: it's a reference point. Source: HUD, Fiscal year 2027

By ZIP code

Fair market rent by ZIP code in Palmerton

HUD also publishes a fair market rent for each ZIP code (Small Area FMR, fiscal year 2027). Palmerton is in ZIP code 18071.

For 2 bedrooms it is $1,480: $359 less than the fair market rent for Carbon County ($1,839).

  • 18071 $1,480$1,880

1 of these ZIP codes crosses the city line: HUD sets the rent by ZIP code, not by city. A ZIP code counts for Palmerton when at least 50% of its land is inside the city or it covers at least 15% of the city (Census 2020 boundaries). Source: Small Area Fair Market Rents (HUD) Fiscal year 2027 Small Area Fair Market Rents (HUD) Source: Census Bureau ZCTA-to-place relationship file Data from 2020 data Census Bureau ZCTA-to-place relationship file

Is your rent high for your ZIP?

Low-income apartments

Low-income apartments in Palmerton

HUD lists one building with rents for lower incomes in Palmerton.

  • Palmer House 360 Delaware Ave, Palmerton 18071 51 homes, 50 low-income · For older adults (610) 377-9375

See all 11 buildings in Carbon County Source: HUD, Retrieved November 6, 2026

Free help

Help to buy or rent in Palmerton

You do not have to do this alone. A HUD-approved housing counseling agency helps for free or at low cost: getting ready to buy, understanding your credit, or solving a problem with your rent.

We found no HUD-approved agencies with an office in Carbon County. The nearest ones are below; many serve by phone or online.

A young man and a young woman look something up together on a laptop.

HUD counseling is free or low-cost

Assistance programs in Palmerton

No down payment, repair or rent-help program on our list is for Palmerton or Carbon County. The ones below are statewide in Pennsylvania: they work in Palmerton the same as in the rest of the state.

Which programs do I qualify for? All programs in Pennsylvania

Housing counselors near Palmerton

The HUD-approved agencies closest to the center of Palmerton, in a straight line, nearest first. If one says it serves in Spanish, its card says so.

  • Community Action Committee of Lehigh Valley, Inc.

    1337 E 5th St, Bethlehem · 19 miles away · Spanish

    • Mortgage delinquency and default
    • Mortgage delinquency workshops
    • and 5 more
    (610) 691-5620

  • Greater Community Development Corporation

    403 Pastor Fred Davis St, Easton · 23 miles away

    • Budget and financial counseling
    • Pre-purchase counseling
    (610) 596-1134

  • Schuylkill Community Action

    225 N Centre St, Pottsville · 31 miles away · Spanish

    • Mortgage delinquency and default
    • Home improvement and repairs
    • and 5 more
    (570) 622-1995

All counseling agencies in Pennsylvania

Help in Spanish near Palmerton

2 of the 3 agencies on this list say they serve in Spanish.

Ask for service in Spanish

When you call, say “Spanish, please” or ask if someone speaks Spanish. If not, ask whether they offer an interpreter.

Housing authorities of Palmerton

HUD’s record names them for Palmerton or Carbon County. They run public housing or Section 8 vouchers. Ask whether their waiting list is open.

  • Carbon County Housing Authority Public housing and Section 8 vouchers (610) 377-9375

All housing agencies in Pennsylvania Source: HUD

Cities

Other cities in Carbon County

These cities are also in Carbon County. They share its loan limits and fair market rents, but home values and rent change from one to the next.

Everything about Carbon County Housing in Pennsylvania

Nearby cities

The cities closest to Palmerton, with the typical home value.

Neighboring counties

If Carbon County is out of reach, look next door. Each number is that county's own.

Keep going

Guides for your next step

Short explanations, in plain language and with official sources, for buying or renting in Palmerton.

All guides
A father and mother walk their son by the hand down the sidewalk.

Questions

Housing questions about Palmerton

Short answers with the numbers for Palmerton and all of Carbon County. If your case is different, a HUD-approved counseling agency can guide you for free or at low cost.

How much does a typical home cost in Palmerton?

The typical home value in Palmerton is $180,000, according to the U.S. Census Bureau (average 2020–2024). For comparison, in Carbon County it is $211,400.

How much does it cost to rent in Palmerton?

Typical rent in Palmerton is $931 a month, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. HUD’s fair market rent for 2 bedrooms in Carbon County is $1,839.

What is the FHA loan limit in Palmerton?

Palmerton uses the FHA limit for all of Carbon County (2026): $541,287 for a one-unit home and $1,041,125 for a four-unit home.

How much property tax do owners pay in Palmerton?

The typical homeowner in Palmerton pays $3,085 a year, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. That is 1.71% of the home’s value; in Carbon County, the rate is 1.46%.

Where can I find free help to buy or rent in Palmerton?

We found no HUD-approved counseling agencies with an office in Carbon County; the nearest ones are on this page. They can help you get ready to buy, with your credit, or with rent.

Sources: American Community Survey (ACS) 5-year estimates (Average 2020–2024); FHA mortgage limits (HUD) (2026 data); Conforming loan limits (FHFA) (2026 data); Fair Market Rents (HUD) (Fiscal year 2027); Small Area Fair Market Rents (HUD) (Fiscal year 2027); Census Bureau ZCTA-to-place relationship file (2020 data); HUD-approved housing counseling agencies (Retrieved November 6, 2026); Public Housing Agencies (HUD) (Retrieved November 6, 2026); Freddie Mac Primary Mortgage Market Survey (PMMS) (As of November 5, 2026); FHFA House Price Index (HPI) (2025 data); Homes with flood insurance (NFIP, FEMA) (As of August 3, 2026).