What is the cost of living in Palmerton, PA?
According to the most recent data on the cost of living, Palmerton has an overall cost of living index of 92, which is 0.9x lower than the national index of 100.
Compared to Pennsylvania, Palmerton has a cost of living index that's 0.9x lower than Pennsylvania's index of 97.
The standard of living in Palmerton ranks as #78 most affordable out of the 253 places we measured in Pennsylvania. By definition, that implies Palmerton ranks as the #175 most expensive place in the Keystone State.
For more reading on life in Palmerton, check out:
Palmerton Cost Of Living Vs. Pennsylvania
Six factors go into calculating the cost of living index in Palmerton. Here is how it fares on each of the criteria:
The Services index in Palmerton is 100.
The Groceries index in Palmerton is 102.
The Health index in Palmerton is 71.
The Housing index in Palmerton is 104.
The Transportation index in Palmerton is 97.
The Utilities index in Palmerton is 102.
| Living Expense | Palmerton | Pennsylvania | National Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall | 92 | 97 | 100 |
| Services | 100 | 99 | 100 |
| Groceries | 102 | 100 | 100 |
| Health | 71 | 88 | 100 |
| Housing | 104 | 102 | 100 |
| Transportation | 97 | 100 | 100 |
| Utilities | 102 | 101 | 100 |
Palmerton Cost Of Living Compared To Pennsylvania Averages
Index where 100 = national average. Source: cost-of-living index 2026.
For more reading on cost of living around Pennsylvania, check out:
- Most Expensive Cities In Pennsylvania
- Most Affordable Cities In Pennsylvania
- Average Rent In Pennsylvania
Source: Cost-of-living index 2026, normalized to US average = 100
Palmerton, PA Housing Cost Breakdown
Housing swings affordability the most between places in Pennsylvania, so we broke down housing costs into more detail. Home and income data comes from the most recent US Census ACS 2020-2024. The key points are:
The Median Home Value in Palmerton is $254,961.
The Median Rent in Palmerton is $931.
The Median Income in Palmerton is $68,143.
The Home Value To Income in Palmerton is 3.7x.
The Rent To Monthly Income in Palmerton is 0.16x.
| Statistic | Palmerton | Pennsylvania | United States |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median Home Value | $254,961 | $282,735 | $332,700 |
| Median Rent | $931 | $1,209 | $1,413 |
| Median Income | $68,143 | $77,971 | $80,734 |
| Home Value To Income | 3.7x | 3.6x | 4.1x |
| Rent To Monthly Income | 0.16x | 0.19x | 0.21x |
Palmerton, PA Costs By Category
Detailed Palmerton Services costs vs. Pennsylvania
| Item | Palmerton | Pennsylvania |
|---|---|---|
| Shampoo | $1.42 | $1.28 |
| Movie | $12.43 | $12.13 |
| Bowling | $19.33 | $18 |
| Haircut | $23.2 | $24.26 |
| Beauty Salon | $52.92 | $45.56 |
Detailed Palmerton Groceries costs vs. Pennsylvania
| Item | Palmerton | Pennsylvania |
|---|---|---|
| Ground Beef | $5.76 | $5.84 |
| Fried Chicken | $1.42 | $1.57 |
| Milk | $4.54 | $4.67 |
| Potatoes | $5.37 | $4.93 |
| Pizza | $11.57 | $12.09 |
| Beer | $11.46 | $10.41 |
| Toothpaste | $3.83 | $3.7 |
Detailed Palmerton Health costs vs. Pennsylvania
| Item | Palmerton | Pennsylvania |
|---|---|---|
| Optometrist | $125.11 | $125.68 |
| Doctor | $86.42 | $135.78 |
| Dentist | $137.77 | $113.29 |
Detailed Palmerton Transportation costs vs. Pennsylvania
| Item | Palmerton | Pennsylvania |
|---|---|---|
| Gasoline | $3.51 | $3.46 |
| Tire Balancing | $64.44 | $59.92 |
Detailed Palmerton Utilities costs vs. Pennsylvania
| Item | Palmerton | Pennsylvania |
|---|---|---|
| All Electricity | $210.1 | $193.99 |
| Phone | $195.81 | $192.25 |
Palmerton SnackAbility
Cost Of Living In Cities Around Palmerton
The cost of living varies in the cities and towns around Palmerton. Here's a quick look at the cost of living in the most populous nearby places:
Fullerton, PA has a cost of living index of 102, 1.1x Palmerton.
Emmaus, PA has a cost of living index of 105, 1.1x Palmerton.
Northampton, PA has a cost of living index of 101, 1.1x Palmerton.
| City | Population | Cost Of Living | Vs. Palmerton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fullerton, PA | 16,724 | 102 | 1.1x |
| Emmaus, PA | 11,889 | 105 | 1.1x |
| Northampton, PA | 10,400 | 101 | 1.1x |
| Ancient Oaks, PA | 7,777 | 122 | 1.3x |
| Middletown, PA | 7,628 | 92 | 1.0x |
| Wescosville, PA | 7,148 | 122 | 1.3x |
| Catasauqua, PA | 6,541 | 97 | 1.1x |
| Sierra View, PA | 6,365 | 105 | 1.1x |
| Nazareth, PA | 6,043 | 98 | 1.1x |
| Lehighton, PA | 5,268 | 94 | 1.0x |
