01080 receives the higher standardized Area Score. That reflects AreaProfile's weighting, not a judgment about which place is better to live in.
Signals
01080
01069
Opportunity
53 · Bottom 46%
vs52 · Bottom 45%
Growth
45 · Bottom 42%
vs45 · Bottom 42%
Climate
60 · Bottom 14%
vs60 · Bottom 14%
Physical resilience
60 · Top 48%
vs60 · Top 47%
Housing affordability
100 · Top 10%
vs95 · Top 20%
Access
94 · Top 45%
vs92 · Bottom 48%
Economic stability
74 · Top 23%
vs60 · Top 50%
Measured values
| Metric | 01080 | 01069 | Source period |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population | 2,454 | 8,821 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median household income | $89,063 | $80,190 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Per capita income | $43,688 | $45,908 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Population density | 1,474/sq mi | 314/sq mi | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median home value | $270,000 | $274,000 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median gross rent | $1,125 | $1,013 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Homeownership rate | 64.5% | 74.3% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Unemployment rate | 4.6% | 4.6% | June 2026 |
| Employment change (year over year) | -0.8% | -0.8% | June 2026 |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 19.7% | 22.7% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Poverty rate | 6.2% | 8.4% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Housing units permitted (12 months) | 9 | 9 | 12 months ending July 2026 |
| Permits per 1,000 residents | 0.7 | 0.7 | 12 months ending July 2026 |
| Permit change (year over year) | 28.6% | 28.6% | 12 months ending July 2026 |
| Average July high | 85°F | 85°F | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Average January low | 16°F | 16°F | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Annual precipitation | 45.2" | 45.2" | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Distance to major airport | 18 mi | 21 mi | NASR current cycle |
| Average commute | 26.4 min | 34.6 min | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median age | 37.5 | 52.8 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
A bolded value is the more favorable of the two where the metric has a clear direction. Metrics like population and density have no inherent better or worse and are shown unweighted.
Physical risk tradeoff
01080
Elevated or high exposure: hurricane.
01069
Elevated or high exposure: hurricane.
Full profiles: 01080 — Palmer Town, MA · 01069 — Palmer Town, MA · How this is calculated: methodology