Palmer, AK Demographics

A map of Palmer's Population by Race

Race	2024 Pop	2020 Pop	2024 %	2020 %
White	4,441	4,099	70.9%	69.6%
Native American/Other	605	617	9.7%	10.5%
Multiracial	576	622	9.2%	10.6%
Hispanic	419	364	6.7%	6.2%
Black	125	91	2.0%	1.5%
Asian	102	95	1.6%	1.6%

Palmer, Alaska has an estimated population of 6,268, an increase from the 5,888 recorded in the 2020 Census. The population is 70.9% White, 9.7% Native American/Other, 9.2% Multiracial, 6.7% Hispanic, 2.0% Black, and 1.6% Asian. This demographic dot map shows the population of Palmer, with one dot drawn for each person counted by the Census, color-coded by race.

Palmer has become less racially diverse since the 2020 Census. It is considerably less diverse than Alaska overall. Demographers use a diversity index to measure the probability that two randomly selected individuals belong to different racial or ethnic groups. In Palmer, that probability was 48.9% in 2020 and 47.5% in the most recent ACS estimates.

Palmer is ranked the 18th most populous place in Alaska, out of 355 places. This ranking is based on the Census definition of a place, which includes incorporated places like cities, towns, and villages, as well as unincorporated census-designated places (CDPs). Palmer was ranked the 19th most populous place in the 2020 Census.

Palmer's White Population

4,441 residents of Palmer, or 70.9% of the population, identify as White. The share of White residents in Palmer is considerably higher than in Alaska overall, where 57.7% of the population is White. Palmer ranks 123rd statewide in terms of White residents as a share of the population, out of 355 places.

Since the 2020 Census, Palmer's White population has grown by an estimated 8.3%. White residents' share of Palmer's population has increased from 69.6% to 70.9%.

Palmer is more White than neighboring Gateway (69.7% White). Palmer is less White than neighboring Farm Loop (79.2% White), Buffalo Soapstone (76.2% White), Butte (84.6% White), and Fishhook (73.3% White).

Palmer's Black Population

125 residents of Palmer, or 2.0% of the population, identify as Black. The share of Black residents in Palmer is comparable to the share in Alaska overall, where 2.9% of the population is Black. Palmer ranks 34th statewide in terms of Black residents as a share of the population, out of 355 places.

Since the 2020 Census, Palmer's Black population has grown by an estimated 37.4%. Black residents' share of Palmer's population has increased from 1.5% to 2.0%.

Palmer is more Black than neighboring Farm Loop (0.8% Black), Buffalo Soapstone (0% Black), Butte (0.8% Black), and Fishhook (1.5% Black). Palmer is less Black than neighboring Gateway (2.8% Black).

Palmer's Asian Population

102 residents of Palmer, or 1.6% of the population, identify as Asian. The share of Asian residents in Palmer is slightly lower than in Alaska overall, where 6.4% of the population is Asian. Palmer ranks 70th statewide in terms of Asian residents as a share of the population, out of 355 places.

Since the 2020 Census, Palmer's Asian population has grown by an estimated 7.4%. Asian residents' share of Palmer's population has remained roughly unchanged at 1.6%.

Palmer is more Asian than neighboring Farm Loop (0.1% Asian), Buffalo Soapstone (0% Asian), Butte (1.2% Asian), and Fishhook (0.7% Asian). Palmer is less Asian than neighboring Gateway (2.5% Asian).

Palmer's Hispanic Population

419 residents of Palmer, or 6.7% of the population, identify as Hispanic. The share of Hispanic residents in Palmer is comparable to the share in Alaska overall, where 7.3% of the population is Hispanic. Palmer ranks 49th statewide in terms of Hispanic residents as a share of the population, out of 355 places.

Since the 2020 Census, Palmer's Hispanic population has grown by an estimated 15.1%. Hispanic residents' share of Palmer's population has increased from 6.2% to 6.7%.

Palmer is more Hispanic than neighboring Farm Loop (5.4% Hispanic), Buffalo Soapstone (3.4% Hispanic), and Butte (3.3% Hispanic). Palmer is less Hispanic than neighboring Gateway (9.4% Hispanic).

Palmer's Native American/Other Population

605 residents of Palmer, or 9.7% of the population, identify as American Indian/Alaska Native/Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islander/Other. The share of Native American/Other residents in Palmer is lower than in Alaska overall, where 15.5% of the population is Native American/Other. Palmer ranks 223rd statewide in terms of Native American/Other residents as a share of the population, out of 355 places.

Since the 2020 Census, Palmer's Native American/Other population has declined by an estimated 1.9%. Native American/Other residents' share of Palmer's population has decreased from 10.5% to 9.7%.

Palmer is more Native American/Other than neighboring Farm Loop (1.4% Native American/Other), Buffalo Soapstone (4.7% Native American/Other), Butte (4.2% Native American/Other), Gateway (4.4% Native American/Other), and Fishhook (5.7% Native American/Other).

Palmer's Multiracial Population

576 residents of Palmer, or 9.2% of the population, identify as Multiracial. The share of Multiracial residents in Palmer is comparable to the share in Alaska overall, where 10.3% of the population is Multiracial. Palmer ranks 76th statewide in terms of Multiracial residents as a share of the population, out of 355 places.

Since the 2020 Census, Palmer's Multiracial population has declined by an estimated 7.4%. Multiracial residents' share of Palmer's population has decreased from 10.6% to 9.2%.

Palmer is more Multiracial than neighboring Butte (5.9% Multiracial). Palmer is less Multiracial than neighboring Farm Loop (13.1% Multiracial), Buffalo Soapstone (15.7% Multiracial), Gateway (11.3% Multiracial), and Fishhook (12% Multiracial).

Sources: Most recent population estimates are from the 2020-2024 American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates. 2020 population counts and map data are from 2020 Census State Redistricting Data. Geographic data are from Census TIGER/Line Shapefiles.