Palmerton, PA · standard
ZIP Code 18071
Carbon County, Pennsylvania - Census ACS demographics, housing tenure, and business patterns, benchmarked against every US ZIP.
- 10,578
- 134/sq mi High-density area
- $70,217
- Median income Near-median income area
- $206,900
- Median home value Near-median home value
- 16.9%
- Bachelor's or higher Below-average bachelor's attainment
National ZIP placement
Palmerton pairs a below-median household income with below-median home values, in a rural, homeowner-dominated area.
- 47th pct
- household income, US ZIPs
- 45th pct
- home value, US ZIPs
- 134
- people per sq mi
- 68%
- owner-occupied homes
Source: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year Estimates (2019–2023). Percentiles rank ZIP 18071 against every reporting US ZIP.
FHFA HPI release change
What changed in the latest House Price Index year
- FHFA House Price Index values in ZIP 18071 (Palmerton, PA) rose +8.4% from 2023 to 2024. The all-transactions index moved from 243.8 in 2023 to 264.3 in 2024 (2000 = 100).
ZIP code 18071 is a mid-sized community (a standard USPS delivery area) in Palmerton, Carbon County, Pennsylvania, home to 10,578 residents across 79.0 square miles, a density of 134 people per square mile, in the New York time zone.
ZIP 18071 lands in the middle-income range, with a median household income of $70,217 (10% below the average Pennsylvania ZIP), while per-capita income is $40,115. The poverty rate is 11.5%, with unemployment at 3.9%; those measures add context to the income figure. Median home value is $206,900 (9% below the average Pennsylvania ZIP) and median rent is $956; 67.5% of occupied homes are owner-occupied.
Educational attainment sits below the national norm: 16.9% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher, the median age is 48.5, and the average commute is 31 minutes. The page also surfaces 10 ZIP codes within roughly 10 miles and 6 more in Carbon County, so 18071 can be compared with both its immediate and county-level context.
Every figure on this page is sourced from the U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates (including median rent) and the FHFA House Price Index, no estimates, no proprietary scoring. Verify with Census →
Top industries in ZIP 18071
Top 5 sectors by establishment count in Palmerton, PA
Which industries have the most business establishments in ZIP 18071.
- Construction
Construction
34 establishments
- Health care and social assistance
Health care and social assistance
33 establishments
- Retail trade
Retail trade
24 establishments
- Other services (except public administration)
Other services (except public administration)
24 establishments
- Accommodation and food services
Accommodation and food services
18 establishments
What this shows Establishment counts come from the Census ZIP Code Business Patterns program, which counts physical business locations rather than employees or revenue.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates + ZIP Code Business Patterns + FHFA HPI ACS demographics and median rent, ZBP business establishments, FHFA HPI for ZIP 18071, Palmerton, PA · 2023 Census ACS 5-Year Estimates use a rolling 60-month sample for stable small-geography estimates; ZBP updated annually; FHFA HPI updated quarterly/annually.
Quick Facts
10,578
Population
79.0
Area (sq mi)
134
People / sq mi
New York
Time Zone
standard
ZIP Type
Who lives in ZIP 18071?
48.5
Median Age
50.8%
Male
49.2%
Female
2.0%
Foreign-Born
Hispanic or Latino is an ethnicity category from the Census Bureau and may overlap with other categories above.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-Year Estimates (2023)
How much do residents earn?
$70,217
Median Household Income
-10% vs state ZIP avg
$40,115
Per Capita Income
11.5%
Poverty Rate
3.9%
Unemployment Rate
30.6 min
Mean Commute Time
How ZIP 18071 ranks among Pennsylvania ZIPs
Palmerton, PA household income vs. every Pennsylvania ZIP code
Median household income among 1,642 reporting Pennsylvania ZIPs (this ZIP's population is too small for a reliable national-corpus placement)
$70,217 47th percentile higher than 47% of 1,642 Pennsylvania ZIPs
Each bar is a $20K-wide band; taller bars hold more Pennsylvania ZIPs. The dashed line + filled bar mark this entry. Hover or tap any bar for its full count, share, and where it sits relative to this entry.
Source U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-Year Estimates · 2019–2023
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-Year Estimates (2023)
What is the education profile here?
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-Year Estimates (2023)
What does housing look like?
Housing stock: occupied vs vacant
5,318housing units
5,318
Total Housing Units
5,146
Occupied Units
172
Vacant Units
2.19
Avg Household Size
Occupancy Type
$206,900
Median Home Value
-9% vs state ZIP avg
$956
Median Rent
1966
Median Year Built
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-Year Estimates (2023)
How have home values changed over time?
FHFA House Price Index, annual appreciation data based on repeat sales and appraisals
+8.4%
YoY Change (2024)
264
HPI Index (2000 = 100)
+164%
Total Change Since 2000
Home values in ZIP 18071 have increased 8.4% over the past year (2024). Since 2000, this ZIP has seen +164% cumulative appreciation.
| Year | Annual Change | HPI Index |
|---|---|---|
| 2020 | -0.2% | 166 |
| 2021 | +16.7% | 194 |
| 2022 | +13.9% | 221 |
| 2023 | +10.3% | 244 |
| 2024 | +8.4% | 264 |
Source: Federal Housing Finance Agency (FHFA) House Price Index, All-Transactions, Five-Digit ZIP Codes (Developmental Index). Index base = 100 in year 2000. Data through 2024. ZIP codes with few transactions may show missing values.
What businesses operate in this ZIP?
Census Bureau data shows 205 business establishments in ZIP 18071, employing approximately 3,106 people with a combined annual payroll of $142,281,000.
205
Businesses
3,106
Employees
$142.3M
Annual Payroll
14
Industry Sectors
| Industry | Establishments | % of Total |
|---|---|---|
| Construction | 34 | 16.6% |
| Health care and social assistance | 33 | 16.1% |
| Retail trade | 24 | 11.7% |
| Other services (except public administration) | 24 | 11.7% |
| Accommodation and food services | 18 | 8.8% |
| Professional, scientific, and technical services | 11 | 5.4% |
| Administrative and support and waste management and remediation services | 10 | 4.9% |
| Manufacturing | 9 | 4.4% |
| Information | 8 | 3.9% |
| Real estate and rental and leasing | 8 | 3.9% |
| Arts, entertainment, and recreation | 6 | 2.9% |
| Wholesale trade | 5 | 2.4% |
| Transportation and warehousing | 5 | 2.4% |
| Finance and insurance | 5 | 2.4% |
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ZIP Code Business Patterns (ZBP), 2023. Employment figures may include noise for disclosure avoidance.
Nearby ZIP Codes
Want a side-by-side? Compare 18071 vs 18088 →
ZIP 18071 vs its nearest neighbors, by population
Resident population of this ZIP and the closest reporting ZIP codes within ~10 miles.
- 18235
Lehighton (18235)
19,353 residents
- 18080
Slatington (18080)
11,456 residents
- 18071
Palmerton (18071)
10,578 residents
- 18058
Kunkletown (18058)
9,464 residents
- 18088
Walnutport (18088)
8,375 residents
- 18038 3,091
Danielsville (18038)
3,091 residents
- 18059 1,228
Laurys Station (18059)
1,228 residents
- 18030 623
Bowmanstown (18030)
623 residents
- 18079 436
Slatedale (18079)
436 residents
What this shows Among its immediate neighbors, ZIP 18071 ranks #3 by population - useful context the national average alone can't give.
ZIP 18071 vs its nearest neighbors, by median income
Median household income of this ZIP and the closest reporting ZIP codes within ~10 miles.
- 18059
Laurys Station (18059)
$167,961 median income
- 18038
Danielsville (18038)
$117,121 median income
- 18079
Slatedale (18079)
$96,071 median income
- 18088
Walnutport (18088)
$82,083 median income
- 18080
Slatington (18080)
$74,522 median income
- 18058
Kunkletown (18058)
$73,041 median income
- 18235
Lehighton (18235)
$72,571 median income
- 18071
Palmerton (18071)
$70,217 median income
- 18086
Treichlers (18086)
$69,179 median income
What this shows By household income, ZIP 18071 ranks #8 of 9 neighboring ZIPs, local affluence varies block to block, not just metro to metro.
| ZIP Code | City | Population | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|
| 18088 | Walnutport, PA | 8,375 | 4.6 mi |
| 18030 | Bowmanstown, PA | 623 | 4.7 mi |
| 18235 | Lehighton, PA | 19,353 | 6.1 mi |
| 18035 | Cherryville, PA | 241 | 6.1 mi |
| 18086 | Treichlers, PA | 398 | 6.6 mi |
| 18038 | Danielsville, PA | 3,091 | 5.7 mi |
| 18080 | Slatington, PA | 11,456 | 7.0 mi |
| 18058 | Kunkletown, PA | 9,464 | 6.3 mi |
| 18059 | Laurys Station, PA | 1,228 | 7.7 mi |
| 18079 | Slatedale, PA | 436 | 7.1 mi |
Nationwide ZIPs with similar ACS profiles
Two Census-derived peer sets for ZIP 18071, both outside PA so the neighborhoods are not geographic containment (Nearby and same-county blocks stay local).
Similar population
Nearest cross-state ZIPs by resident population (10,578 here; floor ≥1,000).
Similar median household income
Nearest cross-state ZIPs by ACS median household income.
More ZIP Codes in Carbon County
Related Areas
Frequently Asked Questions
What county is ZIP code 18071 in?
ZIP code 18071 (Palmerton) is located in Carbon County, Pennsylvania. Carbon County contains multiple ZIP codes, see the full list at /counties/carbon-pa.
What is the population of ZIP code 18071?
ZIP code 18071 in Palmerton, PA has a population of 10,578 according to the Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates.
What is the median household income in ZIP 18071?
The median household income in ZIP 18071 is $70,217, which is 8% below the national average of $76,288.
What is the average home value in ZIP 18071?
The median home value in ZIP 18071 is $206,900, which is 26% below the national average of $278,155.
What is the demographic makeup of ZIP 18071?
The largest racial group in ZIP 18071 is White at 95.5%. Hispanic or Latino residents make up 3.9% of the population.
How many businesses are in ZIP code 18071?
ZIP code 18071 has 205 business establishments employing approximately 3,106 people, according to Census Bureau ZIP Code Business Patterns (ZBP) 2023 data.
What are the main industries in ZIP code 18071?
The top industries by establishment count in ZIP 18071 are: Construction (34), Health care and social assistance (33), Retail trade (24). There are 14 industry sectors represented in total.
How have home values changed in ZIP code 18071?
According to the FHFA House Price Index, home values in ZIP 18071 increased by 8.4% in 2024. Since 2000, home values in this ZIP have appreciated by approximately 164%. This is a developmental index based on repeat sales and appraisal data from Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac.
What is the education level in ZIP code 18071?
In ZIP code 18071, 67.1% of residents aged 25+ have a high school diploma or higher, and 16.9% hold a bachelor's degree or higher. These figures come from the Census Bureau ACS 5-Year Estimates (2023).
What is the average commute time in ZIP 18071?
The mean commute time for workers in ZIP code 18071 is 30.6 minutes according to Census ACS data. The national average is roughly 26 minutes, so commuters here spend more time traveling to work than typical.
What percentage of residents own vs. rent in ZIP 18071?
In ZIP code 18071, approximately 67.5% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied and 32.5% are renter-occupied, based on Census ACS 2023 data.
What is the poverty rate in ZIP code 18071?
The poverty rate in ZIP code 18071 is 11.5% according to Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates. This measures the percentage of the population living below the federal poverty threshold.
Related
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What to do with ZIP 18071's numbers, next.
- See how ZIP 18071 compares to a neighboring ZIP code on the same Census fields Compare this ZIP
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ZIP Code Tabulation Areas (ZCTAs) are Census Bureau approximations of USPS ZIP codes; figures describe the ZCTA area, not any single address within it.