2025 Compare Cities Economy:
Hilo, HI vs Palmer, AK

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Highlights
- Household income in Palmer, is 12% less than it is in Hilo and is 11% below the National Average.
- Hilo unemployment rate is 8.4%.
- Palmer unemployment rate is 7.7%.
 Hilo, HIPalmer, AKUnited States
 Unemployment Rate  Unlock7.7%6.0%
 Recent Job Growth  Unlock-0.7%1.6%
 Future Job Growth33.5%  Unlock33.5%
 Sales Taxes4.3%  Unlock6.2%
 Income Taxes  Unlock0.0%4.6%
 Income per Cap.$34,678  Unlock$37,638
 Household Income  Unlock$62,068$69,021
 Family Median Income$87,016  Unlock$85,028
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 Est. Households By Income
 Hilo, HIPalmer, AKUnited States
 Income Less Than 15K  Unlock8.3%9.4%
 Income between 15K and 20K4.3%  Unlock3.8%
 Income between 20K and 30K  Unlock7.8%8.1%
 Income between 30K and 40K6.7%  Unlock8.0%
 Income between 40K and 50K  Unlock10.7%7.6%
 Income between 50K and 60K6.4%  Unlock7.2%
 Income between 60K and 75K  Unlock12.1%9.6%
 Income between 75K and 100K13.0%  Unlock12.8%
 Income between 100K and 150K  Unlock12.7%16.3%
 Income between 150K and 200K10.2%  Unlock7.8%
 Income greater than 200K  Unlock4.4%9.5%
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 Population By Occupation
 Hilo, HIPalmer, AKUnited States
 Management, business, finance14.3%  Unlock16.4%
 Engineering, computers, science  Unlock4.2%6.5%
 Community, social services2.1%  Unlock1.8%
 Legal  Unlock1.5%1.2%
 Education, library9.5%  Unlock6.2%
 Arts, design, media, sports, entertainment  Unlock1.8%2.0%
 Healthcare practitioners and technology5.7%  Unlock6.2%
 Healthcare support  Unlock5.5%3.3%
 Firefighters, law enforcement4.1%  Unlock2.1%
 Food preparation, serving  Unlock7.2%5.4%
 Building maintenance5.0%  Unlock3.6%
 Personal care  Unlock4.8%2.6%
 Sales, office, administrative support22.3%  Unlock20.9%
 Farming, fishing, forestry  Unlock1.0%0.6%
 Construction, extraction, maintenance/repair7.8%  Unlock8.1%
 Production, transportation, material moving  Unlock12.7%13.1%
Reviews for Hilo    10 Reviews

If you’re looking at Hilo, then you’re likely being recruited in the medical or education fields. These are where the greatest needs of the community lie, and there are  More

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Over 4 years ago

I enjoyed living in Hawaii County for a number of years, most in Hilo. While Hilo has problems, they are few compared to mainland USA. I never experienced racism by  More

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Over 4 years ago

Too much racism from "native Hawaiians" who aren't actually natives. That keeps me from living in that paradise. I'm this is the "natives" goal.  More

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Reviews for Palmer    3 Reviews

The first time I saw Palmer was in 1974. It's grown up from the old days of farm country complete with 4-H clubs, fields of crops and livestock. Gone are most of the  More

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Over 19 years ago

The four months of cold and dark. Winter lasts about 8 months, but the real cold, dark lasts about 4 months. It is getting harder and harder to deal with as I get  More

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Over 19 years ago

I have lived in Palmer for 11 years. I love everything about it except about four months of the dark, cold winters. The people are  More

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