Palmer is former census-designated place (CDP) in Hampden County, Massachusetts, United States.

It is part of the Springfield, Massachusetts Metropolitan Statistical Area.

As of the census[2] of 2000, there were 3,900 people, 1,778 households, and 970 families residing in the CDP.

The racial makeup of the CDP was 95.33% White, 1.44% Black or African American, 0.28% Native American, 1.03% Asian, 0.51% from other races, and 1.41% from two or more races.

39.3% of all households were made up of individuals, and 16.7% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older.