Population 50,959 · Census ACS 2020–24
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Population and households in Somerset County
Household size in Somerset County
| Period | Somerset County | Maine | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 2.38 | 2.37 | 2.68 |
| 2010–14 | 2.38 | 2.36 | 2.73 |
| 2015–19 | 2.34 | 2.35 | 2.71 |
| 2020–24 | 2.18 | 2.30 | 2.65 |
| Change | −0.20 | −0.07 | −0.03 |
Somerset County is a place of small households, averaging 2.18 people against 2.65 for the U.S., which points to many singles, couples and roommates and relatively few children. Household size has dropped from 2.38 in 2006–10, a much bigger shift than nationally.
Household size: the average number of people living in each occupied home. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25010).
Median age in Somerset County
| Period | Somerset County | Maine | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 42.9 | 42.1 | 37.7 |
| 2010–14 | 44.4 | 43.5 | 38.6 |
| 2015–19 | 47.1 | 45.0 | 39.6 |
| 2020–24 | 46.3 | 45.0 | 40.1 |
| Change | +3.5 | +2.9 | +2.3 |
Somerset County skews older: half of its residents are older than 46.3, well above the national median of 40.1. That usually means more empty nesters and retirees, and fewer young families. The median age has climbed from 42.9 in 2006–10, in line with the national trend.
Median age: the age that splits residents into two equal halves. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B01002).
Single-parent households in Somerset County
| Period | Somerset County | Maine | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 11.8% | 10.1% | 12.3% |
| 2010–14 | 11.1% | 10.1% | 12.3% |
| 2015–19 | 10.2% | 9.4% | 11.6% |
| 2020–24 | 9.1% | 8.8% | 11.6% |
| Change | −2.6 pts | −1.4 pts | −0.6 pts |
Single parents head just over one in twelve households in Somerset County (9.1%), below the national share of 11.6%. The picture is much the same across Maine. The single-parent share has fallen 2.6 points since 2006–10, a much bigger shift than nationally.
Single-parent households: households where one adult with no spouse present lives with children under 18. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B11003).
Housing in Somerset County
Renters in Somerset County
| Period | Somerset County | Maine | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 23.0% | 26.9% | 33.3% |
| 2010–14 | 21.8% | 28.6% | 35.6% |
| 2015–19 | 23.9% | 27.7% | 36.0% |
| 2020–24 | 22.6% | 25.7% | 34.8% |
| Change | −0.4 pts | −1.2 pts | +1.5 pts |
Only 22.6% of households in Somerset County rent their homes, far below the national share of 34.8%, so most residents are owners who tend to stay put. About half of owners (50.9%) have paid off their mortgages, well above the national share of 39.8%. Rentals cluster in the south; owners are most common in the center.
Renters: occupied homes that are rented rather than owned. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25003).
Vacant homes in Somerset County
| Period | Somerset County | Maine | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 20.7% | 17.8% | 11.4% |
| 2010–14 | 21.9% | 18.1% | 11.4% |
| 2015–19 | 22.8% | 19.0% | 11.1% |
| 2020–24 | 19.0% | 16.4% | 9.6% |
| Change | −1.7 pts | −1.4 pts | −1.8 pts |
Vacant homes make up 19.0% of the housing in Somerset County, far above the national rate of 9.6%. In resort and lake areas that usually means seasonal and vacation homes; elsewhere it can point to weak demand. Vacancy is down 1.7 points from 2006–10, mirroring the country.
Vacant homes: homes with no one living in them, including vacation homes and homes for sale or rent. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25002).
Age of homes in Somerset County
| Period | Somerset County | Maine | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 1967 | 1969 | 1974 |
| 2010–14 | 1970 | 1971 | 1975 |
| 2015–19 | 1973 | 1973 | 1977 |
| 2020–24 | 1975 | 1975 | 1980 |
| Change | +8 | +6 | +6 |
Homes in Somerset County run a bit older than the national norm, with a median build year of 1975 against 1980. The median year built has moved up from 1967 in 2006–10, a sign of steady new building. Newer construction is concentrated in the east, while the south has the oldest housing.
Age of homes: the year that splits the housing stock into older and newer halves. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25035).
Rent in Somerset County
| Period | Somerset County | Maine | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | $611 | $766 | $965 |
| 2010–14 | $687 | $831 | $1,040 |
| 2015–19 | $729 | $919 | $1,213 |
| 2020–24 | $953 | $1,230 | $1,571 |
| Change | +$342 | +$464 | +$606 |
The median renter in Somerset County pays $953 a month for rent and utilities, well below the national median of $1,571. Rent has climbed $342 a month since 2006–10, up 56%, a slower climb than the nation's. The typical renter here spends 29.1% of household income on rent, just under the 30% mark often used to define affordable rent, and a smaller share than renters pay nationally. Renters on a budget will find the lowest rents in the center; the highest are in the south.
Rent: monthly rent plus the utilities renters pay themselves. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25064).
Education in Somerset County
Bachelor's degrees in Somerset County
| Period | Somerset County | Maine | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 15.4% | 27.0% | 28.4% |
| 2010–14 | 15.7% | 28.7% | 29.6% |
| 2015–19 | 16.8% | 32.0% | 32.1% |
| 2020–24 | 21.2% | 36.5% | 35.6% |
| Change | +5.8 pts | +9.5 pts | +7.2 pts |
College degrees are relatively uncommon in Somerset County: 21.2% of adults 25 and older hold a bachelor's or higher, well below the national share of 35.6%. The share with a degree has risen 5.8 points since 2006–10, as it has nationally. Somerset County has the lowest share of college graduates of any Maine county.
Bachelor's degrees: adults 25 and older with a bachelor's degree or higher. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B15003).
High school graduates in Somerset County
| Period | Somerset County | Maine | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 86.7% | 89.9% | 84.9% |
| 2010–14 | 87.5% | 91.4% | 86.1% |
| 2015–19 | 88.4% | 92.6% | 87.7% |
| 2020–24 | 93.1% | 94.8% | 89.3% |
| Change | +6.4 pts | +4.8 pts | +4.3 pts |
High school completion in Somerset County is above the national rate: 93.1% of adults have a diploma or equivalent, against 89.3%. Even so, the rate is lower than in Maine overall (94.8%). The share with a diploma has risen 6.4 points since 2006–10, in line with the national trend.
High school graduates: adults 25 and older with a high school diploma, GED or more. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B15003).
Jobs in Somerset County
| Period | Somerset County | Maine | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 8.3% | 6.6% | 8.1% |
| 2010–14 | 9.8% | 7.6% | 9.4% |
| 2015–19 | 6.7% | 4.2% | 5.6% |
| 2020–24 | 3.5% | 3.9% | 5.4% |
| Change | −4.8 pts | −2.7 pts | −2.7 pts |
Jobs have been easier to find in Somerset County than nationally: unemployment was 3.5%, against 5.4%. Unemployment has fallen 4.8 points since 2006–10, as it has nationally. Because the Census pools five years of responses (2020–24), these rates smooth over short swings and lag the current job market.
Unemployment: people looking for work as a share of everyone working or looking. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B23025).
Somerset County compared with nearby counties
| County | Household size | Median age | Single parents | Renters | Vacant homes | Median year built | Median rent | Bachelor's degree | High school diploma | Unemployment |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Somerset County | 2.18 | 46.3 | 9.1% | 22.6% | 19.0% | 1975 | $953 | 21.2% | 93.1% | 3.5% |
| Franklin County | 2.32 | 46.1 | 6.7% | 23.7% | 27.0% | 1974 | $810 | 33.2% | 94.0% | 5.3% |
| Penobscot County | 2.30 | 43.3 | 8.6% | 29.5% | 12.4% | 1976 | $1,056 | 32.6% | 95.0% | 3.7% |
| Washington County | 2.16 | 48.3 | 10.1% | 20.3% | 32.0% | 1974 | $824 | 24.7% | 91.0% | 6.2% |
| Orleans County | 2.26 | 46.1 | 8.9% | 20.3% | 24.7% | 1977 | $943 | 30.8% | 92.3% | 5.4% |
| Franklin County | 2.56 | 42.0 | 10.7% | 22.6% | 14.3% | 1976 | $1,258 | 30.1% | 93.6% | 3.3% |
| Grand Isle County | 2.38 | 49.9 | 4.6% | 10.1% | 38.7% | 1984 | $1,550 | 43.5% | 95.6% | 3.2% |
| Clinton County | 2.21 | 42.5 | 11.7% | 30.6% | 12.8% | 1974 | $1,006 | 27.8% | 88.9% | 4.3% |
| Franklin County | 2.21 | 42.2 | 13.0% | 27.5% | 19.6% | 1968 | $847 | 24.3% | 88.0% | 4.2% |
| Montmorency County | 1.94 | 55.0 | 7.0% | 12.1% | 43.4% | 1975 | $709 | 15.3% | 90.7% | 5.4% |
| Oscoda County | 2.28 | 51.9 | 8.4% | 12.8% | 49.1% | 1974 | $798 | 15.7% | 85.6% | 8.1% |
All figures 2020–24.
Counties with similar populations: Washington County, OH · Gila County, AZ · Wayne County, PA · Gordon County, GA · Grady County, OK · Waupaca County, WI · Watauga County, NC · Washington County, VT · Washington County, VA · Washington County, OK
About these numbers
Every figure on this page is a BestNeighborhood calculation from the Census Bureau's American Community Survey (ACS), built up from the Census block groups that make up Somerset County. Each ACS 5-year release pools five years of responses; this page shows the last 15 releases, 2006–10 through 2020–24. Neighboring releases share four of their five years, so they move gradually and small changes between them are within the survey's margin of error; in small places the lines can jump from one release to the next for the same reason. The maps show the same measures for each neighborhood, ranked against the whole country.
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