Population 72,799 · Census ACS 2020–24
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Population and households in Somerset County
Household size in Somerset County
| Period | Somerset County | Pennsylvania | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 2.47 | 2.51 | 2.68 |
| 2010–14 | 2.44 | 2.53 | 2.73 |
| 2015–19 | 2.33 | 2.50 | 2.71 |
| 2020–24 | 2.36 | 2.46 | 2.65 |
| Change | −0.11 | −0.05 | −0.03 |
Households in Somerset County are small: just 2.36 people on average, compared with 2.65 nationally. That is typical of places where many people live alone or as couples, and fewer have children at home. Household size has dropped from 2.47 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 | Pennsylvania | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 44.1 | 40.3 | 37.7 |
| 2010–14 | 45.1 | 41.0 | 38.6 |
| 2015–19 | 46.3 | 41.8 | 39.6 |
| 2020–24 | 47.1 | 42.0 | 40.1 |
| Change | +3.1 | +1.7 | +2.3 |
With a median age of 47.1, Somerset County is noticeably older than the country as a whole (40.1), an age mix that tilts toward empty nesters and retirees. The median age has climbed from 44.1 in 2006–10, mirroring the country. The youngest areas are in the southwest, the oldest in the east.
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 | Pennsylvania | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 6.8% | 10.5% | 12.3% |
| 2010–14 | 7.1% | 10.6% | 12.3% |
| 2015–19 | 7.5% | 10.5% | 11.6% |
| 2020–24 | 7.4% | 10.7% | 11.6% |
| Change | +0.6 pts | +0.2 pts | −0.6 pts |
Single parents head only 7.4% of households in Somerset County, well below the national share of 11.6%. Since 2006–10, the single-parent share has edged up 0.6 points, even as the national share fell. Somerset County has a lower share of single-parent households than at least four in five Pennsylvania counties.
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 | Pennsylvania | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 21.6% | 29.0% | 33.3% |
| 2010–14 | 22.0% | 30.5% | 35.6% |
| 2015–19 | 21.9% | 31.1% | 36.0% |
| 2020–24 | 19.6% | 30.7% | 34.8% |
| Change | −2.0 pts | +1.7 pts | +1.5 pts |
Somerset County is largely a place of homeowners: only 19.6% of households rent, far below the national share of 34.8%. Owner-heavy areas like this tend to see less turnover. More than half of owners (54.7%) have paid off their mortgages, well above the national share of 39.8%. The renter share is down 2.0 points from 2006–10, even as the national share rose.
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 | Pennsylvania | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 15.7% | 10.3% | 11.4% |
| 2010–14 | 17.5% | 10.5% | 11.4% |
| 2015–19 | 17.6% | 10.7% | 11.1% |
| 2020–24 | 18.1% | 9.1% | 9.6% |
| Change | +2.4 pts | −1.2 pts | −1.8 pts |
Vacancy is high in Somerset County: 18.1% of homes are empty, 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 has risen 2.4 points since 2006–10, even as the national rate fell.
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 | Pennsylvania | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 1960 | 1963 | 1974 |
| 2010–14 | 1960 | 1964 | 1975 |
| 2015–19 | 1962 | 1965 | 1977 |
| 2020–24 | 1962 | 1967 | 1980 |
| Change | +2 | +4 | +6 |
The housing in Somerset County is old by national standards: the median home dates to 1962, against 1980 for the U.S., so buyers will find more older houses, some of them due for updates. The newest homes are mostly in the west, the oldest in the northeast.
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 | Pennsylvania | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | $548 | $829 | $965 |
| 2010–14 | $627 | $923 | $1,040 |
| 2015–19 | $653 | $1,039 | $1,213 |
| 2020–24 | $812 | $1,323 | $1,571 |
| Change | +$264 | +$494 | +$606 |
A typical rental in Somerset County costs $812 a month with utilities, well below the national median of $1,571. Rent has climbed $264 a month since 2006–10, up 48%, a slower climb than the nation's. The typical renter here spends 23.9% of household income on rent, comfortably 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 south; the highest are in the east.
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 | Pennsylvania | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 14.3% | 27.2% | 28.4% |
| 2010–14 | 14.9% | 28.7% | 29.6% |
| 2015–19 | 15.8% | 31.8% | 32.1% |
| 2020–24 | 18.5% | 35.6% | 35.6% |
| Change | +4.2 pts | +8.3 pts | +7.2 pts |
Fewer adults in Somerset County have a four-year degree than in the country as a whole: 18.5%, against 35.6% nationally. The share with a degree is up 4.2 points from 2006–10, in line with the national trend. College graduates are most concentrated in the west and least in the center.
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 | Pennsylvania | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 82.8% | 87.3% | 84.9% |
| 2010–14 | 86.3% | 88.8% | 86.1% |
| 2015–19 | 88.0% | 90.3% | 87.7% |
| 2020–24 | 90.8% | 91.8% | 89.3% |
| Change | +8.0 pts | +4.5 pts | +4.3 pts |
High school completion in Somerset County is close to the national rate: 90.8% of adults have a diploma or equivalent, against 89.3%. Since 2006–10, the share with a diploma has risen 8.0 points, mirroring the country.
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 | Pennsylvania | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 7.3% | 7.5% | 8.1% |
| 2010–14 | 7.7% | 8.8% | 9.4% |
| 2015–19 | 5.1% | 5.5% | 5.6% |
| 2020–24 | 4.9% | 5.4% | 5.4% |
| Change | −2.4 pts | −2.1 pts | −2.7 pts |
At 4.9%, unemployment in Somerset County is close to the national rate of 5.4%. Since 2006–10, unemployment has fallen 2.4 points, mirroring the country. 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 | 2.36 | 47.1 | 7.4% | 19.6% | 18.1% | 1962 | $812 | 18.5% | 90.8% | 4.9% |
| Bedford County | 2.44 | 46.4 | 6.6% | 22.5% | 16.6% | 1971 | $861 | 15.8% | 90.2% | 3.9% |
| Fayette County | 2.23 | 45.6 | 10.2% | 27.6% | 11.6% | 1960 | $847 | 19.1% | 89.9% | 6.3% |
| Fulton County | 2.29 | 47.0 | 8.5% | 22.4% | 11.4% | 1976 | $821 | 17.7% | 89.3% | 2.9% |
| Ohio County | 2.19 | 43.5 | 10.6% | 33.6% | 14.3% | 1957 | $869 | 35.1% | 92.8% | 6.1% |
| Marshall County | 2.36 | 46.3 | 12.5% | 21.6% | 15.8% | 1961 | $831 | 19.2% | 91.4% | 5.1% |
| Belmont County | 2.35 | 45.0 | 11.7% | 26.4% | 13.7% | 1968 | $839 | 19.2% | 92.3% | 5.0% |
| York County | 2.56 | 42.2 | 11.4% | 23.7% | 5.9% | 1976 | $1,277 | 27.8% | 92.0% | 4.6% |
| Guernsey County | 2.38 | 42.1 | 11.6% | 27.9% | 13.5% | 1971 | $942 | 15.1% | 86.9% | 5.0% |
| Lancaster County | 2.63 | 40.6 | 8.8% | 30.2% | 4.4% | 1975 | $1,407 | 32.3% | 87.2% | 3.4% |
| Muskingum County | 2.49 | 40.6 | 14.4% | 31.8% | 11.1% | 1972 | $870 | 21.4% | 90.5% | 4.5% |
All figures 2020–24.
Counties with similar populations: Jones County, MS · St. Landry Parish, LA · Shiawassee County, MI · San Patricio County, TX · San Benito County, CA · Rockingham County, VA · Putnam County, TN · Payne County, OK · Lewis and Clark County, MT · Lee County, MS
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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