1st Advantage MortgageThe median Somerset County household earns $58,179, and 14% of residents live below the poverty line. A loan makes sense only if its total cost beats your alternatives and the payment fits your budget. Check the lender's Maine license first.
On this page
- Somerset County at a glance
- What Somerset County households earn
- Renting and owning in Somerset County
- Employment and commuting in Somerset County
- The communities that make up Somerset County
- How Somerset County compares with nearby counties
- Budget math at the Somerset County median
- What the numbers mean for Somerset County borrowers
- More Somerset County figures
- Checking a lender's license in Maine
- Checklist for Somerset County applicants
- Nearby and statewide guides
- Frequently asked questions
Somerset County at a glance
Somerset County is home to about 50,959 people, according to the Census Bureau's 2020 to 2024 American Community Survey, which makes it the 9th most populous of 16 county-level areas in Maine. Spread over 3,924 square miles, that works out to roughly 13.0 residents per square mile. It sits outside every metropolitan statistical area in the July 2023 OMB delineation. Skowhegan is the biggest of its 34 Census places, at roughly 6,662 people (13% of the county total).
What Somerset County households earn
The median household income in Somerset County is $58,179; statewide it is $74,733, so Somerset County runs 22% below Maine as a whole. That places it 14th among Maine's 16 county-level areas.
| Band | Somerset County | Compared with Maine |
|---|---|---|
| Under $35,000 | 30.5% | +8.2 pts |
| $35,000 to $99,999 | 45.2% | +4.2 pts |
| $100,000 to $199,999 | 20.3% | -7.2 pts |
| $200,000 or more | 4.1% | -5.3 pts |
About 30% of households earn under $35,000, while 24% clear $100,000. The poverty rate is 14.2%, 3 points higher than the state's 10.7%. The Gini index of income inequality is 0.447 (0 is perfect equality). For a borrower in Somerset County, the county median is only context: a lender looks at the income you can document, so pay stubs, benefit letters or tax returns matter more than any average.
Renting and owning in Somerset County
Median gross rent, utilities included, comes to $910 in Somerset County versus $1,139 statewide. 44% of renting households spend 30% or more of income on rent, and 21% spend half or more. Home values center on $166,900, or 2.9 years of median income. Owners occupy 77% of homes. The median home was built in 1978, so roofs, wiring and heating systems are a common source of repair bills.
| Cost | Somerset County | Maine figure | Median county, U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median gross rent | $910/mo | $1,139/mo | $877/mo |
| Median home value | $166,900 | $296,600 | $185,300 |
| Owners | 77% | 74% | 75% |
| Rent-burdened renters | 44% | 48% | 45% |
| Burdened owners | 28% | 27% | n/a |
Because most Somerset County households own, home repairs are a frequent reason to borrow. An unsecured personal loan leaves the house out of the deal, while a HELOC uses it as collateral.
Employment and commuting in Somerset County
By the Census industry count, 26% of employed Somerset County residents work in education and health care and 13% in retail trade. Compared with Maine, the county leans toward manufacturing (12% against 9%). The survey's unemployment rate for Somerset County averages 3.5% over 2020 to 2024 (state: 3.8%). Long commutes are common here: 19% of workers spend 45 minutes or longer getting to work. Only 5.8% of homes here go without a vehicle.
| Industry | Share of Somerset County workers | vs Maine |
|---|---|---|
| Education and health care | 25.5% | -1.9 pts |
| Retail trade | 13.3% | +0.7 pts |
| Manufacturing | 12.4% | +3.5 pts |
| Construction | 10.0% | +2.3 pts |
| Arts, lodging and food service | 8.2% | +0.4 pts |
| Professional and administrative services | 7.4% | -3.0 pts |
A lender verifies what your own job pays. The county's industry mix tells you about the local economy, not about your application.
The communities that make up Somerset County
Here are the 14 most populous of the county's 34 Census places, with income and rent from the same 2020 to 2024 survey. About 72% of Somerset County residents live in one of the 34. Among places of 500 or more people, median income runs from $33,625 in Jackman to $107,917 in Smithfield. Median rent ranges from $337 in New Portland to $1,422 in Mercer. None of the 34 has its own city guide, so this page covers all of them.
| Name | Kind | Pop. | Income | Rent | Miles |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Skowhegan | CDP | 6,662 | $45,388 | $880 | 52 mi |
| Pittsfield | CDP | 3,084 | $61,458 | $909 | 59 mi |
| Madison | CDP | 2,676 | $61,698 | $850 | 48 mi |
| Fairfield | CDP | 2,356 | $52,409 | $1,013 | 65 mi |
| Palmyra | town | 2,209 | $60,543 | $733 | 54 mi |
| Canaan | town | 2,063 | $57,781 | $922 | 54 mi |
| St. Albans | town | 1,831 | $65,600 | $1,056 | 48 mi |
| Cornville | town | 1,419 | $79,926 | $1,366 | 46 mi |
| Norridgewock | CDP | 1,378 | $66,761 | $1,022 | 55 mi |
| Embden | town | 995 | $56,875 | n/a | 40 mi |
| Harmony | town | 974 | $54,063 | n/a | 42 mi |
| Solon | town | 963 | $69,205 | $915 | 40 mi |
| Moscow | town | 865 | $45,526 | n/a | 26 mi |
| Smithfield | town | 856 | $107,917 | $1,109 | 60 mi |
CDPs are unincorporated communities the Census Bureau defines for counting.
How Somerset County compares with nearby counties
Franklin County is closest, 43 miles from center to center; the sixth, Waldo County, is 82 miles off. All of the six report a higher median household income than Somerset County; Waldo County is highest at $72,782 and Franklin County lowest at $58,675.
| Neighbor | Distance | Income | Rent | Own |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Somerset County | - | $58,179 | $910/mo | 77% |
| Franklin County, ME | 43 mi | $58,675 | $802/mo | 76% |
| Piscataquis County, ME | 50 mi | $61,345 | $837/mo | 79% |
| Penobscot County, ME | 63 mi | $66,356 | $1,041/mo | 71% |
| Kennebec County, ME | 76 mi | $69,077 | $992/mo | 74% |
| Oxford County, ME | 79 mi | $60,173 | $836/mo | 81% |
| Waldo County, ME | 82 mi | $72,782 | $1,021/mo | 82% |
Budget math at the Somerset County median
Here is the Somerset County median household run through a simple DTI check. Your numbers will differ.
- Median income divided by twelve: $4,848 before taxes
- 19% goes to median rent ($910)
- At 35%, room after rent is $787 a month
- Under a 45% cap, $2,182 total minus rent leaves $1,272
Lenders set their own limits and look beyond the ratio. The DTI calculator uses your figures instead of Somerset County's.
What the numbers mean for Somerset County borrowers
The county's numbers point to a few situations that come up often for Somerset County borrowers.
- Commuter costs. 19% drive 45 minutes or more. Compare shop financing with a loan, and keep a small repair fund.
- Mobile home upkeep. 15% of units fall in this category; roof, skirting and HVAC jobs are common reasons to borrow.
- Fixed incomes. Somerset County's median age is 47.0. Social Security and pensions count as income when documented.
More Somerset County figures
Degree holders: 21% of adults over 25. 7.5% of residents have no health coverage.
| Indicator | Somerset County | All of Maine | U.S. county median |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 47.0 | 44.8 | 41.5 |
| Bachelor's or higher | 21.1% | 36.2% | 22.2% |
| No high school diploma | 6.8% | 5.2% | n/a |
| No health insurance | 7.5% | 6.2% | 7.8% |
| No vehicle | 5.8% | 6.8% | 5.4% |
| Work from home | 11.0% | 15.9% | 8.7% |
| Poverty rate | 14.2% | 10.7% | 13.2% |
| Unemployment (ACS) | 3.5% | 3.8% | 4.4% |
| One-way commute | Share of Somerset County workers |
|---|---|
| Under 15 min | 31.1% |
| 15 to 29 min | 28.8% |
| 30 to 44 min | 20.8% |
| 45 to 59 min | 9.1% |
| 60+ min | 10.3% |
Checking a lender's license in Maine
Before sharing details with a lender, a Somerset County resident can confirm its license with the Maine Bureau of Financial Institutions. Maine also has the Maine Bureau of Consumer Credit Protection for consumer credit. A CFPB complaint gets forwarded to the company for a response. Statewide data and rules: Maine guide.
Checklist for Somerset County applicants
A short checklist for Somerset County borrowers:
- Know the exact dollar figure you need before talking to a lender.
- Line up offers side by side: APR, fees in dollars, total cost.
- A Maine license check takes minutes; do it first.
- Keep a small cushion so one surprise bill does not mean another loan.
Nearby and statewide guides
For statewide rules and data, see the Maine guide.
Frequently asked questions
What is the median household income in Somerset County?
$58,179 a year in the 2020 to 2024 Census survey, versus $74,733 for Maine. It ranks 14th of 16 in the state.
How much is rent in Somerset County?
Median gross rent, utilities included, is $910 a month; 44% of renters spend 30% or more of income on it.
I own my home in Somerset County. Personal loan or HELOC?
A HELOC uses the house as collateral; a personal loan usually does not. With 77% of homes owner-occupied here, many readers can compare both in writing.
What are the biggest places in Somerset County?
By population: Skowhegan, Pittsfield, Madison, Fairfield, Palmyra. The county has 34 Census places in all.
Can Somerset County residents use the questionnaire?
Yes. It asks the same questions in every Maine county, lists every requirement up front and does not affect your credit score.