1st Advantage MortgageThe median Somerset County household earns $61,446, and 11% of residents live below the poverty line. Those figures describe the county, not you: compare at least three written offers by APR and total cost, and confirm the lender's license before you apply.
On this page
- Somerset County by the numbers
- Somerset County housing compared with Pennsylvania
- How much Somerset County households make
- Jobs and commutes in Somerset County
- Cities, towns and CDPs in Somerset County
- Somerset County and the counties next door
- What a median Somerset County budget can carry
- Borrowing situations common in Somerset County
- More Somerset County figures
- Lender oversight for Somerset County
- Four steps for Somerset County borrowers
- More guides for Somerset County
- Frequently asked questions
Somerset County by the numbers
With an estimated 72,799 residents (ACS 2020 to 2024), Somerset County ranks 37th of 67 in Pennsylvania for population. It covers 1,075 square miles of land, or about 68 people per square mile. No metropolitan area includes Somerset County in the 2023 federal delineation, so its numbers stand on their own rather than as part of a metro. Of the 30 Census places inside Somerset County, Somerset leads by population with about 5,944; 25 of the 30 are incorporated.
Somerset County housing compared with Pennsylvania
Median gross rent, utilities included, comes to $753 in Somerset County versus $1,209 statewide. 39% of renting households spend 30% or more of income on rent, and 20% spend half or more. Home values center on $150,600, or 2.5 years of median income. 80% of Somerset County households own their home and 20% rent. The median home was built in 1964, so roofs, wiring and heating systems are a common source of repair bills.
| Somerset County | Pennsylvania | U.S. county median | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median gross rent | $753/mo | $1,209/mo | $877/mo |
| Median home value | $150,600 | $254,500 | $185,300 |
| Owners | 80% | 69% | 75% |
| Rent-burdened renters | 39% | 48% | 45% |
| Burdened owners | 22% | 24% | n/a |
| Vacant units | 22% | 9% | 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.
How much Somerset County households make
Half of Somerset County households take in less than $61,446 a year and half take in more, 21% below the Pennsylvania median of $77,971. In the state ranking that is 54th of 67.
| Household income | Somerset County | vs Pennsylvania |
|---|---|---|
| Under $35,000 | 26.5% | +4.5 pts |
| $35,000 to $99,999 | 46.6% | +7.5 pts |
| $100,000 to $199,999 | 22.9% | -4.1 pts |
| $200,000 or more | 4.0% | -7.8 pts |
Some 26% of households here live on less than $35,000 a year; 27% have six-figure incomes. 11.0% of residents fall below the federal poverty line (statewide: 11.7%). Income from any regular source can count, including Social Security, pensions and disability benefits, as long as you can document it.
Jobs and commutes in Somerset County
By the Census industry count, 21% of employed Somerset County residents work in education and health care and 13% in manufacturing. The sharpest difference from the state is in agriculture, forestry and mining, at 4% locally and 1% for Pennsylvania. The survey's unemployment rate for Somerset County averages 4.9% over 2020 to 2024 (state: 5.3%). About 80% drive to work alone and 14% have trips of 45 minutes or more. Households without a car make up 6.3% of the total (10.4% statewide).
| Top industries | Somerset County share | +/- vs Pennsylvania |
|---|---|---|
| Education and health care | 21.2% | -5.5 pts |
| Manufacturing | 13.2% | +1.8 pts |
| Retail trade | 12.4% | +1.3 pts |
| Professional and administrative services | 8.2% | -3.1 pts |
| Construction | 7.8% | +1.8 pts |
| Arts, lodging and food service | 7.2% | -0.2 pts |
If your hours swing with the season or with overtime, size a loan payment against your base pay, not your best month.
Cities, towns and CDPs in Somerset County
Here are the 14 most populous of the county's 30 Census places, with income and rent from the same 2020 to 2024 survey. About 37% of Somerset County residents live in one of the 30. Incomes vary by place: $84,958 at the median in Jerome, $41,354 in Hooversville. Median rent ranges from $550 in Boswell to $971 in Paint. This guide covers each of the 30 places and the rural areas around them.
| Place | Type | Population | Median income | Median rent | From county center |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Somerset | borough | 5,944 | $47,102 | $678 | 3 mi |
| Windber | borough | 3,860 | $52,438 | $750 | 21 mi |
| Berlin | borough | 2,481 | $56,574 | $725 | 6 mi |
| Meyersdale | borough | 2,103 | $65,772 | $731 | 12 mi |
| Boswell | borough | 1,153 | $52,500 | $550 | 12 mi |
| Jennerstown | borough | 1,115 | $64,801 | $856 | 13 mi |
| Central City | borough | 1,105 | $47,813 | $550 | 15 mi |
| Friedens | CDP | 1,018 | $57,697 | n/a | 5 mi |
| Paint | borough | 842 | $44,167 | $971 | 20 mi |
| Davidsville | CDP | 826 | n/a | $822 | 18 mi |
| Rockwood | borough | 793 | $52,000 | $625 | 8 mi |
| Hooversville | borough | 666 | $41,354 | $675 | 13 mi |
| Jerome | CDP | 611 | $84,958 | n/a | 16 mi |
| Salisbury | borough | 587 | $70,341 | $753 | 16 mi |
Somerset County and the counties next door
Six nearby counties, 28 to 40 miles away by the straight-line distance between their centers. Westmoreland County leads the group on income ($74,109), Fayette County trails ($58,236), and Somerset County out-earns 3 of the six. Some neighbors are in Maryland and West Virginia. Lender licensing is state by state, so a loan for a Somerset County resident follows Pennsylvania rules.
| Nearby county | Center to center | Household income | Gross rent | Owner-occupied |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Somerset County | - | $61,446 | $753/mo | 80% |
| Bedford County, PA | 28 mi | $59,992 | $784/mo | 78% |
| Allegany County, MD | 31 mi | $59,603 | $805/mo | 71% |
| Westmoreland County, PA | 32 mi | $74,109 | $879/mo | 78% |
| Fayette County, PA | 33 mi | $58,236 | $793/mo | 72% |
| Garrett County, MD | 33 mi | $67,688 | $765/mo | 80% |
| Mineral County, WV | 40 mi | $69,375 | $809/mo | 81% |
What a median Somerset County budget can carry
Somerset County at the medians, through a lender's eyes (what DTI means):
- $61,446 a year is $5,120 of gross monthly income
- Rent at the median, $753, takes 15% of that
- $1,090: what a 36% ratio leaves once rent is paid
- 43% debt-to-income limit: $1,449 left for all other debt payments
Two-income households and single earners in Somerset County land in very different places on this math, so run it for your own budget.
Borrowing situations common in Somerset County
The county's numbers point to a few situations that come up often for Somerset County borrowers.
- Retirees. At a median age of 46.9, many borrowers here rely on award letters as proof of income; favor no prepayment penalty.
- Fraud. Gift cards, wire transfers or fees to unlock a loan mean walk away (report it).
- Getting ready. Gather pay stubs or benefit letters before you apply (checklist).
More Somerset County figures
Degree holders: 18% of adults over 25. 6.6% of residents have no health coverage.
| Residents | Somerset County | Pennsylvania | Middle U.S. county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 46.9 | 40.9 | 41.5 |
| Bachelor's or higher | 17.9% | 35.2% | 22.2% |
| No high school diploma | 9.1% | 7.9% | n/a |
| No health insurance | 6.6% | 5.6% | 7.8% |
| No vehicle | 6.3% | 10.4% | 5.4% |
| Work from home | 8.5% | 15.6% | 8.7% |
| Poverty rate | 11.0% | 11.7% | 13.2% |
| Unemployment (ACS) | 4.9% | 5.3% | 4.4% |
| Minutes to work | Somerset County workers |
|---|---|
| Under 15 min | 32.4% |
| 15 to 29 min | 37.1% |
| 30 to 44 min | 16.1% |
| 45 to 59 min | 6.5% |
| 60+ min | 7.9% |
Lender oversight for Somerset County
Licensing happens at the state level, so a lender working with Somerset County borrowers answers to the Pennsylvania Department of Banking and Securities. Federal complaints: consumerfinance.gov. More on Pennsylvania: Pennsylvania personal loans.
Four steps for Somerset County borrowers
Four checks before you sign anything:
- Price the Somerset County expense first and borrow that amount, no more.
- Line up offers side by side: APR, fees in dollars, total cost.
- Look the lender up with the state regulator first.
- Pick the shortest term whose payment still fits.
More guides for Somerset County
For statewide rules and data, see the Pennsylvania guide.
Frequently asked questions
How much do households in Somerset County earn?
The median is $61,446; 27% earn $100,000 or more and 26% under $35,000. A lender uses your own documented income, not this figure.
How does Somerset County rent compare with Pennsylvania?
$753 locally versus $1,209 for the state, 38% below.
I live in a small Somerset County town. Is this my guide?
Yes. If your town has no city guide, this county page is the local one; it covers Somerset, Windber, Berlin, Meyersdale, Boswell and 25 more.
Are Somerset County applicants treated differently?
No. Everyone answers the same questions and is screened on the same objective points; lending partners set their own criteria under fair-lending laws.
Where can someone in Somerset County check a lender's license?
With the Pennsylvania Department of Banking and Securities. If a lender is unlicensed or asks for a fee before funding, walk away.