Somerset County, Maryland Demographics 2026

Population Overview

Somerset County is located in Maryland with a total population of 24,685. It is the 23rd most populous county out of 24 in Maryland.

Age Demographics

The median age in Somerset County is 38.1 years. This is 3% lower than the state median of 39.3 years.

Economy, Income & Housing

The median household income in Somerset County is $52,462. This is 48% lower than the state median of $101,652. Compared to the national median of $78,538, household income here is 33% lower. The poverty rate stands at 20.1%. This is 115% higher than the state poverty rate of 9.3%. With more than one in five residents living below the poverty line, economic hardship is a significant challenge for the community. The unemployment rate is 5.7%. This is 16% higher than the state rate of 4.9%. The median home value is $164,300. Housing costs are 59% lower than the state median of $397,700. The home-value-to-income ratio is 3.1x. 68.8% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied. This homeownership rate is 2% higher than the state average of 67.5%.

Race & Ethnicity

The largest racial or ethnic group in Somerset County is White (non-Hispanic), making up 51.2% of the population. Black or African American residents account for 37.9%. The Hispanic or Latino population (4.5%) is well below the state average of 12.1%. The Asian population (0.6%) is well below the state average of 6.4%.

Education

17.1% of residents aged 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or higher. This is among the lowest rates in the state, which may correlate with employment and income patterns. This is 60% lower than the state rate of 42.7%. Nationally, 35.0% of adults hold at least a bachelor's degree. The high school graduation rate (or equivalent) is 85.0%.