Somerset County, Pennsylvania Demographics 2026

Population Overview

Somerset County is located in Pennsylvania with a total population of 72,799. It is the 37th most populous county out of 67 in Pennsylvania. The county encompasses 29 Census-designated places.

Age Demographics

The median age in Somerset County is 46.9 years. This is 15% higher than the state median of 40.9 years. 10.1% of residents are 75 or older, suggesting a significant retirement-age population with implications for healthcare services and senior housing.

Economy, Income & Housing

The median household income in Somerset County is $61,446. This is 21% lower than the state median of $77,971. It is also 24% lower than the national median of $80,734. The poverty rate stands at 11.0%. This is 6% lower than the state poverty rate of 11.7%. The unemployment rate is 4.9%. This is 6% lower than the state rate of 5.3%. The median home value is $150,600. Housing costs are 41% lower than the state median of $254,500. With a home-value-to-income ratio of just 2.5x, Somerset County is one of the most affordable housing markets in the area. 80.4% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied. This homeownership rate is 16% higher than the state average of 69.3%.

Race & Ethnicity

Somerset County has a predominantly White (non-Hispanic) population, comprising 93.3% of all residents. Black or African American residents account for 2.6%. The Black or African American population (2.6%) is well below the state average of 10.3%. The Hispanic or Latino population (1.6%) is well below the state average of 8.7%. The Asian population (0.5%) is well below the state average of 3.8%.

Education

17.9% 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 49% lower than the state rate of 35.2%. Nationally, 35.7% of adults hold at least a bachelor's degree. The high school graduation rate (or equivalent) is 90.9%.

Data Sources & Methodology

All figures for Somerset County come from the U.S. Census Bureau's American Community Survey (ACS) 2020–2024 5-Year Estimates, with comparisons drawn against Pennsylvania and national averages from the same dataset. See our methodology page for how each metric is defined, or data.census.gov for official tables with margins of error.