Cost of Living in Somerset County, Maryland
At a Glance
Rent burden measured as median gross rent as a percentage of renter household income (Census ACS B25071)
These figures are county medians, not a personal budget. Use them to frame rent, ownership, and income tradeoffs, then account for household size, commute, financing, insurance, taxes, debt, and local availability before making a decision.
How Somerset County Compares
Median monthly rent comparison
Detailed Housing Stats
National Ranking
Affordability Rank
Somerset County ranks #2,133 of 3,142 counties for affordability (bottom 32%)
Sourced county brief
Somerset County Median Home Value Is $173,200
Somerset County reported a median home value of $173,200, which is $196,817 below the Maryland unweighted county mean of $370,017. The official ACS B25071 Gross Rent as a Percentage of Household Income (GRAPI) was 28.9%, which is 1.3 percentage points below the state unweighted county mean of 30.2%. Median gross rent was estimated at $1,013 per month, lower than the state unweighted county mean of $1,459. Owner-occupied households faced median selected monthly owner costs of $955, compared to the state unweighted county mean of $1,660. The median renter-household income for the county was $41,895. These statistics are based on the 2020-2024 5-Year Estimates. See ACS table B25071 for the underlying estimate.
Source record
- U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2020-2024 5-Year Estimates — B25064 Median Gross Rent
- U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2020-2024 5-Year Estimates — B25071 GRAPI
- U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2020-2024 5-Year Estimates — B25077 Median Home Value
- U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2020-2024 5-Year Estimates — B25088 Selected Monthly Owner Costs
- U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2020-2024 5-Year Estimates — B25119 Household Income by Tenure
Data version acs5-2020-2024 · Method cost-brief-v1
Cost of Living Advisory: Somerset County
Affordability Verdict
ACS B25071 estimates median gross rent at 28.9% of renter household income in Somerset County, which is below the 30% affordability benchmark. This is a median percentage among renter-occupied units, not the share of households above a threshold.
Rent vs. Own
Median gross rent is $1,013 per month; median selected monthly owner costs are $955. These ACS medians describe different tenure groups and are not a personalized rent-versus-buy calculation.
Income Needed
Using the common 30% budgeting benchmark, $40,520 in annual gross income would allocate 30% to the county's median gross rent. This is a reproducible illustration, not evidence that a particular household can afford housing.
Regional Context
The Maryland unweighted mean of county median rents is $1,459 per month. Somerset County's $1,013 median is 30.6% below that comparison value.
Data version acs5-2020-2024 · Method cost-advisory-v2
Affordability Calculator
See how your income compares to housing costs in Somerset County
Rent Burden
18.7%
of gross income
Max Housing (28% Rule)
$1,515
per month
Owner Cost Burden
17.6%
of gross income
You can likely afford the median home in Somerset County
Median home value is $173,200. Estimated monthly cost: $1,383 vs. your max of $1,515.
Rent Affordability Guide
Income Needed Calculator
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Based on the 30% rule for rent and 28% rule for housing costs (mortgage + owner costs). Mortgage estimate assumes 20% down, 7.2% interest, 30-year fixed.
Frequently Asked Questions
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See Today's RatesData: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey (ACS) 5-Year Estimates (2020-2024). Data is informational only and is not personalized financial advice.
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