Maryland · GEOID 24039

Somerset County

2024 ACS 5-year estimates · population 24,822 · 10,928 housing units

Median household income

$64,943

State $106,179

Median home value

$173,200

State $433,476

Median gross rent

$1,013

State $1,696

Homeownership rate

73.1%

State 67.6%

Renter cost-burden rate

48.5%

≥30% of income

Owner cost-burden rate

26.0%

≥30% of income

Homeowner vacancy

1.8%

Of owner-occupied + for-sale units

Rental vacancy

11.3%

Of renter-occupied + for-rent units

Overall vacancy

23.6%

All housing units

Price-to-income ratio

2.67

Affordable: 2.0–3.0

Section 1

Community Profile

Population, demographics, household composition, and income.

Community Data Summary

	Somerset County	Maryland
Population	24,822	6,206,011
Population density (per sq. mi.)	77.63	—
Median household income	$64,943	$106,179
HUD Area Median Income (4-person, 100%)	$89,800	—
Households	8,348	—
Average household size	2.38 people	—
Owner-occupied	73.1%	67.6%
Renter-occupied	26.9%	32.4%
Race	52.0% White · 38.8% Black	0.0% White · 0.0% Black

Source: ACS 5-year 2024 (Tables DP05, S1101, DP04, S1901) and Census Gazetteer (land area); HUD FY2026 Income Limits.

Racial composition

Somerset County compared with Maryland.

Source: ACS 5-year 2024, Table DP05.

Educational attainment (population 25+)

19.4% hold a bachelor's degree or higher (state: 43.4%).

Source: ACS 5-year 2024, Table S1501.

Median Household Income by Tenure

Owner-occupied vs. renter-occupied household income, county and state.

Source: ACS 5-year 2024, Table B25119.

Median Household Income by Age of Householder

Median household income by age group of householder.

Source: ACS 5-year 2024, Table B19049.

Median Household Income by Number of Earners

Median household income for families with each earner count.

Source: ACS 5-year 2024, Table S1903.

Household Size

Distribution of households by number of people.

Source: ACS 5-year 2024, Table S2501.

Income by Number of Earners

Earners	Share	Median income	Attainable monthly housing cost	Attainable home
0 earners	20.1%	$43,375	$1,084	$130,437
1 earner	31.7%	$59,459	$1,486	$190,307
2 earners	41.1%	$109,617	$2,740	$377,012
3+ earners	7.2%	$145,913	$3,648	$512,118

Attainable monthly housing cost = 30% of gross income ÷ 12. Attainable home price assumes 30% housing budget, 30-yr mortgage at 7%, 5% down.

Source: ACS 5-year 2024, Table S1903; affordability formula derived.

Households

8,348

Average size: 2.38 people

Households with children

1,880

22.5% of households

Per-capita income

$28,462

Poverty rate: 17.3%

Section 2

Residential Market Analysis

Housing stock characteristics — tenure, type, age, size, vacancy, rents.

Tenure

73.1% owner-occupied vs. state average 67.6%.

Source: ACS 5-year 2024, Table DP04.

Structure type

Single-family share 75.0% · Missing middle (2–19 units) 13.1%.

Source: ACS 5-year 2024, Table B25024.

Housing stock by decade

40.7% built before 1980 · Median structure age 1,986.00 yrs.

Source: ACS 5-year 2024, Table S2504.

Housing size mismatch

Compares the share of housing units by bedroom count against the share of households by size — a common diagnostic of housing supply/demand alignment.

Source: ACS 5-year 2024, Tables B25041 (bedrooms) and S2501 (household size).

Home value distribution

Owner-occupied homes by value bracket. Median: $173,200.

Source: ACS 5-year 2024, Table DP04.

Monthly Housing Costs

Distribution of monthly housing costs across all occupied units.

Source: ACS 5-year 2024, Table B25104.

Number of Bedrooms

Housing units by number of bedrooms.

Source: ACS 5-year 2024, Table B25041.

Median rent by bedroom

Overall median gross rent: $1,013.

Source: ACS 5-year 2024, Table B25031.

Renters by age

Number of renter householders by age bracket.

Source: ACS 5-year 2024, Table S2502.

Owners by age

Number of owner householders by age bracket.

Source: ACS 5-year 2024, Table S2502.

Vacancy composition

All 2,580 vacant units split into Census's seven categories. Frictional vacancy (units actively on the market) reflects healthy churn. Structural vacancy (seasonal, migrant, other) sits outside the market for year-round residents — high values change how the headline vacancy rate should be read.

Vacant units by type

For sale 4.2% · For rent 11.1% · Seasonal 32.5% · Other 50.7%.

Source: ACS 5-year 2024, Table B25004.

Frictional vs structural

16.4% of vacancy is frictional (for sale + for rent + rented/sold not yet occupied); 83.6% is structural (seasonal + migrant + other).

Source: ACS 5-year 2024, Table B25004.

Seasonal / recreational share of all housing

7.7%

839 units of 10,928 total

Housing units held for seasonal or recreational use.

"Other vacant" share of all housing

12.0%

1,308 units of 10,928 total

⚑ Above the 5% threshold — possible indicator of disinvestment, abandonment, or condemned stock.

Section 3

Workforce Housing Needs Assessment

Affordability, cost burden, and the housing options for households in the workforce income range.

Workforce range — ACS median household income

80% MHI$51,954

100% MHI$64,943

120% MHI$77,932

County-wide median from ACS 5-year estimates. A household at 100% MHI in Somerset County should be able to afford a home up to roughly — (30% housing budget, default mortgage terms).

Workforce range — HUD Area Median Income

	1-person	2-person	4-person
80% AMI	$53,200	$60,800	$76,000
100% AMI	$62,860	$71,840	$89,800
120% AMI	$75,450	$86,200	$107,750

HUD FMR Area: Somerset County, MD HUD Metro FMR Area. 80% AMI uses HUD's published Section 8 Low Income Limits; 100% is HUD MFI; 120% is the standard workforce convention.

Affordability calculator

Follows the standard 30%-of-gross-income affordability rule.

Income basis Household income Interest rate % Down payment % Taxes & insurance / yr

Affordable monthly—

Affordable home price—

Renter cost burden

48.5% of renter households spend ≥30% of income on rent (26.5% spend ≥50%).

Source: ACS 5-year 2024, Table B25070.

Owner cost burden by income

26.0% of homeowners spend ≥30% of income on housing. Bars show counts of cost-burdened owners by income bracket.

Source: ACS 5-year 2024, Table B25106.

Household income — owners vs renters

Distribution of household income for owner-occupied (navy) and renter-occupied (gold) households.

Source: ACS 5-year 2024, Table B25118.

Section 4

Industry & Workforce Wages

Employment, average wages, and the housing each industry's typical earner can afford in Somerset County.

Covered employment

4,577

Across 15 sectors

Establishments

395

QCEW 2024

Avg annual pay (workforce)

$50,385

Employment-weighted across sectors

Top 10 sectors by employment

Annual average employment by NAICS 2-digit sector. Counties with fewer than five covered establishments in a sector may show suppressed totals.

Source: BLS QCEW Annual Averages, 2024.

Attainable housing by industry

Industry	Employment	Avg annual wage	Affordable home price	vs. median value	Affordable monthly rent
NAICS 62 Health care and social assistance NAICS 62	920	$44,568	$134,878	−$38,322	$1,114
NAICS 61 Educational services NAICS 61	708	$57,514	$183,067	+$9,867	$1,438
NAICS 44-45 Retail trade NAICS 44-45	558	$31,435	$85,992	−$87,208	$786
NAICS 31-33 Manufacturing NAICS 31-33	493	$55,146	$174,253	+$1,053	$1,379
NAICS 42 Wholesale trade NAICS 42	444	$77,443	$257,250	+$84,050	$1,936
NAICS 92 Public administration NAICS 92	352	$55,981	$177,361	+$4,161	$1,400
NAICS 72 Accommodation and food services NAICS 72	299	$22,260	$51,840	−$121,360	$557
NAICS 23 Construction NAICS 23	284	$53,580	$168,423	−$4,777	$1,340
NAICS 81 Other services (except public administration) NAICS 81	164	$46,569	$142,326	−$30,874	$1,164
NAICS 11 Agriculture, forestry, fishing and hunting NAICS 11	126	$60,541	$194,335	+$21,135	$1,514
NAICS 52 Finance and insurance NAICS 52	86	$57,397	$182,632	+$9,432	$1,435
NAICS 53 Real estate and rental and leasing NAICS 53	43	$45,412	$138,019	−$35,181	$1,135
NAICS 48-49 Transportation and warehousing NAICS 48-49	40	$58,056	$185,085	+$11,885	$1,451
NAICS 51 Information NAICS 51	33	$87,041	$292,977	+$119,777	$2,176
NAICS 71 Arts, entertainment, and recreation NAICS 71	27	$31,506	$86,257	−$86,943	$788

Subsector	Employment	Avg annual wage	Affordable home price	vs. median value	Affordable monthly rent
NAICS 611 Educational services NAICS 611	708	$57,514	$183,067	+$9,867	$1,438
NAICS 424 Merchant wholesalers, nondurable goods NAICS 424	390	$76,209	$252,656	+$79,456	$1,905
NAICS 921 Executive, legislative, and other general government support NAICS 921	307	$55,078	$174,000	+$800	$1,377
NAICS 722 Food services and drinking places NAICS 722	274	$22,406	$52,383	−$120,817	$560
NAICS 445 Food and beverage retailers NAICS 445	256	$25,760	$64,868	−$108,332	$644
NAICS 238 Specialty trade contractors NAICS 238	196	$50,724	$157,792	−$15,408	$1,268
NAICS 813 Religious, grantmaking, civic, professional, and similar organizations NAICS 813	112	$49,014	$151,427	−$21,773	$1,225
NAICS 311 Food manufacturing NAICS 311	111	$34,984	$99,203	−$73,997	$875
NAICS 457 Gasoline stations and fuel dealers NAICS 457	70	$32,779	$90,995	−$82,205	$819
NAICS 455 General merchandise retailers NAICS 455	66	$26,968	$69,365	−$103,835	$674
NAICS 524 Insurance carriers and related activities NAICS 524	53	$62,679	$202,293	+$29,093	$1,567
NAICS 484 Truck transportation NAICS 484	50	$52,686	$165,096	−$8,104	$1,317
NAICS 441 Motor vehicle and parts dealers NAICS 441	47	$34,252	$96,478	−$76,722	$856
NAICS 811 Repair and maintenance NAICS 811	41	$43,780	$131,945	−$41,255	$1,095
NAICS 491 Postal service NAICS 491	40	$58,056	$185,085	+$11,885	$1,451
NAICS 456 Health and personal care retailers NAICS 456	36	$46,963	$143,793	−$29,407	$1,174
NAICS 721 Accommodation NAICS 721	24	$21,514	$49,063	−$124,137	$538
NAICS 459 Sporting goods, hobby, musical instrument, book, and miscellaneous retailers NAICS 459	22	$44,808	$135,771	−$37,429	$1,120
NAICS 111 Crop production NAICS 111	21	$46,096	$140,565	−$32,635	$1,152
NAICS 926 Administration of economic programs NAICS 926	7	$99,955	$341,047	+$167,847	$2,499
NAICS 485 Transit and ground passenger transportation NAICS 485	7	$26,699	$68,363	−$104,837	$667
NAICS 924 Administration of environmental quality programs NAICS 924	2	$71,304	$234,398	+$61,198	$1,783

Affordable home price assumes the industry's average earner uses 30% of gross income for housing, with a 30-year mortgage at 7%, 5% down, $2,500/yr taxes & insurance, and 0.5% PMI. Adjust the Section 3 calculator for other terms. Affordable rent is 30% of monthly gross pay.

Source: BLS QCEW Annual Averages, 2024; ACS 5-year 2024 (median home value).

Section 5

Wages by Occupation

Selected essential-worker occupations for the MSA or nonmetropolitan area containing this county — jobs, the 10-year change, wages, and the housing each typical earner can afford. Both jobs counts and wages are reported at the MSA / nonmetropolitan-area level (BLS does not publish OEWS at the county level), so every county inside the same area shows the same numbers. For county-accurate employment totals, see Section 4 above.

Occupational wages and affordable housing

Occupation	2025 jobs	2015–2025 change	% change	Hourly wage	Annual wage	Affordable home price	Affordable monthly rent
Fast Food and Counter Workers SOC 35-3023 · prior-year code differs	1,590	(3,290)	(67%)	$15.61	$32,480	$89,882	$812
Cashiers SOC 41-2011	1,200	(3,770)	(76%)	$15.98	$33,230	$92,674	$831
Childcare Workers SOC 39-9011	200	(220)	(52%)	$16.61	$34,560	$97,625	$864
Retail Salespersons SOC 41-2031	1,790	(5,190)	(74%)	$17.04	$35,440	$100,900	$886
Janitors and Cleaners SOC 37-2011	810	(1,670)	(67%)	$17.83	$37,080	$107,005	$927
Tellers SOC 43-3071	110	(590)	(84%)	$19.40	$40,350	$119,177	$1,009
Home Health and Personal Care Aides SOC 31-1131 · prior-year code differs	830	(2,050)	(71%)	$19.48	$40,520	$119,810	$1,013
Waiters and Waitresses SOC 35-3031	690	(3,900)	(85%)	$20.08	$41,760	$124,425	$1,044
Construction Laborers SOC 47-2061	240	(560)	(70%)	$20.60	$42,860	$128,520	$1,072
Office Clerks, General SOC 43-9061	630	(1,710)	(73%)	$23.25	$48,350	$148,956	$1,209
Maintenance and Repair Workers, General SOC 49-9071	640	(1,150)	(64%)	$24.25	$50,440	$156,735	$1,261
Carpenters SOC 47-2031	130	(760)	(85%)	$25.98	$54,040	$170,136	$1,351
Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers SOC 53-3032	540	(1,090)	(67%)	$26.71	$55,550	$175,756	$1,389
Electricians SOC 47-2111	150	(250)	(63%)	$31.09	$64,660	$209,667	$1,617
Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters SOC 47-2152	330	50	18%	$31.22	$64,940	$210,709	$1,624
Paramedics SOC 29-2043 · prior-year code differs	40	(910)	(96%)	$31.65	$65,830	$214,022	$1,646
Police and Sheriff's Patrol Officers SOC 33-3051	320	(570)	(64%)	$34.05	$70,820	$232,597	$1,771
Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education SOC 25-2021	630	(540)	(46%)	—	$72,500	$238,850	$1,813
Registered Nurses SOC 29-1141	1,620	(1,910)	(54%)	$43.93	$91,370	$309,091	$2,284

Affordable home price uses the same Section 3 formula (30% housing budget, 30-year mortgage at 7%, 5% down, $2,500/yr T&I, 0.5% PMI). Affordable rent is 30% of monthly wages. Negative job-change values are shown in red parentheses. A "prior-year code differs" note flags occupations whose SOC code changed between the two vintages (2010 SOC → 2018 SOC) — the change estimate is best-effort.

Source: BLS OEWS May 2025 (10-year change vs. May 2015). Jobs counts and wages reflect the MSA or nonmetropolitan area containing this county, not the county alone — OEWS is not published at the county level.

Methodology & sources

All figures derive from the 2024 American Community Survey 5-year estimates. State and national comparisons are population-weighted aggregates of county-level estimates (an approximation; ACS publishes its own state and national medians which can differ slightly).

The affordability calculator uses a 30% housing-budget rule with a 30-year mortgage. Defaults are 7% interest, 5% down, $2,500/year taxes and insurance, and 0.5% PMI — adjustable above.

Variables: 24039 · pulled from Full Housing Data Table.xlsx.