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Buying a home in Somerset, Kentucky

The typical owner-occupied home in Somerset is worth about $144,000, 30% below the Kentucky median of $205,600 and 57% below the national median of $332,700. Owners pay a median $1,178 a year in property taxes, about 0.82% of their home's value, higher than the Kentucky rate of 0.75%. The median household earns $34,704 a year, so the median home costs 4.1 times the median income (3.2 times for Kentucky). 49% of occupied homes here are lived in by their owners, and 58% of those owners still have a mortgage.

Somerset at a glance

Somerset Kentucky U.S.
Median home value $144,000 $205,600 $332,700
Median property tax paid per year $1,178 $1,544 $3,119
Property tax as a share of value 0.82% 0.75% 0.94%
Median household income $34,704 $63,726 $80,734
Homes lived in by their owners 49% 68% 65%
Owner homes with a mortgage 58% 56% 61%
Median monthly costs, owners with a mortgage $1,113 $1,433 $1,963
Those costs as a share of the owners' income 17.7% 18.8% 21.0%
Median rent $775 $967 $1,413
Rent as a share of renters' income 32.0% 28.1% 30.6%
Median year homes were built 1977 1982 1980
Vacant homes 10.1% 10.3% 10.1%
Population 12,216 4,534,824 334,922,499

What a typical home costs per month in Somerset

At this week's average 30-year rate of 7.11%, buying the median Somerset home of $144,000 with 20% down costs about $933 a month, including property taxes and insurance. With an FHA loan and 3.5% down, it's about $1,173, because the loan is bigger and FHA adds mortgage insurance.

Lenders usually want housing costs under about 28% of gross income, which means an income of roughly $40,001 for the 20%-down payment. That payment is 32% of the median Somerset household income of $34,704; at that income and 20% down, the 28% guideline points to a home of about $125,000.

The median rent here is $775 a month, so owning the median home costs about $158 a month more than renting, before you count the equity you build and any tax benefits.

20% down, 30-year conventional loan
Down payment$28,800
Loan amount$115,200
Principal and interest$775
Property taxes (0.82% a year)$98
Homeowners insurance (our estimate, 0.5% a year)$60
PMI$0
Total per month$933

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3.5% down, 30-year FHA loan
Down payment$5,040
Loan amount$141,392
Principal and interest$951
Property taxes (0.82% a year)$98
Homeowners insurance (our estimate, 0.5% a year)$60
FHA mortgage insurance$64
Total per month$1,173

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Questions about home buying in Somerset

What is the median home value in Somerset?

About $144,000 for owner-occupied homes, according to the Census Bureau's 2020–2024 American Community Survey.

How much are property taxes in Somerset?

Homeowners pay a median $1,178 a year, which is about 0.82% of the median home value. Your bill depends on your home's assessed value and local rates.

What income do you need to buy a home in Somerset?

For the median home with 20% down at 7.11%, the payment is about $933 a month. Keeping that under 28% of gross income takes about $40,001 a year.

More about Somerset

Sources: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 2020–2024 5-year estimates; Freddie Mac Primary Mortgage Market Survey, week of November 12, 2026. Estimates for small places have wide margins of error. About our data