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Buying a home in Somerset County, Pennsylvania

The typical owner-occupied home in Somerset County is worth about $150,600, 41% below the Pennsylvania median of $254,500 and 55% below the national median of $332,700. Owners pay a median $1,477 a year in property taxes, about 0.98% of their home's value, lower than the Pennsylvania rate of 1.30%. The median household earns $61,446 a year, so the median home costs 2.5 times the median income (3.3 times for Pennsylvania). 80% of occupied homes here are lived in by their owners, and 45% of those owners still have a mortgage.

Somerset County at a glance

Somerset County Pennsylvania U.S.
Median home value $150,600 $254,500 $332,700
Median property tax paid per year $1,477 $3,311 $3,119
Property tax as a share of value 0.98% 1.30% 0.94%
Median household income $61,446 $77,971 $80,734
Homes lived in by their owners 80% 69% 65%
Owner homes with a mortgage 45% 58% 61%
Median monthly costs, owners with a mortgage $1,268 $1,762 $1,963
Those costs as a share of the owners' income 18.2% 19.4% 21.0%
Median rent $753 $1,209 $1,413
Rent as a share of renters' income 25.9% 29.2% 30.6%
Median year homes were built 1964 1965 1980
Vacant homes 22.5% 9.2% 10.1%
Population 72,799 13,018,639 334,922,499

What a typical home costs per month in Somerset County

At this week's average 30-year rate of 7.11%, buying the median Somerset County home of $150,600 with 20% down costs about $996 a month, including property taxes and insurance. With an FHA loan and 3.5% down, it's about $1,247, 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 $42,695 for the 20%-down payment. That payment is 19% of the median Somerset County household income of $61,446; at that income and 20% down, the 28% guideline points to a home of about $217,000.

The median rent here is $753 a month, so owning the median home costs about $243 a month more than renting, before you count the equity you build and any tax benefits.

20% down, 30-year conventional loan
Down payment$30,120
Loan amount$120,480
Principal and interest$810
Property taxes (0.98% a year)$123
Homeowners insurance (our estimate, 0.5% a year)$63
PMI$0
Total per month$996

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3.5% down, 30-year FHA loan
Down payment$5,271
Loan amount$147,872
Principal and interest$995
Property taxes (0.98% a year)$123
Homeowners insurance (our estimate, 0.5% a year)$63
FHA mortgage insurance$67
Total per month$1,247

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Questions about home buying in Somerset County

What is the median home value in Somerset County?

About $150,600 for owner-occupied homes, according to the Census Bureau's 2020–2024 American Community Survey.

How much are property taxes in Somerset County?

Homeowners pay a median $1,477 a year, which is about 0.98% 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 County?

For the median home with 20% down at 7.11%, the payment is about $996 a month. Keeping that under 28% of gross income takes about $42,695 a year.

More about Somerset County

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