HomePennsylvaniaSomerset County
Somerset County, Pennsylvania: commercial real estate data.
Somerset County, Pennsylvania had an estimated 72,134 residents on July 1, 2024, down 2.7 percent since the 2020 census base of 74,137, across 1,074 square miles. County output reached $3.04 bn in 2024, 1,647 establishments operate here, and the SBA record carries 43 7(a) approvals worth $36.8 m since FY2020.
Underlined figures are computed by MMCG Analytics, not published by the agency.
Somerset County
How many people live in Somerset County
- Population, American Community Survey 2020-202472,799
- Households29,344
- Average household size2.48
- Median household income$61,446
- Median age46.9
- Median gross rent$753 per month
- Median owner-occupied home value$150,600
- Home value to household income2.5 times
- Annual rent as a share of median income14.7 percent
- Adults 25 and over with a bachelor degree or higher17.9 percent
- Adults 25 and over with a graduate degree6.3 percent
- Adults 25 and over54,558
- Population under 1813,227
- Share under 1818.2 percent
- Population 65 and over17,404
- Share 65 and over23.9 percent
- Working age population, 18 to 6442,168
- Civilian labor force34,027
- Unemployment rate4.9 percent
- Labor force participation, adults 18 and over57.1 percent
- Rank by population among Pennsylvania counties37th of 67
- Rank by population among US county-equivalents, Puerto Rico included769th of 3,222
Somerset County is the 37th largest of 67 Pennsylvania counties by population. A median home costs 2.5 times median household income, which is affordable by national standards. Residents 65 and over outnumber those under 18, at 23.9 percent against 18.2 percent, which points demand at health care, services and single story product rather than schools.
US Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates, 2020-2024 5-year.
Somerset County
Is Somerset County's population growing?
- Population, July 1, 202472,134
- Census 2020 base population74,137
- Population change since the 2020 census base-2.70 percent
- Population change, 2023 to 2024-99
- Births, 2024581
- Deaths, 2024985
- Natural change, 2024-404
- Net domestic migration, 2024289
- Net international migration, 202422
- Total net migration, 2024311
- Cumulative net domestic migration, 2021 to 2024170
- Rank by growth among US county-equivalents2677th of 3,144
The county has lost 2.70 percent of its population since the 2020 census base. Deaths exceeded births in 2024 by more than net migration added, so the population fell even though more people moved in than left.
US Census Bureau, Population Estimates Program, Vintage 2024, Vintage 2024, estimates 2020 to 2024.
Somerset County
Where are people moving to Somerset County from?
- Tax returns filed by households arriving1,170
- People arriving, from those returns1,958
- Tax returns filed by households leaving1,191
- Net household movement-21
- Adjusted gross income arriving$73.5 m
- Net adjusted gross income movement$10.7 m
- Average income of an arriving household$62,846
- Average income of a leaving household$52,770
- Largest single originCambria County (272 households)
- Largest single destinationCambria County (251 households)
| Origin | Households | People | Adjusted gross income |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cambria County | 272 | 479 | $18.8 m |
| Westmoreland County | 89 | 143 | $5.9 m |
| Allegheny County | 75 | 105 | $8.0 m |
| Fayette County | 44 | 60 | $2.4 m |
| Allegany County | 31 | 50 | $1.2 m |
| Bedford County | 31 | 51 | $1.2 m |
| Garrett County | 20 | 43 | $807,000 |
Households arriving report $10,076 more average income than households leaving, so the migration is raising local spending power rather than just moving it around. The largest single source of arrivals is Cambria County, which is the catchment a retail or multifamily study should look at first.
US Internal Revenue Service, Statistics of Income county migration flows, 2021 to 2022 filing years.
Somerset County
What is the Somerset County economy?
- County GDP, 2024$3.04 bn
- County GDP, 2023$2.98 bn
- GDP change, 2023 to 20242.0 percent
- GDP change over five years24.5 percent
- Rank by GDP among the Pennsylvania areas BEA publishes40th of 67
- Rank by GDP among the US county areas BEA publishes971st of 3,127
- GDP per resident$41,729
Output grew 2.0 percent in the latest year and 24.5 percent over five, which is the trend line a lender will read behind any single year figure.
US Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional, table CAGDP2, CAGDP2, through 2024.
Somerset County
Employment by industry in Somerset County
- Covered employment, annual average23,303
- Establishments reporting1,862
- Average annual pay$50,925
- Average weekly wage$979
- Health care and social assistance, employment3,853
- Health care and social assistance, average annual pay$52,639
- Manufacturing, employment2,563
- Manufacturing, average annual pay$60,953
- Retail trade, employment2,491
- Retail trade, average annual pay$33,640
- Accommodation and food services, employment2,370
- Accommodation and food services, average annual pay$22,996
- Wholesale trade, employment1,110
- Transportation and warehousing, employment1,089
| Sector | Employment | Establishments | Average annual pay |
|---|---|---|---|
| Health care and social assistance | 3,853 | 272 | $52,639 |
| Manufacturing | 2,563 | 115 | $60,953 |
| Retail trade | 2,491 | 214 | $33,640 |
| Accommodation and food services | 2,370 | 155 | $22,996 |
| Wholesale trade | 1,110 | 82 | $59,571 |
| Transportation and warehousing | 1,089 | 76 | $54,154 |
| Construction | 1,053 | 171 | $61,264 |
| Other services, except public administration | 840 | 184 | $27,844 |
Health care and social assistance is the largest private sector at 3,853 jobs, 16.5 percent of covered employment.
US Bureau of Labor Statistics, Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages, 2024 annual averages.
Somerset County
How many businesses are in Somerset County?
- Establishments, all industries1,647
- Employment at those establishments18,678
- Annual payroll$979.2 m
- Establishments per 1,000 residents22.6
These are counts of establishments physically operating in the county, not listings, so they are the supply side a feasibility study measures demand against. County Business Patterns counts private establishments with paid employees in March 2023, while the Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages above counts every unemployment-insured employer, public ones included, as a 2024 annual average, so the two establishment and employment counts differ.
US Census Bureau, County Business Patterns, 2023.
Somerset County
Building permits in Somerset County
- Housing units authorized by permit, 202472
- Declared construction value permitted$22.0 m
- Single family units authorized72
- Multifamily units authorized0
- Multifamily share of units0.0 percent
- Average declared value per unit$305,733
- Units authorized per 1,000 households2.5
Single-family homes are 100.0 percent of units authorized, so the pipeline is predominantly single-family.
US Census Bureau, Building Permits Survey, 2024 annual.
Somerset County
SBA loans in Somerset County (7(a) and 504)
- 7(a) approvals recorded43
- 7(a) gross approval dollars$36.8 m
- Average 7(a) approval$856,040
- Median 7(a) approval$300,000
- 10th percentile approval$46,000
- 90th percentile approval$2,040,800
- Largest single approval$5,000,000
- Jobs reported supported, 7(a)742
- Jobs per approval17.3
- Distinct 7(a) lenders active16
- Distinct industries receiving approvals21
- Median 7(a) term120 months
- Share of loans on real estate terms, 240 months or longer32.6 percent
- Loans on real estate terms14
- Loans on working capital terms, 120 months or shorter26
- Franchise loans12
- Franchise share of approvals27.9 percent
- Leading industry by approval countResidential Remodelers (9)
- Most active lenderFirst Commonwealth Bank (12)
- 504 approvals recorded4
- 504 gross approval dollars$5.6 m
- Average 504 approval$1,402,500
- Median 504 approval$522,500
- Distinct CDCs active2
- 504 jobs per approval18.8
- 504 jobs per million dollars approved13.4
- Most active CDCEmpire State Certified Development Corporation (3)
- Combined SBA approval dollars, 7(a) FY2020 to FY2026 and 504 FY2010 to FY2026$42.4 m
The average approval of $856,040 sits well above the median of $300,000, pulled up by a few larger deals, so the median is the better guide to what a typical borrower here gets. 32.6 percent of approvals run on real estate terms of 240 months or more, so this is a market where SBA credit is buying buildings, not just funding operations.
US Small Business Administration, 7(a) FOIA release, FY2020 to FY2026 year to date, as of 2026-06-30. US Small Business Administration, 504 FOIA release, FY2010 to FY2026 year to date, as of 2026-06-30.
Somerset County
SBA loan default and charge-off rates in Somerset County
Do SBA loans in Somerset County get paid back?
- Loans with a final outcome recorded7
- Paid in full3
- Charged off4
- Status: Exempt from disclosure27
- Status: Cancelled8
- Status: Charged off4
- Status: Paid in full3
- Status: Committed, not yet disbursed1
Only 7 loans have reached a final outcome, fewer than the 30 a charge-off rate needs, so no rate is published.
Compare against the national and state SBA charge-off rates, computed the same way over resolved loans only.
US Small Business Administration, 7(a) FOIA release, FY2020 to FY2026 year to date, as of 2026-06-30.
Somerset County
SBA lending by place in Somerset County
- Borrower cities with recorded lending13
- Somerset, approvals18
- Windber, approvals6
- Boswell, approvals3
- Salisbury, approvals3
- Stoystown, approvals2
- Rockwood, approvals2
| Borrower city | Approvals | Gross approval dollars |
|---|---|---|
| Somerset | 18 | $25,293,400 |
| Windber | 6 | $2,845,000 |
| Boswell | 3 | $2,466,000 |
| Salisbury | 3 | $294,000 |
| Stoystown | 2 | $2,050,000 |
| Rockwood | 2 | $625,000 |
| Berlin | 2 | $525,000 |
| Hyndman | 2 | $70,000 |
| 5 other borrower cities | 5 | $2,641,300 |
Somerset accounts for 18 approvals against 6 in Windber. County level figures average over that gap, which is why a site decision is made at the submarket rather than the county.
US Small Business Administration, 7(a) FOIA release, FY2020 to FY2026 year to date, as of 2026-06-30.
Somerset County
How large is Somerset County?
- Land area1,074 sq mi
- Rank by land area among Pennsylvania counties7th of 67
- Width, east to west40.2 mi
- Height, north to south38.9 mi
- Geographies sharing a boundary6
- Residents per square mile of land68
- Establishments per square mile1.53
US Census Bureau county boundary geometry, TIGER, adjacency computed from shared boundary vertices, TIGER county boundaries. US Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates, 2020-2024 5-year. US Census Bureau, County Business Patterns, 2023.
Somerset County
Flood risk in Somerset County
- Communities in the county in the NFIP Community Status Book47
- Of those, participating in the NFIP45
- NFIP participation rate95.7 percent
- Communities carrying a CRS class0
- Radon levels in Somerset County, EPA zone predicted average indoor radon screening level from 2 to 4 pCi/LZone 2
The EPA places Somerset County in radon zone 2, a predicted average indoor radon screening level from 2 to 4 pCi/L. The zone is a screening prediction for the county and does not substitute for a test at an address. 95.7 percent of the county's listed communities participate in the National Flood Insurance Program, per Federal Emergency Management Agency, NFIP Community Status Book (OpenFEMA), as of 2026-09-26.
Federal Emergency Management Agency, NFIP Community Status Book (OpenFEMA), as of 2026-09-26. US EPA, Map of Radon Zones, county spreadsheet, 2024-05 publication, EPA 402/A-16/001.
Coverage
What this page does not hold.
Traffic counts, zoning and the flood zone at an address are not on this page; they resolve at the address in the platform. How this page was built →
Feasibility studies
When a Somerset County site needs a document a lender will accept.
The same data layer behind this page is the one the studies are written from. A study for a Somerset County site starts with the figures you are reading, carrying the same source and period into the credit file.
- Population, American Community Survey 2020-202472,799
- Households29,344
- Average household size2.48
- Median household income$61,446
- Median age46.9
Common questions
Somerset County questions, answered from the record.
How many people live in Somerset County, Pennsylvania?
The Census Bureau estimates 72,134 residents on July 1, 2024 (US Census Bureau, Population Estimates Program, Vintage 2024). The American Community Survey 2020-2024 five-year estimate is 72,799, in 29,344 households, ranking 37th of 67 Pennsylvania counties. Source: US Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates, 2020-2024 5-year.
Is Somerset County's population growing?
The population has fallen 2.70 percent since the 2020 census base of 74,137, to 72,134 on July 1, 2024. In 2024 there were 581 births against 985 deaths, with net migration of 311. Source: US Census Bureau, Population Estimates Program, Vintage 2024, Vintage 2024, estimates 2020 to 2024.
What is the median household income in Somerset County?
$61,446. The median owner-occupied home is valued at $150,600, which is 2.5 times income, and median gross rent is $753 per month. Source: US Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates, 2020-2024 5-year.
How many businesses are in Somerset County?
1,647 establishments, employing 18,678 people with an annual payroll of $979.2 m. These are establishments physically operating in the county, not listings. Source: US Census Bureau, County Business Patterns, 2023.
What is employment by industry in Somerset County?
Health care and social assistance is the largest private sector at 3,853 jobs, 16.5 percent of covered employment. Covered employment averages 23,303 jobs at an average annual pay of $50,925, or $979 a week. Source: US Bureau of Labor Statistics, Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages, 2024 annual averages.
How much SBA lending happens in Somerset County?
43 7(a) approvals totaling $36.8 m since FY2020, across 16 lenders, with a median approval of $300,000, plus 4 504 approvals worth $5.6 m since FY2010. These are approvals recorded in the release, not loans disbursed.
How many building permits were issued in Somerset County?
72 housing units were authorized by permit in 2024, with a declared construction value of $22.0 m. Multifamily was 0.0 percent of units. Source: US Census Bureau, Building Permits Survey, 2024 annual.
What is the radon zone for Somerset County?
Zone 2, a predicted average indoor radon screening level from 2 to 4 pCi/L. Source: US EPA, Map of Radon Zones, county spreadsheet, 2024-05 publication, EPA 402/A-16/001.
Where do people moving to Somerset County come from?
The largest single origin is Cambria County, with 272 households. Arriving households report an average income of $62,846 against $52,770 for those leaving. Source: US Internal Revenue Service, Statistics of Income county migration flows, 2021 to 2022 filing years.
Are traffic counts available for Somerset County on this page?
No. Annual average daily traffic resolves in the platform rather than in this dataset, so no AADT figure is printed here. It is a gap we know about rather than a figure we estimated.
Is zoning published for Somerset County?
No. Nothing on this page presents parcel level zoning, and where a statutory framework applies it is marked as the statewide frame, to be confirmed locally.
Somerset County
Cities and places in Somerset.
32 Census places lie wholly or partly in Somerset County. All 32 carry enough published place level data for a page of their own and are linked.
| Place | Type | Population | SBA 7(a) approvals, projects in this county | Lies in |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Somerset | borough | 5,944 | 18 | Wholly in this county |
| Windber | borough | 3,860 | 6 | Wholly in this county |
| Berlin | borough | 2,481 | 2 | Wholly in this county |
| Meyersdale | borough | 2,103 | 1 | Wholly in this county |
| Boswell | borough | 1,153 | 3 | Wholly in this county |
| Jennerstown | borough | 1,115 | None recorded | Wholly in this county |
| Central City | borough | 1,105 | None recorded | Wholly in this county |
| Friedens | CDP | 1,018 | 1 | Wholly in this county |
| Paint | borough | 842 | None recorded | Wholly in this county |
| Davidsville | CDP | 826 | None recorded | Wholly in this county |
| Rockwood | borough | 793 | 2 | Wholly in this county |
| Hooversville | borough | 666 | None recorded | Wholly in this county |
| Jerome | CDP | 611 | 1 | Wholly in this county |
| Salisbury | borough | 587 | 3 | Wholly in this county |
| Confluence | borough | 577 | None recorded | Wholly in this county |
| Cairnbrook | CDP | 419 | None recorded | Wholly in this county |
| Garrett | borough | 403 | None recorded | Wholly in this county |
| Indian Lake | borough | 377 | None recorded | Wholly in this county |
| Stoystown | borough | 354 | 2 | Wholly in this county |
| Acosta | CDP | 301 | None recorded | Wholly in this county |
| Gray | CDP | 252 | None recorded | Wholly in this county |
| Addison | borough | 233 | None recorded | Wholly in this county |
| Ursina | borough | 209 | None recorded | Wholly in this county |
| Shanksville | borough | 183 | None recorded | Wholly in this county |
| Edie | CDP | 158 | None recorded | Wholly in this county |
| Benson | borough | 157 | None recorded | Wholly in this county |
| Wellersburg | borough | 147 | None recorded | Wholly in this county |
| New Baltimore | borough | 139 | None recorded | Wholly in this county |
| New Centerville | borough | 132 | None recorded | Wholly in this county |
| Casselman | borough | 79 | None recorded | Wholly in this county |
| Seven Springs | borough | 40 | None recorded | 90.1 percent here, 9.9 percent Fayette County |
| Callimont | borough | 21 | None recorded | Wholly in this county |
A further 4 of the county's 43 SBA 7(a) approvals are to borrowers in cities that match no Census place in Somerset County, the largest being Hyndman (2), Hollsopple (1), Tire Hill (1). Those are postal cities, unincorporated areas and cities outside the county, so no place row claims them; they are counted in the county total above.