Housing decision brief
Somerset County, MD Housing Market
Somerset County screens as a below-state purchase price, below-state rent, a manageable tax-rate signal market. Use the page as a decision brief, not just a price lookup, because local income, taxes, and data confidence change how affordable the county really is.
2nd lowest home value out of 24 Maryland counties with data | 3rd lowest rent out of 24
Median home value
$164,300
Purchase-price signal from Census ACS.
Median rent
$938/mo
Gross rent, including utilities where reported.
Monthly owner cost
$977/mo
Owner costs before individual loan terms.
Decision snapshot
Read this county in four signals.
Buy screen
3.1x
Median home value divided by local household income.
Rent burden
34.0%
At or above the 30% burden threshold.
Rent vs own
$39/mo
Median rent screens below owner cost.
Data confidence
1 note
Crime coverage is partial, so safety comparisons need source context.
What Works
Lower purchase price
$164,300 median home value is 54% below Maryland county median
Lower rent
$938/mo is 31% below Maryland county median
What to Check
Lower income base
$52,462 median income is 42% below Maryland county median
Water quality cross-check
Water quality grade is F. Review water data before treating housing cost as the full story.
Crime data coverage
Crime data coverage is partial. Treat zero or low crime rates as incomplete until you check the source coverage.
Best Fit For
- Remote earners or cash buyers looking below the state price line
Poor Fit For
- Households dependent on a deep local wage market
- Buyers who will not investigate local water systems before moving
- Anyone treating reported crime rates as complete without source context
County vs State vs National
The county number only matters after you see the benchmark. These comparisons show where Somerset County is genuinely cheap, where it is average, and where the hidden cost may be.
| Metric | County | State | U.S. | Signal |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Median home value Lower usually helps affordability. | $164,300 | $357,700 | $281,900 | 54% favorable54% below Maryland county median |
Median gross rent Lower usually helps affordability. | $938 | $1,369 | $1,163 | 31% favorable31% below Maryland county median |
Monthly owner cost Lower usually helps affordability. | $977 | $1,595 | $1,672 | 39% favorable39% below Maryland county median |
Median household income | $52,462 | $91,025 | $74,755 | 42% pressure42% below Maryland county median |
Effective property-tax rate Lower usually helps affordability. | 0.98% | 1.00% | 1.02% | Near state median2% below Maryland county median |
Rent burden Lower usually helps affordability. | 34.00% | 30.00% | N/A | 13% pressure34.00% of renter income goes to rent. |
Income Fit
A low price only helps if local income can carry the monthly cost. This panel compares the county income base with rent and owner-cost thresholds.
Rent cushion
+$14,942
Median income minus rent threshold.
Owner cushion
+$10,591
Median income minus owner-cost threshold.
Affordability Advisory
This turns the raw housing numbers into income and buy-versus-rent screens.
Affordability verdict
For renters in Somerset County, the market is affordable. Expect to pay around $938/month in gross rent, with 34.0% of renter households considered cost-burdened.
Rent vs own
At $938/month rent versus $977/month in owner costs, renting is roughly $39/month cheaper , a 4% difference.
Income needed
To afford the median rent without exceeding 30% of gross income, a household needs to earn approximately $37,520/year. For owner costs at the 28% rule, the required income is roughly $41,871/year. With a median household income of $52,462, most households can comfortably afford rent here. Notably, 34.0% of renter households in Somerset County are cost-burdened, spending more than 30% of income on housing.
Regional context
Compared to Caroline County where rent averages $1,070/month, Somerset County is approximately 12% less expensive.
Better Counties to Compare
Similar counties are matched on home value, rent, income, and state context. This is more useful than a simple nearest-price list.
| County | Home Value | Rent | Why compare |
|---|---|---|---|
| Allegany County, MD | $149,200 | $786/mo | Same-state comparison near $149,200 home value and $786/mo rent. |
| Bryan County, OK | $163,700 | $914/mo | Out-of-state peer near $163,700 home value and $914/mo rent. |
| Marshall County, MS | $172,200 | $926/mo | Out-of-state peer near $172,200 home value and $926/mo rent. |
| Nacogdoches County, TX | $158,200 | $923/mo | Out-of-state peer near $158,200 home value and $923/mo rent. |
| Wilson County, NC | $171,800 | $915/mo | Out-of-state peer near $171,800 home value and $915/mo rent. |
Data Confidence
- Crime coverage is partial, so safety comparisons need source context.
Next Checks
Housing Questions for Somerset County
Is Somerset County affordable for buying a home?
Is renting or owning cheaper in Somerset County?
How much income do you need for housing in Somerset County?
What should I double-check before moving to Somerset County?
Data: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey (ACS) 5-Year Estimates (2019-2023) — Informational only. Not financial or legal advice.