The Town FilesSomerset, Pennsylvania
Township in Washington County · population 2,581 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $230,800
- Household income
- $75,500
- Jan low / Jul high
- 20° / 83°
- Snow a year
- 32 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 13
- Median age
- 49.8
Somerset is a township of 2,581 people in Washington County, Pennsylvania. The median home is worth $230,800, above the typical Pennsylvania town ($214,250). It ranks easier by car than 83% of Pennsylvania towns, better for retirees than 82% of Pennsylvania towns, quieter than 81% of Pennsylvania towns.
How Somerset ranks
Percentile among Pennsylvania towns with at least 500 people on The Town Files lifestyle rankings. 50 is typical for the state; 90 means better than 90% of Pennsylvania towns.
Homes and cost of living
The median home in Somerset is worth $230,800, above the typical Pennsylvania town ($214,250). Homes cost about 3.1 times the median household income of $75,500, which is more affordable than 39% of Pennsylvania towns. Median rent is $588 a month. 86.9% of households own their home.
| Housing | Somerset | Typical Pennsylvania town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $230,800 | $214,250 |
| Median rent | $588 | $996 |
| Median household income | $75,500 | $75,278 |
| Home value ÷ income | 3.1× | 2.8× |
| Homeownership | 86.9% | 81.5% |
| Median year built | 1967 | 1971 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.0% | — |
Who lives in Somerset
| People | Somerset | Typical Pennsylvania town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 49.8 | 44.2 |
| Age 65 and over | 22.3% | 21.1% |
| Under 18 | 16.6% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 25.5% | 23.8% |
| Below the poverty line | 4.4% | 8.5% |
| Veterans | 7.8% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 0.9% | — |
| Work from home | 9.9% | 10.6% |
| Average commute | 25.2 min | 25.9 min |
| Homes with broadband | 87.5% | 89.0% |
Weather in Somerset
July highs average 83.4°F and January lows 20.0°F. About 41.3 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 31.9 inches of snow (typical Pennsylvania town: 31.8 in). Expect about 7 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 122 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
13 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Somerset since 1950, compared with 10 for the typical Pennsylvania town. 2 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an EF2, struck on May 11, 2024 about 8.5 miles from the town center. The most recent was on June 6, 2026.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 34 times; the largest was 1.75 inches on June 18, 2024.
Severe weather in Washington County since 1996
Washington County has been included in 14 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for flood, hurricane, snowstorm.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| March 30, 2020 | Biological | DR-4506: Covid-19 Pandemic |
| March 13, 2020 | Biological | EM-3441: Covid-19 |
| October 29, 2012 | Hurricane | EM-3356: Hurricane Sandy |
| September 10, 2005 | Hurricane | EM-3235: Hurricane Katrina |
| September 19, 2004 | Severe Storm | DR-1555: Severe Storms And Flooding Associated With Tropical Depression Frances |
Jobs and pay in Washington County
Washington County had 87,434 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $72,319 a year. Unemployment was 3.4% in 2023; in Somerset itself the ACS puts it at 4.8%.
Towns near Somerset
- Nottingham, PA4.7 mi · 2,941 people · home $370,300
- Fallowfield, PA4.9 mi · 4,099 people · home $163,900
- South Strabane, PA7.0 mi · 9,613 people · home $268,500
- Carroll, PA7.2 mi · 5,380 people · home $189,300
- North Strabane, PA7.5 mi · 15,700 people · home $356,000
- Monongahela, PA7.8 mi · 4,159 people · home $114,300
- Union, PA7.9 mi · 5,374 people · home $178,700
- Charleroi, PA8.4 mi · 4,234 people · home $52,800
Somerset questions
Is Somerset, Pennsylvania a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Somerset scores better for retirees than 82% of Pennsylvania towns and quieter than 81%. 22.3% of residents are 65 or older (median age 49.8).
How much does a house cost in Somerset?
The median owner-occupied home in Somerset is valued at $230,800 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $75,500, so homes cost about 3.1 times income. Median rent is $588 a month.
What is the weather like in Somerset?
July highs average 83.4°F and January lows 20.0°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 41.3 inches of precipitation a year and 31.9 inches of snow.
Does Somerset get tornadoes?
13 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Somerset since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was an EF2 on May 11, 2024. The typical Pennsylvania town has had 10.
- U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates (2020–2024)
- U.S. Census Bureau, 2020 Census and 2025 Gazetteer (2020 / 2025)
- NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals (1991–2020)
- NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database (1950–2026)
- FEMA OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations (this product uses the FEMA OpenFEMA API but is not endorsed by FEMA) (1953–2026)
- NCES Common Core of Data (2023–24)
- BLS Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages; USDA ERS county unemployment (BLS LAUS) (2000–2024)
- The Town Files lifestyle rankings, built from federal demographic, school, crime and housing data (2025)