Somerset County Pennsylvania Residential Rent and Rental Statistics
The median monthly gross residential rent in Somerset County PA was $600 in 2019 according to the Census ACS survey.1 Average gross rent in Somerset County was $557 in 2019. The median rent more accurately depicts rental rates in the middle of the distribution of rents and is thus preferred in the analysis below. 2020 Somerset County median and average rent data will be released in September of 2021.
Data is also available below for Somerset County rental vacancy rates, Somerset County rent as a percent of median income and the fraction of renters in Somerset County.
Real Gross Rent in Somerset County Pennsylvania (2019 dollars)2
| 2019 | 1 Year Change | 3 Year Change | |
|---|---|---|---|
| US Median Gross Rent | $1,097 | +1.86% | +6.82% |
| Pennsylvania Median Gross Rent | $951 | +0.74% | +3.03% |
| Somerset County PA Median Gross Rent | $600 | -1.96% | +3.27% |
Somerset County PA Real Gross Rent Trends
Median gross rent for Somerset County peaked in real terms in 2013 at $687 and is now $87 (12.66%) lower. Average gross rent for Somerset County peaked in real terms in 2013 at $621 and is now $64 (10.31%) lower.
Real Gross Rent: Somerset County PA Median, Somerset County PA Average, Pennsylvania Median, US Median
Real Gross Rent History for Somerset County
| Date | US Median |
Pennsylvania Median |
Somerset County PA Median |
Somerset County PA Average |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2019 | $1,097 | $951 | $600 | $557 |
| 2018 | $1,077 | $944 | $612 | $542 |
| 2017 | $1,043 | $921 | $624 | $578 |
| 2016 | $1,027 | $923 | $581 | $518 |
| 2015 | $1,017 | $921 | $640 | $590 |
| 2014 | $986 | $895 | $637 | $530 |
| 2013 | $953 | $872 | $687 | $621 |
| 2012 | $940 | $849 | $544 | $535 |
| 2011 | $941 | $849 | $566 | $494 |
| 2010 | $955 | $853 | $608 | $489 |
| 2009 | $960 | $841 | $552 | $484 |
| 2007 | $927 | $805 | $563 | $499 |
| 2005 | $910 | $809 | $559 | $509 |
Somerset County Rental Vacancy Rate
The rental vacancy rate is the fraction of homes for rent that are not occupied.3 In 2019 the rental vacancy rate for Somerset County Pennsylvania was 4.62% according to Census ACS data.
Rental Vacancy Rate in Somerset County Pennsylvania
| 2019 | 1 Year Change | 3 Year Change | |
|---|---|---|---|
| US | 5.97% | -0.18% | +0.08% |
| Pennsylvania | 4.87% | -0.42% | -0.90% |
| Somerset County PA | 4.62% | -1.31% | +0.20% |
Trends in Somerset County PA Rental Vacancy Rate
The rental vacancy rate in Somerset County peaked in 2015 at 9.64%. Since then it has fallen by 5.02% to 4.62%. Data records for this series originated in 2005.
Rental Vacancy Rate: Somerset County PA, Pennsylvania, US
Historical Rental Vacancy Rate data for Somerset County
| Date | US | Pennsylvania | Somerset County PA |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2019 | 5.97% | 4.87% | 4.62% |
| 2018 | 6.15% | 5.29% | 5.93% |
| 2017 | 6.18% | 5.84% | 6.95% |
| 2016 | 5.89% | 5.77% | 4.42% |
| 2015 | 5.85% | 5.77% | 9.64% |
| 2014 | 6.32% | 6.40% | 5.40% |
| 2013 | 6.49% | 5.78% | 2.76% |
| 2012 | 6.77% | 5.88% | 4.64% |
| 2011 | 7.40% | 6.13% | 2.51% |
| 2010 | 8.17% | 6.47% | 1.93% |
| 2009 | 8.43% | 6.80% | 9.60% |
| 2007 | 7.87% | 7.34% | 2.82% |
| 2005 | 7.74% | 7.94% | 4.27% |
Rent as a Fraction of Income
Using median household income data for Somerset County, we can calculate the fraction of income the median household would use to pay rent at the median monthly gross rent rate. For Somerset County, median monthly gross rent as a fraction of median household income was 14.73% in 2019 according to the ACS.
Somerset County Pennsylvania Median Annual Rent as a Fraction of Median Household Income
| 2019 | 1 Year Change | 3 Year Change | |
|---|---|---|---|
| US | 20.03% | -0.47% | -0.40% |
| Pennsylvania | 17.98% | -0.28% | -0.60% |
| Somerset County PA | 14.73% | +0.58% | -0.46% |
Trends in Somerset County PA Rent as a Fraction of Income
The fraction of median Somerset County household income required to pay median monthly gross rent peaked in 2013 (relative to the 2005 series origin) at 18.02%. Since then it has fallen by 3.29% to 14.73%.
Fraction of Income towards Rent: Somerset County PA, Pennsylvania, US
Historical Data for Annual Rent as a Fraction of Income in Somerset County Pennsylvania
| Date | US | Pennsylvania | Somerset County PA |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2019 | 20.03% | 17.98% | 14.73% |
| 2018 | 20.50% | 18.26% | 14.14% |
| 2017 | 20.13% | 18.10% | 14.86% |
| 2016 | 20.43% | 18.58% | 15.18% |
| 2015 | 20.63% | 18.70% | 16.57% |
| 2014 | 20.89% | 19.12% | 15.66% |
| 2013 | 20.78% | 19.11% | 18.02% |
| 2012 | 20.65% | 18.69% | 13.25% |
| 2011 | 20.70% | 18.78% | 16.27% |
| 2010 | 20.50% | 18.58% | 16.33% |
| 2009 | 20.12% | 17.88% | 14.76% |
| 2007 | 18.66% | 16.92% | 15.31% |
| 2005 | 18.89% | 17.43% | 16.21% |
Renter Fraction in Somerset County Pennsylvania
You can calculate the renter fraction in Somerset County in at least two ways: by housing units or by population. I've gone with the housing units measure here. This measure looks at the number of renting households in Somerset County as a fraction of total Somerset County households. In 2019 21.47% of households were renters according to Census ACS data.
Somerset County Fraction of Renters by Household Units
| 2019 | 1 Year Change | 3 Year Change | |
|---|---|---|---|
| US | 35.89% | -0.16% | -0.99% |
| Pennsylvania | 31.59% | +0.19% | +0.09% |
| Somerset County PA | 21.47% | +0.66% | -1.24% |
Trends in the Somerset County PA Renter Fraction
The Somerset County household renter fraction peaked in in 2010 at 26.21% and is now 4.74% below that level. The origin year for the series is 2005.
Fraction of Renting Households: Somerset County PA, Pennsylvania, US
History of Somerset County Renter Fraction
| Date | US | Pennsylvania | Somerset County PA |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2019 | 35.89% | 31.59% | 21.47% |
| 2018 | 36.05% | 31.40% | 20.81% |
| 2017 | 36.13% | 31.70% | 22.20% |
| 2016 | 36.88% | 31.50% | 22.71% |
| 2015 | 36.97% | 31.28% | 22.12% |
| 2014 | 36.90% | 31.17% | 19.86% |
| 2013 | 36.50% | 31.05% | 22.78% |
| 2012 | 36.09% | 31.09% | 20.17% |
| 2011 | 35.42% | 30.51% | 20.21% |
| 2010 | 34.65% | 29.87% | 26.21% |
| 2009 | 34.13% | 29.48% | 19.81% |
| 2007 | 32.80% | 28.36% | 22.19% |
| 2005 | 33.10% | 28.52% | 21.21% |
1. Gross rent is defined as contract rent plus the estimated average monthly cost of utilities (electricity, gas, water, and sewer) and fuel (oil, coal, kerosene, wood, etc.). Because some rentals include utilities and others don't, gross rent is a way of normalizing the variability. ↩
2. Real dollars are calculated using the CPI-U less shelter series. ↩
3. The rental vacancy rate is computed by dividing the number of vacant units for rent by the sum of the renter-occupied units, vacant units that are for rent, and vacant units that have been rented but not yet occupied. ↩
Department of Numbers
The Department of Numbers contextualizes public data so that individuals can form independent opinions on everyday social and economic matters.
Here's where you are
- Home
- / Rent
- / Pennsylvania
- / Somerset County
