County population in 2012: 26,253 (54% urban, 46% rural); it was 24,747 in 2000 County owner-occupied with a mortgage or a loan houses and condos in 2010: 3,431 County owner-occupied free and clear houses and condos in 2010: 2,198 County owner-occupied houses and condos in 2000: 5,829 Renter-occupied apartments: 3,159 (it was 2,532 in 2000)
% of renters here:
30%
State:
32%
Land area: 327 sq. mi. Water area: 283.6 sq. mi.
Population density: 80 people per square mile
(average).
Mar. 2012 cost of living index in Somerset County: 93.3 (less than average, U.S. average is 100)
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Industries providing employment: Educational,health and social services (28.1%), Retail trade (10.4%).
Median real estate property taxes paid for housing units with mortgages in 2009: $1,051 (0.7%) Median real estate property taxes paid for housing units with no mortgage in 2009: $891 (0.7%)
Percentage of residents living in poverty in 2009: 18.1%
(11.5% for White Non-Hispanic residents, 35.0% for Black residents, 17.1% for Hispanic or Latino residents, 0.0% for other race residents, 31.1% for two or more races residents) Median age of residents in 2010: 36 years old
(Males: 36 years old, Females: 36 years old)
(Median age for: White residents: 46 years old, Black residents: 26 years old, American Indian residents: 49 years old, Asian residents: 37 years old, Hispanic or Latino residents: 21 years old, Other race residents: 20 years old)
Residents with income below the poverty level in 2009:
This county:
20.1%
Whole state:
8.5%
Residents with income below 50% of the poverty level in 2009:
This county:
7.1%
Whole state:
4.2%
Fair market rent in 2006 for a 1-bedroom apartment in Somerset County is $451 a month. Fair market rent for a 2-bedroom apartment is $531 a month. Fair market rent for a 3-bedroom apartment is $657 a month.
Notable locations in this county outside city limits:
Notable locations in Somerset County: Arden Station (A), Outdoor Sports Complex (B), Camp Somerset (C), Somerset County Landfill (D), Great Hope Golf Course (E), Long Point Light (F), Crisfield Country Club (G), West (H), Kings Creek (I), Somers Cove Lighthouse (J), Eastern Correctional Institution (K), Marion Volunteer Fire Department Station 3 (L), Manokin Manor (M), Maryland State Police Barrack X - Princess Anne (N), Somerset County Sheriff's Department (O), William P Hytche Center (P), WESM Radio Station (Q), Waters Hall (R), Trigg Hall (S), Thomas and Briggs Arts and Technology (T). Display/hide their locations on the map
Churches in Somerset County include: All Saints Church (A), Christ Church (B), Ebenezer Church (C), Grace Church (D), Handy Memorial Church (E), Highway Church (F), Holly Grove Church (G), Liberia Church (H), Moores Chapel (I). Display/hide their locations on the map
Cemeteries: All Saints Cemetery (1), Sunny Ridge Memorial Park (2), Palmetto Cemetery (3), Perryhawkin Cemetery (4), Rehobeth Cemetery (5), Asbury Cemetery (6), Quindocqua Cemetery (7). Display/hide their locations on the map
Lakes and swamps: Rock Pond (A), Great Point Pond (B), Acre Marsh (C), Marumsco Marsh (D), McCormick Swamp (E), Monie Marsh (F), Lawsons Marsh (G), Richardson Marsh (H). Display/hide their locations on the map
Streams, rivers, and creeks: Annemessex Creek (A), Barnes Landing Creek (B), Big Jones Gut (C), Old Ground Gut (D), Saint Peters Creek (E), Colbourn Creek (F), East Creek (G), Makitts Creek (H), Crooked Creek (I). Display/hide their locations on the map
Parks in Somerset County include: Pocomoke Sound Wildlife Management Area (1), Manokin Historic District (2), Cedar Island State Wildlife Management Area (3), Wellington State Wildlife Management Area (4), Janes Island State Park (5), Martin National Wildlife Refuge (6). Display/hide their locations on the map
Current college students: 2,785 People 25 years of age or older with a high school degree or higher: 69.5% People 25 years of age or older with a bachelor's degree or higher: 11.6%
Number of foreign born residents: 620 (36% naturalized citizens)
Somerset County:
2.5%
Whole state:
9.8%
Year of entry for the foreign-born population
1995 to March 2000: 220
1990 to 1994: 183
1985 to 1989: 84
1980 to 1984: 5
1975 to 1979: 32
1970 to 1974: 6
1970 to 1974: 22
1965 to 1969: 68
Mean travel time to work (commute): 25.1 minutes
Percentage of county residents living and working in this county: 57.8%
Housing units in structures:
One, detached: 6,845
One, attached: 226
Two: 273
3 or 4: 352
5 to 9: 255
10 to 19: 234
20 or more: 150
Mobile homes: 1,729
Boats, RVs, vans, etc.: 28
Housing units in Somerset County with a mortgage: 2,352 (154 second mortgage, 230 home equity loan, 12 both second mortgage and home equity loan) Houses without a mortgage: 1,662
Here:
58.6% with mortgage
State:
77.7% with mortgage
Religion statistics:
Percentage of population affiliated with a religious congregations: 29.62%
Here
29.6%
USA
50.2%
Total adherents: 7,330 Total congregations: 58
Adherents
Breakdown of population affiliated with a religious congregations
Name
United Methodist Church
Southern Baptist Convention
Church of God (Cleveland, Tennessee)
Episcopal Church
Presbyterian Church (USA)
Adherents
4,381 (59.8%)
925 (12.6%)
801 (10.9%)
208 (2.8%)
192 (2.6%)
Congregations
39 (67.2%)
5 (8.6%)
2 (3.4%)
3 (5.2%)
2 (3.4%)
Name
Mennonite Church USA
Assemblies of God
The Wesleyan Church
Church of the Brethren
Other
Adherents
177 (2.4%)
160 (2.2%)
150 (2.0%)
98 (1.3%)
238 (3.2%)
Congregations
1 (1.7%)
1 (1.7%)
1 (1.7%)
1 (1.7%)
3 (5.2%)
Source: Jones, Dale E., et al. 2002. Congregations and Membership in the United States 2000. Nashville, TN: Glenmary Research Center.
Average size of farms: 188 acres Average value of agricultural products sold per farm: $422,848 Average value of crops sold per acre for harvested cropland: $255.62 The value of nursery, greenhouse, floriculture, and sod as a percentage of the total market value of agricultural products sold: 0.68% The value of livestock, poultry, and their products as a percentage of the total market value of agricultural products sold: 93.01% Average total farm production expenses per farm: $359,264 Harvested cropland as a percentage of land in farms: 61.42% Irrigated harvested cropland as a percentage of land in farms: 2.80% Average market value of all machinery and equipment per farm: $60,546 The percentage of farms operated by a family or individual: 84.39% Average age of principal farm operators: 55 years Average number of cattle and calves per 100 acres of all land in farms: 4.18 Milk cows as a percentage of all cattle and calves: 0.13% Corn for grain: 13196 harvested acres All wheat for grain: 4793 harvested acres Soybeans for beans: 19175 harvested acres Vegetables: 399 harvested acres
Tornado activity:
Somerset County historical area-adjusted tornado activity is significantly below Maryland state average. It is 4.9 times below overall U.S. average.
Earthquake activity:
Somerset County-area historical earthquake activity is significantly below Maryland state average. It is 100% smaller than the overall U.S. average.
On 10/23/1990 at 01:34:48, a magnitude 3.2 (2.9 LG, 3.2 MD, Depth: 6.2 mi, Class: Light, Intensity: II - III) earthquake occurred 98.3 miles away from the county center Magnitude types: regional Lg-wave magnitude (LG), duration magnitude (MD)
Most recent natural disasters:
Maryland Hurricane Katrina Evacuation, Incident Period: August 29, 2005 to October 1, 2005, Emergency Declared (EM-3251): September 13, 2005, FEMA Id: FEMA-EM-3251, Natural disaster type: Hurricane
Maryland Hurricane Isabel, Incident Period: September 18, 2003 to September 29, 2003, Major Disaster (Presidential) Declared (DR-1492): September 19, 2003, FEMA Id: FEMA-DR-1492, Natural disaster type: Hurricane
Maryland Hurricane Floyd, Incident Period: September 16, 1999 to September 20, 1999, Major Disaster (Presidential) Declared (DR-1303): September 24, 1999, FEMA Id: FEMA-DR-1303, Natural disaster type: Hurricane
Maryland Blizzard, Incident Period: January 6, 1996 to January 12, 1996, Major Disaster (Presidential) Declared (DR-1081): January 11, 1996, FEMA Id: FEMA-DR-1081, Natural disaster type: Blizzard
Maryland Severe Snowfall and Winter Storm, Incident Period: March 13, 1993 to March 17, 1993, Emergency Declared (EM-3100): March 16, 1993, FEMA Id: FEMA-EM-3100, Natural disaster type: Winter Storm, Snowfall
Maryland Tropical Storm Agnes, Incident Period: June 23, 1972, Major Disaster (Presidential) Declared (DR-341): June 23, 1972, FEMA Id: FEMA-DR-341, Natural disaster type: Tropical Storm
The number of natural disasters in Somerset County (6) is smaller than the US average (12). Major Disasters (Presidential) Declared: 4 Emergencies Declared: 2
Law enforcement workers including supervisors (7%)
Electrical equipment mechanics and other installation, maintenance, and repair occupations including supervisors (5%)
Building and grounds cleaning and maintenance occupations (5%)
Fishing and hunting, and forest and logging workers (4%)
Other production occupations including supervisors (4%)
Carpenters (4%)
Secretaries and administrative assistants (9%)
Nursing, psychiatric, and home health aides (6%)
Information and record clerks except customer service representatives (5%)
Building and grounds cleaning and maintenance occupations (4%)
Registered nurses (4%)
Other office and administrative support workers including supervisors (4%)
Preschool, kindergarten, elementary and middle school teachers (4%)
Most common places of birth for the foreign-born residents (%):
Other Eastern Africa (16%)
Mexico (15%)
China, excluding Hong Kong and Taiwan (13%)
Philippines (7%)
Other Western Africa (6%)
Vietnam (5%)
Other Caribbean (5%)
Most common first ancestries reported in Somerset County (%):
United States or American (17%)
English (15%)
German (7%)
Irish (5%)
African (1%)
Italian (1%)
Scottish (1%)
Means of transportation to work:
Drove a car alone: 6,895 (76%)
Carpooled: 1,294 (14%)
Bus or trolley bus: 79 (1%)
Subway or elevated: 6 (0%)
Taxi: 22 (0%)
Motorcycle: 7 (0%)
Bicycle: 35 (0%)
Walked: 364 (4%)
Other means: 142 (2%)
Worked at home: 256 (3%)
Owners and renters by unit type in %
Breakdown of mean house values by ages of householders
People in group quarters in Somerset County, Maryland in 2000:
3,104 people in state prisons
1,452 people in college dormitories (includes college quarters off campus)
195 people in nursing homes
96 people in local jails and other confinement facilities (including police lockups)
40 people in homes for the mentally retarded
9 people in other group homes
4 people in unknown juvenile institutions
4 people in agriculture workers' dormitories on farms
People in group quarters in Somerset County, Maryland in 2010:
3,240 people in state prisons
2,095 people in college/university student housing
198 people in nursing facilities/skilled-nursing facilities
84 people in local jails and other municipal confinement facilities
25 people in group homes intended for adults
5 people in group homes for juveniles (non-correctional)
3 people in emergency and transitional shelters (with sleeping facilities) for people experiencing homelessness
Average gross adjusted income of non-migrant taxpayers in this county in 2005 was $38,446.
7.16% of this county's 2006 resident taxpayers lived in other counties in 2005 ($31,727 average adjusted gross income)
Here:
7.16%
Maryland average:
7.95%
10 or fewer of this county's residents moved from foreign countries.
4.79% relocated from other counties in Maryland ($21,519 average AGI)
2.37% relocated from other states ($10,208 average AGI)
Somerset County:
2.37%
Maryland average:
3.62%
Percentage of residents relocating from other counties or countries
Top counties from which taxpayers relocated into this county between 2005 and 2006:
6.70% of this county's 2005 resident taxpayers moved to other counties in 2006 ($29,338 average adjusted gross income)
Here:
6.70%
Maryland average:
8.13%
10 or fewer of this county's residents moved to foreign countries.
4.57% relocated to other counties in Maryland ($20,394 average AGI)
2.13% relocated to other states ($8,944 average AGI)
Somerset County:
2.13%
Maryland average:
3.94%
Percentage of residents relocating to other counties or countries
Top counties to which taxpayers relocated from this county between 2005 and 2006:
Births per 1000 population from 1990 to 1999: 10.5 Births per 1000 population from 2000 to 2006: 10.1
Births per 1000 population in Somerset County
Deaths per 1000 population from 1990 to 1999: 11.4 Deaths per 1000 population from 2000 to 2006: 10.1
Deaths per 1000 population in Somerset County
Infant deaths per 1000 live births from 1990 to 1999: 9.0 Infant deaths per 1000 live births from 2000 to 2006: 11.1
Infant deaths per 1000 live births in Somerset County
Persons enrolled in hospital insurance and/or supplemental medical insurance (Medicare) in July 1, 2003: 4,008 (3,387 aged, 621 disabled) Population without health insurance coverage in 2000: 18% Children under 18 without health insurance coverage in 2000: 15%
Short term general hospitals per 100,000 population in 2004: 3.87 Short term general hospital admissions per 100,000 population in 2004: 3224.680 Short term general hospital beds per 100,000 population in 2004: 390.520 Emergency room visits per 100,000 population in 2004: 22584.39
General practice office based MDs per 100,000 population in 2005: 1017.600 Medical specialist MDs per 100,000 population in 2005: 1067.900 Dentists per 100,000 population in 1998: 11.61
Total births per 100,000 population, July 2005 - July 2006 : 20.58 Total deaths per 100,000 population, July 2005 - July 2006: 46.43
Limited-service eating places per 100,000 population in 2005 : 3.87
EPA green book nonattainment status in 2004-2006: 1 Crimes per 100,000 population in 1996: 1
Household type by relationship:
Households: 20,819
In family households: 16,519 (3,492 male householders, 1,986 female householders)
3,701 spouses, 5,233 children (4,840 natural, 140 adopted, 253 stepchildren), 707 grandchildren, 221 brothers or sisters, 194 parents, 308 other relatives, 570 non-relatives
In nonfamily households: 4,300 (1,588 male householders (1,293 living alone)), 1,722 female householders (1,478 living alone)), 990 nonrelatives
In group quarters: 5,651 (3,527 institutionalized population)
Size of family households: 2,615 2-persons, 1,323 3-persons, 875 4-persons, 383 5-persons, 186 6-persons, 96 7-or-more-persons.
95.8% of residents of Somerset County speak English at home.
1.4% of residents speak Spanish at home (56% speak English very well, 22% speak English well, 7% speak English not well, 15% don't speak English at all).
1.2% of residents speak other Indo-European language at home (65% speak English very well, 29% speak English well, 7% speak English not well).
0.9% of residents speak Asian or Pacific Island language at home (65% speak English very well, 10% speak English well, 17% speak English not well, 8% don't speak English at all).
0.7% of residents speak other language at home (94% speak English very well, 3% speak English well, 2% don't speak English at all).
In fiscal year 2004:
Federal Government expenditure: $167,178,000 ($6464 per capita) Department of Defense expenditure: $12,516,000 Federal direct payments to individuals for retirement and disability: $57,969,000 Federal other direct payments to individuals: $36,287,000 Federal direct payments not to individuals: $3,467,000 Federal grants: $52,706,000 Federal procurement contracts: $6,011,000 ($4,456,000 Department of Defense) Federal salaries and wages: $10,737,000 ($5,427,000 Department of Defense) Federal Government direct loans: $26,344,000 Federal guaranteed/insured loans: $8,227,000 Federal Government insurance: $156,238,000
Population change from April 1, 2000 to July 1, 2005:
Births: 1,388
Here:
54 per 1000 residents
State:
71 per 1000 residents
Deaths: 1,434
Here:
55 per 1000 residents
State:
41 per 1000 residents
Net international migration: +187
Here:
+7 per 1000 residents
State:
+19 per 1000 residents
Net internal migration: +979
Here:
+38 per 1000 residents
State:
+2 per 1000 residents
Population growth in Somerset County
Total withdrawal of fresh water for public supply: 1.71 millions of gallons per day (all from ground)
Median number of rooms in houses and condos:
Here:
6.1
State:
6.9
Median number of rooms in apartments:
Here:
4.7
State:
4.2
Year house built
2005 or later: 321
2000 to 2004: 793
1990 to 1999: 1,155
1980 to 1989: 1,500
1970 to 1979: 1,771
1960 to 1969: 733
1950 to 1959: 764
1940 to 1949: 1,019
1939 or earlier: 2,865
Rooms in houses/apartments in Somerset County, Maryland
63% of Somerset County residents lived in the same house 5 years ago. Out of people who lived in different houses, 48% lived in this county. Out of people who lived in different counties, 65% lived in Maryland.
Somerset County:
62.5%
State average:
57.4%
Place of birth for U.S.-born residents:
This state: 16239
Northeast: 2930
Midwest: 524
South: 4165
West: 156
Median price asked for vacant for-sale houses in 2000: $55,000
Housing units lacking complete plumbing facilities: 2%
Housing units lacking complete kitchen facilities: 2%
Year Householders Moved Into Unit:
Most commonly used house heating fuel in Somerset County
36.0 years
38.0 years
(49.9%)
(50.1%)
, Wicomico County 
, Worcester County 
, Accomack County, Virginia 
.
