© OpenMapTiles © OpenStreetMap
Living in
Somerset.
About
Life in Somerset
Somerset is a community of 12,108 people in Kentucky. The median household income is $34,704, median rent runs about $775 per month, and median home values are around $144,000. The unemployment rate is 4.8%.
Somerset at a Glance
Population, income, housing and more
Median Age
39.8 yrs
Poverty Rate
27.2%
Foreign-Born
1.9%
Broadband Internet
83.6%
of households
Population Growth
+6.1%
recent change · Census Bureau
Median household income
Demographics1.9% foreign-born, most often from Cuba
Who lives in Somerset: race and ethnicity, ages, households, languages and countries of origin
In Somerset, the largest foreign-born group is from Cuba (62.1%), and 0.9% of residents speak Spanish at home.
Under 18
21.8%
of residents
65 and Older
20.4%
of residents
Households with Kids
30.0%
anyone under 18
Living Alone
34.6%
of households
Married Couples
30.7%
of households
Avg Household Size
2.26
people
Race & Ethnicity
Hispanic or Latino of any race; other groups are non-Hispanic
Top countries of origin (foreign-born)
Languages Spoken at Home
Cost of Livingrent 20% below KY average
Rent, home values, and income in Somerset
In Somerset, rent runs 20% below the KY average, and home values are 30% below the KY average.
Median rent (per month)
Median home value
Rent Burdened
50.2%
spending 30%+ of income on rent
Severely Rent Burdened
28.1%
spending 50%+
Median Property Tax
$1,178
per year, owner-occupied homes
Homeowners
48.9%
of occupied homes are owned
Typical Home Built
1977
median year built
Vacant Homes
10.1%
of housing units
Home Value Trend
Latest: $198,176 (September 2026)
Jobs & Economyunemployment about average for KY
Unemployment in Somerset
Unemployment in Pulaski County, which includes Somerset, is close to the KY average.
Unemployment rate
Somerset: Pulaski County rate (county-wide) · BLS annual average
Unemployment Rate — 10 Year Trend
Pulaski County (county-wide) · Annual averages
What Somerset Residents Do for Work · share of employed residents by industry
City residents, wherever they work
Commute23.7 min avg
How Somerset residents get to work, and the nearest airports
In Somerset, most residents drive alone to work (71%), and 77% get there in under 30 minutes.
How People Get to Work
Commute Time Distribution
Nearest airports · with airline service
- 65 mi
Blue Grass Airport (LEX)
Small hub796k passengers boarded in 2025
- 132 mi
Nashville International Airport (BNA)
Major hub12.5M passengers boarded in 2025
Straight-line distance. Size is the FAA’s hub category, based on passenger traffic: regional airports may have only a few flights a day.
Safetyabout average for violent crime
Crime rates for 2025
Violent crime in Somerset is close to the national average.
Violent Crime Rate
328.2
per 100,000 residents
About average (329 national, 2025)
Property Crime Rate
1,152.6
per 100,000 residents
Below average (1,552 national, 2025)
Somerset Police Department
Natural DisastersThunderstorm Wind most common — 10 events in 2025
Natural hazard risk, storms and earthquakes
FEMA National Risk Index
Relatively Low
79.1 / 100
Compares expected losses from natural hazards, social vulnerability and community resilience against every US county (higher = more risk).
Pulaski County, county-wide · FEMA NRI December 2025
In Pulaski County, which includes Somerset, the most common type is thunderstorm wind, with 10 recorded events in 2025.
Most common events:
Storm events by year
| Year | Events | Top Type | Property Damage |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 10 | Thunderstorm Wind | $11,000 |
| 2024 | 10 | Thunderstorm Wind | $52,000 |
| 2023 | 11 | Thunderstorm Wind | $130,000 |
| 2022 | 20 | Thunderstorm Wind | $78,600 |
| 2021 | 13 | Thunderstorm Wind | $15,700 |
| 2020 | 11 | Flash Flood | $53,300 |
| 2019 | 16 | Thunderstorm Wind | $126,000 |
| 2018 | 11 | Thunderstorm Wind | $51,000 |
Property damage is the National Weather Service's estimate filed with each event. “None reported” means the events were logged with $0 damage; “Not estimated” means no estimate was filed. Storms covering several counties aren't counted here, since NOAA doesn't split their damage by county.
2 earthquakes of magnitude 2.5+ within 100 miles in the past year
Pulaski County, county-wide
Air Quality40 median AQI — Good
Days by air quality category (2025)
Air quality in Pulaski County, which includes Somerset, is typically good — 297 good-air days per year.
Median AQI
40
Good Days
297
per year
Moderate Days
68
per year
Unhealthy Days
0
per year
Pulaski County, county-wide
Climate85°F summers, 31°F winters
30-year climate averages (1991–2020) — monthly temperatures and precipitation
Somerset has warm summers (avg high 85°F) and cold winters (avg low 31°F).
Spring (Mar–May)
68°/48°F
avg high / low
Summer (Jun–Aug)
85°/67°F
avg high / low
Fall (Sep–Nov)
70°/49°F
avg high / low
Winter (Dec–Feb)
48°/31°F
avg high / low
Annual Precipitation
49.9"
Annual Snowfall
10.9"
Hot Days/Year
21
days above 90°F
Freeze Days/Year
94
days below 32°F
Rainy Days/Year
106
Average month
Show month-by-month table ↓Hide table ↑
| Month | High | Low | Precip |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 45°F | 29°F | 4.33" |
| Feb | 50°F | 32°F | 3.93" |
| Mar | 59°F | 39°F | 5.11" |
| Apr | 70°F | 48°F | 4.93" |
| May | 77°F | 57°F | 5.22" |
| Jun | 84°F | 65°F | 5.00" |
| Jul | 87°F | 69°F | 5.28" |
| Aug | 86°F | 67°F | 3.94" |
| Sep | 81°F | 60°F | 3.71" |
| Oct | 71°F | 48°F | 3.19" |
| Nov | 59°F | 38°F | 3.77" |
| Dec | 49°F | 33°F | 4.87" |
Healthcare1 hospital, avg 2.0/5
Hospitals, ratings, and health insurance in Somerset
Somerset has 1 hospital, averaging 2.0 out of 5 on CMS's quality rating — below-average care.
Hospitals
1
within city limits
Uninsured
8.6%
of residents
Avg Hospital Rating
2.0 / 5
Lake Cumberland Regional Hospital
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available
Medicare-certified hospitals only. Doesn’t include clinics, urgent care, or freestanding ERs.
Education16.3:1 student/teacher ratio
Schools and degree attainment in Somerset
Somerset's student/teacher ratio is 16.3:1, close to the national average of 16:1, and 19.9% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Public Schools
10
within city limits
Private Schools
1
within city limits
College Degree Rate
19.9%
adults 25+ with bachelor's or higher
Student/Teacher Ratio
16.3:1
National avg 16:1
Schools located within city limits (2023) — school-level metrics change slowly year to year
Parks & Recreationclosest: Mill Springs Battlefield National Monument, 7 mi
Nearby national parks, recreation areas and public libraries for Somerset
Somerset has 7 nearby national parks or recreation areas, closest being Mill Springs Battlefield National Monument (7 mi away).
Nearby National Parks & Recreation Areas
Mill Springs Battlefield National Monument
National Monument
7 mi awayBig South Fork National River & Recreation Area
National River & Recreation Area
38 mi awayCamp Nelson National Monument
National Monument
49 mi awayCumberland Gap National Historical Park
National Historical Park
63 mi awayAbraham Lincoln Birthplace National Historical Park
National Historical Park
68 mi awayObed Wild & Scenic River
Wild & Scenic River
68 mi awayMammoth Cave National Park
National Park
84 mi awayPublic Libraries in Somerset
Pulaski County Public Library District
304 South Main Street, Somerset
Cities Near Somerset
The closest cities within 60 miles
Planning a move to Somerset?
Read our full moving guide — what it's really like to live here.
Somerset FAQ
Is Somerset, Kentucky affordable?⌄
Somerset's median rent is $775/month, which is below the national average, making it relatively affordable. The median household income is $34,704/year. Median home value is $144,000.
Is Somerset, Kentucky safe?⌄
Somerset's violent crime rate was 328 per 100,000 residents in 2025, which is close to the national average of 329/100k that year. Property crime rate is 1153 per 100,000. As with any city, crime rates vary by neighborhood.
What is the job market like in Somerset, Kentucky?⌄
Pulaski County, which includes Somerset, has an unemployment rate of 4.8%, which is slightly above the national average of 4.3%.
What is the cost of living in Somerset, Kentucky?⌄
The cost of living in Somerset is primarily driven by housing. Median rent is $775/month and median household income is $34,704/year. The median home value is $144,000. About 50% of renters spend more than 30% of their income on housing.
How is the commute in Somerset, Kentucky?⌄
The average commute in Somerset is 24 minutes, which is about average compared to the national average of 26 minutes.
Data from the US Census Bureau, BLS, FBI, NOAA, EPA, Zillow Research and other public sources. Where our data comes from