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Living in
Somerset.
Somerset is an unincorporated community in Bristol County, MA. It has no city government: the county runs it, and the Census counts it as its own place.
About
Life in Somerset
Living in Somerset means trading the hustle of Boston for a quieter South Coast existence where you're still close enough to the city—about an hour's drive north—without the constant pressure of metro life. Housing is reasonably priced for the region, with median home values around $418,800 and rent averaging $1,271 a month, which feels manageable if you're coming from Boston or Providence. The community skews slightly older and family-oriented, with nearly 58% married couples and a median age of 47, which shapes the local culture toward stability rather than nightlife.
Somerset at a Glance
Population, income, housing and more
Median Age
47.0 yrs
Poverty Rate
4.9%
Foreign-Born
6.1%
Broadband Internet
90.8%
of households
Population Growth
+0.4%
recent change · Census Bureau
Median household income
Demographics6.1% foreign-born, most often from Portugal
Who lives in Somerset: race and ethnicity, ages, households, languages and countries of origin
In Somerset, the largest foreign-born group is from Portugal (45.8%), and 5.1% of residents speak Other Indo-European at home.
Under 18
18.9%
of residents
65 and Older
25.3%
of residents
Households with Kids
29.4%
anyone under 18
Living Alone
26.4%
of households
Married Couples
54.9%
of households
Avg Household Size
2.43
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 28% below MA average
Rent, home values, and income in Somerset
In Somerset, rent runs 28% below the MA average, and home values are 25% below the MA average.
Median rent (per month)
Median home value
Rent Burdened
55.3%
spending 30%+ of income on rent
Severely Rent Burdened
32.2%
spending 50%+
Cost of Living Index
101.8
metro area (BEA) · US avg = 100
Median Property Tax
$4,977
per year, owner-occupied homes
Homeowners
86.9%
of occupied homes are owned
Typical Home Built
1962
median year built
Vacant Homes
3.1%
of housing units
Home Value Trend
Latest: $510,036 (September 2026)
Jobs & Economyunemployment 0.6 pts above MA average
Unemployment in Somerset
Unemployment in Bristol County, which includes Somerset, is 0.6 percentage points higher than the MA average.
Unemployment rate
Somerset: Bristol County rate (county-wide) · BLS annual average
Unemployment Rate — 10 Year Trend
Bristol County (county-wide) · Annual averages
Somerset is about 3% of Bristol County’s population, so county-wide figures may differ from local conditions.
What Somerset Residents Do for Work · share of employed residents by industry
City residents, wherever they work
Commute31.3 min avg
How Somerset residents get to work, and the nearest airports
In Somerset, most residents drive alone to work (84%), and 51% get there in under 30 minutes.
How People Get to Work
Commute Time Distribution
Nearest airports · with airline service
- 11 mi
New Bedford Regional Airport (EWB)
Regional airport · few flights3,145 passengers boarded in 2025
- 41 mi
Boston Logan International Airport (BOS)
Major hub21.0M 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.
Safetyviolent crime 34% below national average
Crime rates for 2025
Violent crime in Somerset runs 34% below the national average.
Violent Crime Rate
218
per 100,000 residents
Below average (329 national, 2025)
Property Crime Rate
446.9
per 100,000 residents
Below average (1,552 national, 2025)
Somerset Police Department
Natural DisastersStrong Wind most common — 8 events in 2025
Natural hazard risk, storms and earthquakes
FEMA National Risk Index
Relatively Moderate
89.9 / 100
Compares expected losses from natural hazards, social vulnerability and community resilience against every US county (higher = more risk).
Bristol County, county-wide · FEMA NRI December 2025
In Bristol County, which includes Somerset, the most common type is strong wind, with 8 recorded events in 2025.
Most common events:
Storm events by year
| Year | Events | Top Type | Property Damage |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 8 | High Wind | $50,700 |
| 2024 | 20 | Hail | $53,700 |
| 2023 | 27 | Thunderstorm Wind | $67,800 |
| 2022 | 20 | Strong Wind | $103,100 |
| 2021 | 19 | Thunderstorm Wind | $2.1M |
| 2020 | 36 | Strong Wind | $111,600 |
| 2019 | 27 | High Wind | $84,200 |
| 2018 | 27 | Strong Wind | $353,100 |
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.
0 earthquakes of magnitude 2.5+ within 100 miles in the past year
Bristol County, county-wide
Somerset is about 3% of Bristol County’s population, so county-wide figures may differ from local conditions.
Air Quality38 median AQI — Good
Days by air quality category (2025)
Air quality in Bristol County, which includes Somerset, is typically good — 306 good-air days per year.
Median AQI
38
Good Days
306
per year
Moderate Days
56
per year
Unhealthy Days
0
per year
Bristol County, county-wide
Somerset is about 3% of Bristol County’s population, so county-wide figures may differ from local conditions.
Climate82°F summers, 21°F winters
30-year climate averages (1991–2020) — monthly temperatures and precipitation
Somerset has warm summers (avg high 82°F) and cold winters (avg low 21°F).
Spring (Mar–May)
59°/36°F
avg high / low
Summer (Jun–Aug)
82°/58°F
avg high / low
Fall (Sep–Nov)
65°/41°F
avg high / low
Winter (Dec–Feb)
41°/21°F
avg high / low
Annual Precipitation
49.3"
Annual Snowfall
25.7"
Hot Days/Year
13
days above 90°F
Freeze Days/Year
133
days below 32°F
Rainy Days/Year
138
Average month
Show month-by-month table ↓Hide table ↑
| Month | High | Low | Precip |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 39°F | 19°F | 3.72" |
| Feb | 41°F | 21°F | 3.02" |
| Mar | 48°F | 27°F | 5.20" |
| Apr | 59°F | 36°F | 4.30" |
| May | 70°F | 46°F | 3.21" |
| Jun | 79°F | 55°F | 3.90" |
| Jul | 84°F | 61°F | 3.08" |
| Aug | 83°F | 59°F | 3.61" |
| Sep | 75°F | 51°F | 4.35" |
| Oct | 64°F | 41°F | 4.45" |
| Nov | 54°F | 32°F | 4.26" |
| Dec | 44°F | 25°F | 4.51" |
Healthcare
Hospitals, ratings, and health insurance in Somerset
Uninsured
0.6%
of residents
No hospitals inside Somerset's limits — nearest hospitals · within 15 miles
Southcoast Hospitals Group
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available · 4.2 mi away · Fall River
Dr John C Corrigan Mental Health Center
Psychiatric · 4.4 mi away · Fall River
Saint Anne's Hospital
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available · 5.6 mi away · Fall River
Adult Health · vs. the typical US place
Share of adults. Modeled estimates, not counted cases. “US” = the typical US place.
Medicare-certified hospitals only. Doesn’t include clinics, urgent care, or freestanding ERs.
Education12.3:1 student/teacher ratio
Schools and degree attainment in Somerset
Somerset's student/teacher ratio is 12.3:1 (lower than the national average of 16:1), and 37.6% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Public Schools
5
within city limits
Private Schools
0
within city limits
College Degree Rate
37.6%
adults 25+ with bachelor's or higher
Student/Teacher Ratio
12.3:1
National avg 16:1
Schools located within city limits (2023) — school-level metrics change slowly year to year
Colleges Near Somerset (within 15 miles)
Private nonprofit · 4-year · 7,226 students · in-state tuition $74,650 · 97% graduate · median earnings $99,974 (10 yrs after entry)
Public · 2-year · 6,083 students · in-state tuition $5,952 · 31% graduate · median earnings $47,512 (10 yrs after entry)
Johnson & Wales University-Providence
15 mi awayPrivate nonprofit · 4-year · 3,868 students · in-state tuition $44,581 · 58% graduate · median earnings $53,928 (10 yrs after entry)
Johnson & Wales University-Online
15 mi awayPrivate nonprofit · 4-year · 2,202 students · in-state tuition $13,365 · 28% graduate · median earnings $53,928 (10 yrs after entry)
Private nonprofit · 4-year · 2,084 students · in-state tuition $65,136 · 91% graduate · median earnings $69,341 (10 yrs after entry)
Private nonprofit · 4-year · 491 students · in-state tuition $11,352 · 76% graduate
Degree-granting colleges with 100+ students, placed by campus location (main campuses only — branch campuses are reported under their parent school)
Parks & Recreationclosest: New Bedford Whaling National Historical Park, 14 mi
Nearby national parks, recreation areas and public libraries for Somerset
Somerset has 8 nearby national parks or recreation areas, closest being New Bedford Whaling National Historical Park (14 mi away).
Nearby National Parks & Recreation Areas
New Bedford Whaling National Historical Park
National Historical Park
14 mi awayBlackstone River Valley National Historical Park
National Historical Park
15 mi awayRoger Williams National Memorial
National Memorial
15 mi awayTouro Synagogue National Historic Site
National Historic Site
22 mi awayAdams National Historical Park
National Historical Park
34 mi awayFrederick Law Olmsted National Historic Site
National Historic Site
38 mi awayBoston Harbor Islands National Recreation Area
National Recreation Area
39 mi awayJohn Fitzgerald Kennedy National Historic Site
National Historic Site
40 mi awayPublic Libraries in Somerset
Somerset Public Library
1464 County St., 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, Massachusetts affordable?⌄
Somerset's median rent is $1,271/month, which is below the national average, making it relatively affordable. The median household income is $112,677/year. Median home value is $418,800.
Is Somerset, Massachusetts safe?⌄
Somerset's violent crime rate was 218 per 100,000 residents in 2025, which is below the national average of 329/100k that year. Property crime rate is 447 per 100,000. As with any city, crime rates vary by neighborhood.
What is the job market like in Somerset, Massachusetts?⌄
Bristol County, which includes Somerset, has an unemployment rate of 5.1%, which is slightly above the national average of 4.3%.
What is the cost of living in Somerset, Massachusetts?⌄
The cost of living in Somerset is primarily driven by housing. Median rent is $1,271/month and median household income is $112,677/year. The median home value is $418,800. About 55% of renters spend more than 30% of their income on housing.
How is the commute in Somerset, Massachusetts?⌄
The average commute in Somerset is 31 minutes, which is longer than 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