RANK #589 / 1001 NAT · #28 / 44 PA · POP 72,799
1YR FORECAST: +4.0%
5YR OUTLOOK: -6%
The Flight 93 National Memorial in Shanksville stands as a prominent landmark in Somerset County, Pennsylvania, drawing visitors to reflect on a significant moment in American history. Located in the Laurel Highlands, the county is about an hour east of Pittsburgh, offering a rural setting with access to major metropolitan areas like Baltimore and Washington, D.C. within a few hours' drive. The community maintains a conservative, small-town feel, characterized by scenic landscapes and abundant outdoor recreation opportunities, including skiing at resorts like Seven Springs and Hidden Valley, hiking on trails such as the Great Allegheny Passage, and various water sports on local lakes. Life in Somerset County is marked by a lower cost of living and a strong sense of community. Public transportation options, including bus services, are available within the county and for trips to nearby Johnstown. The economy is supported by manufacturing, healthcare, and state correctional institutions. The county also sees activity in energy sectors, including coal mining and wind farms, with recent investments in sustainable practices. Local public schools are generally rated above average.
Somerset County's data profile doesn't fit any single market profile cleanly — its housing, labor, and demographic signals pull in different directions (home prices +5.5% YoY, population -0.6%, wages +2.3%). About 414 U.S. counties show this kind of mixed-signal pattern.
See all 414 Idiosyncratic Markets counties →Overvalued relative to economy
Moderate climate & terrain
Above national median (15x)
Housing looks overvalued at 9.1x — home prices are high relative to local economic output. The typical U.S. county is 4–6x.
Estimated local headcount ranges. Larger employers shown as floor + "+"; smaller employers show exact counts where reported.
Bars show trailing 12-month growth. The dashed Forecast bars are the model's next-12-month projection; the whisker marks the ±1% range (cooling–accelerating).
Source: Redfin · Census BPS — Browse sales on Redfin →
Source: CDC/NCHS vital statistics via County Health Rankings (2020–2022 avg). Rates per 100,000 population. Grade based on homicide rate relative to national average (~6.3). Learn more →
Source: EPA Air Quality System (2021–2023). Grade based on 3-year average median AQI. Learn about AQI →
| PROJECT | AMOUNT | STATUS |
|---|---|---|
|
Homer City Energy Campus (Data Center & Natural Gas Power Plant)
Homer City Redevelopment LLC & Kiewit Power Constructors Company
|
$10,000M | Under Construction |
|
Somerset County Data Center Campus (Planned)
Iron City Data
|
$500M | Planned |
|
Twin Ridges Wind Farm Expansion/Operations
Exus Pennsylvania Wind Holdings (formerly EverPower)
|
$250M | Operating |
|
Fern Mountain Residential Development
Steele Construction, Inc.
|
$50M | Under Construction |
Source: public records, news, corporate announcements. Amounts are estimates where noted.
Bars show percentile rank among all 1001 counties.
Somerset County scores 41/100 on the Boom Town Index, landing in the middle of the pack among 1001 U.S. counties (#589). Median household income is $61,446 and job growth is running at -0.5%. The data points to a county with mixed signals — some positive indicators alongside areas that lag faster-growing peers.
By national standards, Somerset County is quite affordable. Homes here have a median value of $150,600, and the income-to-home-value ratio of 0.41 is well above the U.S. average — especially with median rent at just $753/month. Residents can generally buy a home without being cost-burdened.
Somerset County is losing population (-0.6% YoY) while the job market is essentially flat (-0.5% employment change). Home values are +5.5% over the past 12 months. A slow-bleed pattern — not a collapse, but residents are leaving faster than employers are hiring.
There's a moderate stream of newcomers. About 2.86% of residents moved from another state, which is above average and suggests Somerset County has appeal as a relocation destination — though it's not among the highest-inflow counties nationally.
Home values climbed +5.5% year-over-year, which is a solid pace of appreciation. The median home in Somerset County is now valued at $150,600. That kind of growth typically reflects sustained demand rather than speculative frenzy.