The Town FilesSomerset, Kentucky
City in Pulaski County · population 11,924 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $144,000
- Household income
- $34,704
- Jan low / Jul high
- 29° / 87°
- Snow a year
- 11 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 14
- Median age
- 39.8
Somerset is a city of 11,924 people in Pulaski County, Kentucky. The median home is worth $144,000, below the typical Kentucky town ($161,450). It ranks more vibrant than 83% of Kentucky towns, more walkable than 74% of Kentucky towns.
How Somerset ranks
Percentile among Kentucky towns with at least 500 people on The Town Files lifestyle rankings. 50 is typical for the state; 90 means better than 90% of Kentucky towns.
Homes and cost of living
The median home in Somerset is worth $144,000, below the typical Kentucky town ($161,450). Homes cost about 4.1 times the median household income of $34,704, which is more affordable than 13% of Kentucky towns. Median rent is $775 a month. 48.9% of households own their home.
| Housing | Somerset | Typical Kentucky town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $144,000 | $161,450 |
| Median rent | $775 | $837 |
| Median household income | $34,704 | $54,969 |
| Home value ÷ income | 4.1× | 3.0× |
| Homeownership | 48.9% | 63.5% |
| Median year built | 1977 | 1974 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.7% | — |
Who lives in Somerset
| People | Somerset | Typical Kentucky town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 39.8 | 39.1 |
| Age 65 and over | 20.4% | 18.1% |
| Under 18 | 21.8% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 19.9% | 19.8% |
| Below the poverty line | 27.2% | 18.0% |
| Veterans | 5.2% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 1.9% | — |
| Work from home | 8.7% | 7.5% |
| Average commute | 23.7 min | 22.2 min |
| Homes with broadband | 83.6% | 88.6% |
Weather in Somerset
July highs average 86.5°F and January lows 29.0°F. About 53.3 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 10.9 inches of snow (typical Kentucky town: 9.4 in). Expect about 21 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 94 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
14 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Somerset since 1950, compared with 19 for the typical Kentucky town. 4 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an EF4, struck on May 16, 2025 about 2.7 miles from the town center and killed 1. Tornadoes within 10 miles have caused 1 deaths and 11 injuries since 1950. The most recent was on May 16, 2025.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 64 times; the largest was 4.50 inches on May 1, 2002.
Severe weather in Pulaski County since 1996
Pulaski County has been included in 25 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for flood, tornado, hurricane.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| May 29, 2026 | Winter Storm | DR-4913: Severe Winter Storm |
| January 24, 2026 | Winter Storm | EM-3633: Severe Winter Storm |
| May 23, 2025 | Severe Storm | DR-4875: Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, And Tornadoes |
| April 3, 2025 | Severe Storm | EM-3626: Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Tornadoes, And Flooding |
| February 24, 2025 | Severe Storm | DR-4860: Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Flooding, Landslides, And Mudslides |
Jobs and pay in Pulaski County
Pulaski County had 26,252 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $48,057 a year. Unemployment was 4.8% in 2023; in Somerset itself the ACS puts it at 8.7%.
Public schools in Somerset
15 public schools with 8,458 students, about 16.1 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Southwestern High School | 9-12 | 1,203 | 16.7 |
| Pulaski County High School | 9-12 | 1,173 | 15.6 |
| Southern Middle School | 6-8 | 831 | 19.3 |
| Northern Middle School | 6-8 | 797 | 18.1 |
| Hopkins Elementary School | PK-4 | 698 | 16.6 |
| Southern Elementary School | K-5 | 646 | 13.5 |
| Pulaski Elementary School | K-5 | 559 | 14.3 |
| Oak Hill Elementary School | K-5 | 538 | 14.9 |
| Somerset High School | 9-12 | 526 | 13.2 |
| Meece Middle School | 5-8 | 469 | 13.4 |
| Shopville Elementary School | PK-5 | 360 | 17.1 |
| Northern Elementary School | PK-5 | 347 | 12.9 |
Towns near Somerset
- Monticello, KY21.7 mi · 5,753 people · home $132,400
- Russell Springs, KY26.3 mi · 2,715 people · home $170,300
- London, KY29.2 mi · 7,572 people · home $170,200
- Corbin, KY29.8 mi · 7,856 people · home $166,000
Somerset questions
Is Somerset, Kentucky a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Somerset scores better for retirees than 25% of Kentucky towns and quieter than 22%. 20.4% of residents are 65 or older (median age 39.8).
How much does a house cost in Somerset?
The median owner-occupied home in Somerset is valued at $144,000 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $34,704, so homes cost about 4.1 times income. Median rent is $775 a month.
What is the weather like in Somerset?
July highs average 86.5°F and January lows 29.0°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 53.3 inches of precipitation a year and 10.9 inches of snow.
Does Somerset get tornadoes?
14 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Somerset since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was an EF4 on May 16, 2025. The typical Kentucky town has had 19.
- U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates (2020–2024)
- U.S. Census Bureau, 2020 Census and 2025 Gazetteer (2020 / 2025)
- NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals (1991–2020)
- NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database (1950–2026)
- FEMA OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations (this product uses the FEMA OpenFEMA API but is not endorsed by FEMA) (1953–2026)
- NCES Common Core of Data (2023–24)
- BLS Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages; USDA ERS county unemployment (BLS LAUS) (2000–2024)
- The Town Files lifestyle rankings, built from federal demographic, school, crime and housing data (2025)