C

Somerset, WI

Source:

Affordability Score: 55/100

Population: 6,864 · 1 ZIP codes

The affordability dashboard for Somerset, WI aggregates Census ACS 5-Year Estimates across 1 ZIP code covering 6,864 residents, then layers in county-level federal data to produce an overall grade of C (55/100). The headline inputs are median household income of $86,930, median home value of $386,500, median rent of $1,194 per month, and 26.8% of adults holding a bachelor's degree or higher. These four metrics alone explain most of the variance between city dashboards.

Cross-agency feeds widen the picture beyond Census demographics. HUD publishes a Fair Market Rent for a 2-bedroom in this county at $1,709 per month (studio $1,242, 1BR $1,405, 3BR $2,262, 4BR $2,531). Department of Labor data lists infant center-based childcare at $10,920 per year, consuming 13% of the local median household income.

Reading the overall grade requires reading all seven dimensions together. The score weights Income 20%, Safety 20%, Housing 15%, Rent 15%, Education 10%, Commute 10%, and Childcare 10%, with each sub-score benchmarked against national percentiles rather than state averages — so the grade is genuinely comparable across any city in the country. Pressure points are housing, commute. Unemployment currently reads 1.1% and poverty 7.5% — numbers worth keeping alongside the headline grade.

Score Breakdown

Income B
$86,930
Median household income
Education D
26.8%
Bachelor's degree or higher
Housing F
4.4x
Home value $386,500 vs income
Commute F
29 min
Average commute time
Rent B
$1,709/mo
2BR fair market rent (24% of income)
Safety N/A
N/A
Violent crime rate (county)
Childcare C+
$10,920/yr
Center-based infant care (13% of income)

Income & Employment

Median Income
$86,930
▲ 40% vs national
Per Capita Income
$45,578
Unemployment Rate
1.1%
Poverty Rate
7.5%

Housing

Median Home Value
$386,500
▲ 41% vs national
Median Rent
$1,194/mo
Owner Occupied
80.4%
2BR Fair Market Rent
$1,709/mo
▲ 42% vs national

Fair Market Rents by Bedroom

Studio
$1,242
1BR
$1,405
2BR
$1,709
3BR
$2,262
4BR
$2,531

Safety

Violent Crime Rate
Data Source
FBI UCR (county-level)

Education & Family

Bachelor's Degree+
26.8%
▼ 3 ppt vs national
High School+
61.4%
Median Age
43.0
Avg. Commute
29 min
▲ 3 min vs national

Childcare Costs

Infant (Center)
$10,920/yr
13% of income
Toddler (Center)
$9,880/yr
Preschool (Center)
$9,880/yr
School-Age (Center)
$8,528/yr

What This Means

Somerset, WI receives an overall affordability grade of C (55/100), aggregated from 1 ZIP codes with a total population of 6,864. Challenges include housing and commute. Data was unavailable for safety — these dimensions were excluded from the overall score.

Nearby City Dashboards

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What are common questions about this dashboard?

Is Somerset, WI affordable?
Somerset, WI receives an overall affordability grade of C (55/100) based on Census, HUD, FBI, and DOL data. Median household income is $86,930. Median home value is $386,500.
What is the cost of living in Somerset?
Key cost metrics: Median rent $1,194/mo. 2BR fair market rent $1,709/mo. Infant childcare $10,920/yr. Median home value $386,500.
How is the affordability score calculated?
The score evaluates 7 dimensions weighted by importance: Income (20%), Safety (20%), Housing (15%), Rent (15%), Education (10%), Commute (10%), and Childcare (10%). Each metric is compared against national percentile benchmarks from Census, HUD, FBI, and DOL data.

Data as of 2024. Source: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year Estimates. Source: HUD Fair Market Rents. Source: FBI Uniform Crime Report. Source: DOL National Database of Childcare Prices. Verify with HUD →