Somerset County Demographics

A map of Somerset County's Population by Race

Somerset County, Maine has an estimated population of 50,959, a less than 1% change from the 50,477 recorded in the 2020 Census. The population is 93.8% White, 3.4% Multiracial, 1.5% Hispanic, 0.5% Black, 0.4% Asian, and 0.3% Native American/Other. This demographic dot map shows the population of Somerset County, with one dot drawn for each person counted by the Census, color-coded by race.

Somerset has become less racially diverse since the 2020 Census. It is considerably less diverse than Maine overall. Demographers use a diversity index to measure the probability that two randomly selected individuals belong to different racial or ethnic groups. In Somerset County, that probability was 13.4% in 2020 and 11.8% in the most recent ACS estimates.

Somerset County is ranked the 9th most populous county in Maine, out of 16 counties. Somerset County was ranked the 9th most populous county in the 2020 Census.

Somerset County's White Population

47,820 residents of Somerset County, or 93.8% of the population, identify as White. The share of White residents in Somerset County is slightly higher than in Maine overall, where 89.9% of the population is White. Somerset County ranks 3rd statewide in terms of White residents as a share of the population, out of 16 counties.

Since the 2020 Census, Somerset County's White population has grown by an estimated 1.9%. White residents' share of Somerset County's population has increased from 92.9% to 93.8%.

Somerset County is more White than neighboring Franklin County (93.1% White), Piscataquis County (92.7% White), Kennebec County (91.8% White), Oxford County (92.2% White), and Penobscot County (91.1% White).

Somerset County's Black Population

249 residents of Somerset County, or 0.5% of the population, identify as Black. The share of Black residents in Somerset County is comparable to the share in Maine overall, where 1.8% of the population is Black. Somerset County ranks 12th statewide in terms of Black residents as a share of the population, out of 16 counties.

Since the 2020 Census, Somerset County's Black population has remained roughly the same. Black residents' share of Somerset County's population has remained roughly unchanged at 0.5%.

Somerset County is more Black than neighboring Oxford County (0.3% Black). Somerset County is less Black than neighboring Franklin County (0.8% Black), Piscataquis County (1% Black), Kennebec County (0.9% Black), and Penobscot County (1.1% Black).

Somerset County's Asian Population

192 residents of Somerset County, or 0.4% of the population, identify as Asian. The share of Asian residents in Somerset County is comparable to the share in Maine overall, where 1.1% of the population is Asian. Somerset County ranks 13th statewide in terms of Asian residents as a share of the population, out of 16 counties.

Since the 2020 Census, Somerset County's Asian population has declined by an estimated 26.4%. Asian residents' share of Somerset County's population has remained roughly unchanged at 0.4%.

Somerset County is less Asian than neighboring Franklin County (0.6% Asian), Piscataquis County (0.8% Asian), Kennebec County (0.9% Asian), Oxford County (0.7% Asian), and Penobscot County (1.1% Asian).

Somerset County's Hispanic Population

787 residents of Somerset County, or 1.5% of the population, identify as Hispanic. The share of Hispanic residents in Somerset County is comparable to the share in Maine overall, where 2.2% of the population is Hispanic. Somerset County ranks 15th statewide in terms of Hispanic residents as a share of the population, out of 16 counties.

Since the 2020 Census, Somerset County's Hispanic population has grown by an estimated 20.0%. Hispanic residents' share of Somerset County's population has remained roughly unchanged at 1.5%.

Somerset County is less Hispanic than neighboring Franklin County (1.7% Hispanic), Piscataquis County (1.9% Hispanic), Kennebec County (2.3% Hispanic), Oxford County (1.7% Hispanic), and Penobscot County (2.1% Hispanic).

Somerset County's Native American/Other Population

172 residents of Somerset County, or 0.3% of the population, identify as American Indian/Alaska Native/Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islander/Other. The share of Native American/Other residents in Somerset County is comparable to the share in Maine overall, where 0.7% of the population is Native American/Other. Somerset County ranks 7th statewide in terms of Native American/Other residents as a share of the population, out of 16 counties.

Since the 2020 Census, Somerset County's Native American/Other population has declined by an estimated 53.1%. Native American/Other residents' share of Somerset County's population has remained roughly unchanged at 0.3%.

Somerset County is less Native American/Other than neighboring Franklin County (0.5% Native American/Other), Kennebec County (0.5% Native American/Other), Oxford County (0.6% Native American/Other), and Penobscot County (1.3% Native American/Other).

Somerset County's Multiracial Population

1,739 residents of Somerset County, or 3.4% of the population, identify as Multiracial. The share of Multiracial residents in Somerset County is comparable to the share in Maine overall, where 4.2% of the population is Multiracial. Somerset County ranks 5th statewide in terms of Multiracial residents as a share of the population, out of 16 counties.

Since the 2020 Census, Somerset County's Multiracial population has declined by an estimated 14.4%. Multiracial residents' share of Somerset County's population has decreased from 4.0% to 3.4%.

Somerset County is more Multiracial than neighboring Franklin County (3.3% Multiracial), and Piscataquis County (3.3% Multiracial). Somerset County is less Multiracial than neighboring Kennebec County (3.7% Multiracial), and Oxford County (4.5% Multiracial).

Sources: Most recent population estimates are from the 2020-2024 American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates. 2020 population counts and map data are from 2020 Census State Redistricting Data. Geographic data are from Census TIGER/Line Shapefiles.