2 census tracts · pop 8,453 · pop-weighted Eviction Risk Score 7.1/10
· range 6.9–7.2
Somerville is a black (non-hispanic) neighborhood in Philadelphia with 2 census tracts and a population of 8,453 residents. The neighborhood's pop-weighted eviction-risk score of 7.1/10 (Elevated tier) blends state law, county-level filing rates, parent-city politics, and tract-specific rent-to-income ratios + poverty. 65% of renters here pay at least 30% of household income on rent, and 36% are severely cost-burdened (≥50% of income). Average gross rent of $451/month sits 68% lower than the Philadelphia citywide average ($1,397).
Risk score
7.1
Elevated
2 tracts · population-weighted
Somerville vs PhiladelphiaHow this neighborhood stacks against the citywide average
Single-parent HH, disability, language barriers, age 17- / 65+
Racial/ethnic minority98%ile
Hispanic + non-white share of population
Housing & transport47%ile
Multi-unit structures, mobile homes, crowding, no vehicle
Eviction filings · Princeton Eviction Lab
Court-record eviction history in Somerville
Aggregated across 2 validated constituent tracts. Filing rate is filings per 100 renter households, pop-weighted.
Historic baseline (2000–2018)
611Total filings (sum)
12.21%Avg annual filing rate
29.9%Peak year (2012)
10.36%Latest filed (2016)
Pandemic-era tracking (2020–2021)
456Total filings 2020-21
3.0Avg monthly observed
6.0Pre-pandemic baseline
0.50×Ratio to baseline
Pandemic filings ran far below baseline. Tracked under Eviction Lab Eviction Tracking System (Palm Beach).
Frequently asked
About Somerville
Q1
What is the eviction-risk score for Somerville?
Somerville scores 7.1/10 (Elevated tier) across 2 census tracts. The pop-weighted Eviction Risk Score blends state law, county filing rates, parent-city politics, and tract-specific rent-to-income and poverty signals.
Q2
How does Somerville compare to Philadelphia overall?
Somerville scores 1.6 points higher than Philadelphia overall (5.5/10). Renters spend 65% of income on rent vs 31% citywide. Average rent: $451 vs $1,397.
Q3
What is the average rent in Somerville?
Average gross rent in Somerville is $451/month (pop-weighted across 2 census tracts, ACS 5-year 2023). 65% of renter households are cost-burdened.
Q4
What percentage of Somerville residents are renters?
41% of Somerville households are renter-occupied (vs 48% in Philadelphia). The neighborhood has 8,453 residents.
Q5
Is Somerville a high social-vulnerability area?
Somerville sits in the 83rd percentile nationally on the CDC Social Vulnerability Index (highly vulnerable). The index combines poverty, unemployment, household composition, racial/ethnic minority share, and housing/transportation factors across all US census tracts.
Q6
Which tracts in Somerville have the highest eviction risk?
The highest-risk constituent tract in Somerville is census tract 42101027700 (score 7.2/10). Across the 2 tracts in this neighborhood the score ranges from 6.9 to 7.2, a spread of 0.3 points.
Q7
How safe is Somerville for landlords?
Somerville carries a elevated-tier eviction-risk profile for landlords (7.1/10). Pop-weighted across 2 constituent tracts, the score blends parent-city rent-control posture, county eviction-process timelines, and tract-specific rent-to-income / poverty signals. Compared to Philadelphia as a whole (5.5/10), this neighborhood is higher-risk.
Q8
What is the demographic breakdown of Somerville?
Somerville has 8,730 residents (Black (non-Hispanic) Neighborhood). Top groups: Black (non-Hispanic) (92.2%), Other / Multiracial (3.2%), Hispanic / Latino (1.8%). Source: ACS 5-year 2023, table B03002.
