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This analysis uses Suburbs and Localities (SAL) boundaries, which can materially differ from Statistical Areas (SA2) even when sharing the same name.
SAL boundaries are defined by Australia Post and the Australian Bureau of Statistics to represent commonly-known suburb names used in postal addresses.
Statistical Areas (SA2) are designed for census data collection and may combine multiple suburbs or use different geographic boundaries. For comprehensive analysis, consider reviewing both boundary types if available.
est. as @ -- *
2021 Census | -- people
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Somers has an estimated 1,743 residents, down from 1,857 at the 2021 Census — a change of 114 people, or 6.1%. The population has thinned by an average 1.5% a year over five years, slower than 99% of areas nationally. That puts 117 residents on each square kilometre. Population is estimated from ABS Estimated Resident Population releases and GNAF address data, re-based from the 2021 Census and updated annually.
Detail
According to AreaSearch's evaluation of broader ABS population revisions and post-Census validated address additions, the population of the suburb of Somers stands at approximately 1,743 as of Aug 2026. Compared to the 1,857 residents recorded in the 2021 Census, this indicates a contraction of 114 people (6.1%). This figure is deduced from an estimated resident base of 1,740 following ABS ERP figures published in June 2025, alongside 1 validated new addresses registered after the Census. With a population density of 116 persons per square kilometer, the suburb provides ample space per resident as well as scope for upcoming building activity.
Recent demographic expansion was largely fueled by overseas arrivals, who accounted for around 55.00000000000001% of overall population additions. In mapping future demographics, AreaSearch references 2024 ABS/Geoscience Australia SA2 projections with a 2022 baseline, supplemented by 2023 VIC State Government Regional/LGA datasets where SA2 figures are unavailable, using weighted aggregation from LGA down to SA2 boundaries. Age-bracket growth rates derived from this process are further projected across all districts between 2032 and 2041. Over the coming years, population gains across the suburb of Somers are slated to outpace the national median across statistical divisions, adding 322 persons by 2041 under consolidated SA2 models and generating an overall expansion of 18.3% across the 16 years.
Frequently Asked Questions - Population
23 new dwellings have been approved in Somers over the past five years, an average of 4 a year. That is 2.6 approvals per 1,000 residents. Few approvals have been recorded in the most recent months, well below the longer-run average; the latest ABS periods are still being reported. Figures come from ABS building approvals aggregated to this Suburb (SAL) boundary and are updated monthly as the ABS releases them.
Detail
Analysis of ABS building approvals compiled across local statistical districts indicates that Somers has seen an average of roughly 4 residential approvals annually. Across the preceding 5 financial years (from FY-21 to FY-25), an estimated 23 residences were sanctioned, though no new approvals have been recorded during FY-25. Amidst recent population contractions, new residential construction has generally kept pace with buyer requirements, maintaining solid market availability. Per-capita residential construction in Somers is roughly half the level recorded across Greater Melbourne, ranking the locality in the 4th percentile across Australia. This limited pipeline constrains purchasing choices while boosting interest in established dwellings.
Such subdued building activity falls below nationwide standards, underscoring local market maturity and potential regulatory or geographic constraints. Of recent residential projects, 80.0% comprise detached houses while 20.0% represent medium to high-density builds, reinforcing the community's spacious character and appealing to buyers pursuing standalone properties. According to recent quarterly calculations from AreaSearch, Somers is projected to add 319 residents by 2041. Should residential construction persist at current rates, housing creation could trail demographic expansion, heightening buyer competition and underpinning accelerated property price gains.
Frequently Asked Questions - Development
Development applications around Somers
SOURCE: Planning portals and council registers, compiled by AreaSearch. Distance & bearing measured from the suburb midpoint.
AreaSearch tracks 61 current infrastructure and development projects close to Somers, worth an estimated $6.82 billion. 14 are already under construction and 19 are due for completion within three years. The pipeline spans residential development, ports, marinas, fisheries & aquaculture and communities, precincts & urban renewal. Records are compiled from Infrastructure Australia, state agencies, council planning portals and public announcements, reviewed and updated daily, then ranked by proximity, construction stage, completion horizon and project scale.
Detail
Local capital programs and strategic planning exert a substantial influence on community evolution. AreaSearch has tracked no major projects anticipated to directly alter the immediate area. Notable regional initiatives encompass the Mornington Peninsula Residential Development Program, Western Port Marine Infrastructure, Stony Point Line Service Improvements, and Housing for the Peninsula (Amendment C219morn), with key details highlighted below.
Professional plan users can use the search below to filter and access additional projects.
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Denotes AI-based impression for illustrative purposes only, not to be taken as definitive under any circumstances. Please follow links and conduct other investigations from the project's source for actual imagery. Developers and project owners wishing us to use original imagery please Contact Us and we will do so.
Frequently Asked Questions - Infrastructure
Mornington Peninsula Housing and Settlement Strategy
Strategic residential development program and Housing and Settlement Strategy guiding future housing and population growth across the Mornington Peninsula to 2036. The strategy aims to manage the delivery of approximately 24,000 new dwellings while protecting the region's character.
Port of Hastings Marine Infrastructure and Western Port Development
Ongoing planning and staged marine infrastructure upgrades across the Port of Hastings and Western Port. Current priorities include long-term port development, infrastructure supporting renewable energy supply chains, maintenance of commercial marine assets, protection of the internationally significant Ramsar wetlands, and continued improvements to boating and maritime infrastructure. The Port Development Strategy 2055 is guiding future investment while environmental assessment continues for major new marine infrastructure.
HMAS Cerberus Redevelopment
A $463 million redevelopment of the Royal Australian Navy's primary training facility at Crib Point, covering a 1,517-hectare site including heritage-listed areas. Delivered by managing contractor Lendlease in two phases (Phase 1 completed mid-2020, Phase 2 completed mid-2025), the project upgraded essential service infrastructure including water, electrical, sewerage, stormwater, ICT and gas; refurbished training facilities and living-in accommodation; and constructed new specialist training simulators including a Survival and Ship Safety facility. The base is now certified fit-for-purpose until at least 2037.In February 2026 the government announced a partial divestment of non-operational land including vacant land and the golf course.
HMAS Cerberus Minor Building Refurbishments
Refurbishment and facility upgrades across multiple existing buildings at the HMAS Cerberus naval training base under Defence Medium Works Contract EST08651. Managed by Aurecon on behalf of the Department of Defence, the works delivered compliance rectification, structural remediation, internal fit-out upgrades, and building services modernization across the base.
Lifestyle Communities Phillip Island
Lifestyle Communities Phillip Island is a master-planned land lease community for downsizers over 50 located at 498 Settlement Road in Cowes. The development includes approximately 165 low-maintenance homes alongside multi-million-dollar community facilities including a clubhouse, indoor and outdoor pools, gym, and bowling green. Construction and progressive stage releases remain ongoing.
Isle of Wight Hotel Redevelopment
Redevelopment of 140-year-old pub into 7-story mixed-use hotel with 163 keys, pool deck, rooftop sports courts, and key-worker hostel. Includes pub, bistro, dining options, and shops.
Samuel Property Warley Avenue Apartments
Permit approved luxury residential development comprising 91 apartments across two five-storey buildings with 117 car spaces on a 4,053sqm beachfront site. The project remains approved, however the site was placed on the market during 2025 for sale to another developer with the benefit of the existing permit. No construction has commenced.
Baabak Hastings Early Parenting Centre
Completed early parenting centre with 10 residential family units, 4 day-stay places, kitchen and dining area, playrooms, multi-purpose rooms, outdoor play areas and landscaping at 185 High Street, Hastings. Officially named Baabak Hastings Early Parenting Centre, using a Boonwurrung word meaning caring or nourishing a child. Delivered by the Victorian Health Building Authority in partnership with the Queen Elizabeth Centre (QEC), with support from Peninsula Health, Brand Architects and builder SJ Higgins. The centre is now open and welcoming families on the Mornington Peninsula, part of a wider more than $168 million state early parenting centres expansion and upgrade program.
883 residents of Somers are employed, from a labour force of 914. Unemployment sits at 3.4%, with participation at 60.5%. Weighted for its industry mix, the area's sectors are forecast to grow about 6.6% nationally over five years. That reflects industry composition only and makes no allowance for local population growth. Unemployment and labour force come from ABS Small Area Labour Markets, updated quarterly; the industry and occupation profile is from the 2021 Census.
Detail
The employment landscape in Somers is characterized by a well educated population and strong representation in essential services, with an unemployment rate of 3.4% and an estimated employment growth of 0.6% over the previous year according to AreaSearch statistical area data. As of March 2026, the local workforce consists of 883 residents employed, and the unemployment rate stands at 1.4% lower than the Greater Melbourne rate of 4.8%. However, workforce participation is notably lower at 60.5% compared to Greater Melbourne's 70.1%. Census data indicates that a substantial 32.9% of residents worked from home, though it is important to account for the influence of Covid-19 lockdown measures on these figures.
Local workforce participation is heavily weighted toward health care & social assistance, education & training, and construction. Specialization in education & training is pronounced, capturing a market share 1.5 times the wider regional benchmark. Conversely, transport, postal & warehousing comprises only 2.3% of the resident workforce, trailing the 5.2% recorded across Greater Melbourne. Comparing Census workplace tallies against resident numbers indicates that a significant share of working locals travel outside the immediate area for their jobs. Examining aggregated SALM and ABS statistics over the past 12-month timeframe shows that local employment expanded by 0.6% as the labour pool shrank by 0.1%, driving a 0.7 percentage points reduction in unemployment. In comparison, Greater Melbourne saw employment climb 2.1%, the workforce increase 2.3%, and unemployment rise 0.2 percentage points. Longer-term expectations from Jobs and Skills Australia's Mar-26 projections outline nationwide job gains of 6.6% across five years and 13.7% across ten years, with sector-specific trends varying. Applying these sector trajectories to the local occupational breakdown suggests Somers could see employment grow by 6.6% over five years and 13.6% over ten years, based on illustrative weighting without factoring in local population projections.
Frequently Asked Questions - Employment
Median household income in Somers is $1,906 a week (about $99,000 a year), with median personal income at $874 a week. ATO records put median taxable income at $57,127 a year against an average of $79,627. Household income is from the 2021 Census; taxable income is from ATO Taxation Statistics for the latest financial year available, indexed forward using the ABS Wage Price Index.
Detail
ATO postcode records for financial year 2023 place Somers among the most affluent Australian localities, showing a median income of $57,127 and an average income of $79,627, compared to Greater Melbourne metrics of $57,688 and $75,164. Factoring in a 9.62% increase in the Wage Price Index since financial year 2023, March 2026 estimates indicate figures of roughly $62,623 (median) and $87,287 (average). Census returns position local household, family, and individual incomes near the 61st percentile nationally. Furthermore, 31.5% of residents (549 people) fall into the $1,500 - 2,999 income tier, aligning with the regional share of 32.8%.
Residents keep 90.1% of their earnings following housing expenses, and the district attains a SEIFA income placement in the 8th decile.
Frequently Asked Questions - Income
Somers had 686 occupied dwellings at the 2021 Census, 95% detached houses and 0% apartments. 28% are owned with a mortgage, 13% rented and 59% owned outright. At that Census the median rent was $391 a week and the median mortgage repayment $2,167 a month. Rent absorbs 20.5% of household income here and mortgage repayments 26.2%. Dwelling stock, tenure and housing costs are 2021 Census measures — the only source that counts dwellings at this boundary size.
Detail
At the most recent Census, the local housing stock consisted of 94.8% standalone houses and 5.2% alternative structures (including apartments, semi-detached, and other dwellings), differing from Melbourne metro where houses constituted 67.9% and other dwellings made up 32.1%. Outright home ownership reached 59.4%, substantially exceeding the metropolitan standard, while mortgaged properties accounted for 28.0% and rented homes represented 12.6%. Monthly mortgage payments stood at a median of $2,167 compared to $2,000 across Melbourne metro, while weekly rent averaged $391 against the metropolitan $390. Across Australia, local mortgage commitments surpass the national average of $1,863, and rents remain above the national figure of $375.
Frequently Asked Questions - Housing
Somers counted 686 households at the 2021 Census, averaging 2.4 people each. 29% are couples with children, against 38% couples without children. 25% of households are people living alone, and families average 1.8 children. Household and family composition is measured only by the Census, so these are 2021 figures.
Detail
Family units constitute 74.6% of local dwellings, made up of couples without children (37.7%), couples with children (28.8%), and single parent families (7.1%). The remaining 25.4% consists of non-family living arrangements, primarily lone person households (25.1%) and group households (0.7%). The median household occupancy of 2.4 people sits below the Greater Melbourne benchmark of 2.6.
Frequently Asked Questions - Households
41.5% of adults in Somers hold a university qualification, including 26.2% with a bachelor degree and 10.1% with postgraduate qualifications, higher than 80% of areas nationally. A further 18.8% hold a vocational qualification. 2 schools serve the area, with 206 enrolment places and an average ICSEA of 1,045 against a national benchmark of 1,000. Qualifications come from the 2021 Census; school enrolments, ICSEA and results come from ACARA's current release.
Detail
Tertiary attainment in Somers outpaces regional figures, with 41.5% of citizens aged 15+ holding university degrees compared to 23.5% across the SA4 region and 25.0% in the SA3 area. Bachelor degrees account for 26.2%, postgraduate credentials make up 10.1%, and graduate diplomas represent 5.2%. Technical qualifications are also prevalent, with 34.3% of the 15+ demographic possessing vocational awards, divided between advanced diplomas (15.5%) and certificates (18.8%). Participation in study is robust, with 27.6% of residents actively attending educational institutions. This comprises 10.3% attending primary school, 8.7% enrolled in secondary education, and 3.8% undertaking tertiary studies.
Frequently Asked Questions - Education
Schools Detail
Public transport in Somers reaches 23 stops on 1 route, timetabled for about 210 services a week. The typical home sits about 230 m from its nearest stop. Households keep an average of 1.7 vehicles. Stop and service counts are built from operators' published GTFS timetables and refresh with each timetable release; vehicle ownership is from the 2021 Census.
Detail
Public transport connectivity in Somers includes 23 active bus stops operating across 1 individual routes, providing 205 weekly passenger trips. Access to transit remains convenient, with local residents situated an average of 233 meters from a stop. The vehicle-reliant commuting pattern is evident with cars accounting for 92% of journeys and walking representing 6%. Vehicle ownership averages 1.7 per dwelling, outpacing the wider region, while 32.9% of residents worked from home during the 2021 Census under pandemic-related conditions. Local public transit delivers a combined frequency of 29 trips per day across all services, translating to roughly 8 weekly trips per individual stop.
Frequently Asked Questions - Transport
Transport Stops Detail
67.1% of residents in Somers report no long-term health condition, a healthier profile than 94% of areas nationally. 2.9% need daily assistance with core activities, and 58.3% hold private health cover. The standardised death rate runs at 2.7 per 1,000 residents. Health conditions, assistance needs and insurance are 2021 Census measures; the death rate comes from current ABS releases.
Detail
AreaSearch health metrics show strong physical well-being across Somers, marked by low chronic disease rates and reduced mortality figures across cohorts, alongside substantial private health insurance coverage extending to approximately 58% of all residents (~1,015 people). Arthritis and mental health conditions are the most prevalent health concerns, diagnosed in 10.1% and 7.4% of residents, respectively, whereas 67.1% reported no long-term medical issues (against 72.6% in Greater Melbourne). Residents aged under 65 exhibit favorable health indicators. Those aged 65 and over comprise 35.4% of the population (617 people), outpacing Greater Melbourne's 15.1%, with local seniors sustaining positive health profiles consistent with broader benchmarks.
Frequently Asked Questions - Health
Somers is largely Australian-born, at 83.3% of residents, with 3.1% speaking a language other than English at home. The largest reported ancestries are English (33.6%) and Australian (27.4%). Ancestry, language and country of birth are counted only by the Census, so these are 2021 figures.
Detail
Cultural diversity metrics for Somers sit beneath broader standards, with 83.3% of residents born in Australia, 89.4% holding Australian citizenship, and 96.9% speaking exclusively English at home. Christianity represents the predominant faith, practiced by 37.3% of the community. Judaism forms 0.2% of the local demographic, compared to 1.0% across Greater Melbourne. Looking at ancestral heritage, the leading reported backgrounds in Somers are English at 33.6% (compared to 20.1% regionally), Australian at 27.4% (against 18.4% regionally), and Irish at 11.3%. Other distinct cultural representations include Scottish at 11.0% (versus 5.6% across the region), Dutch at 1.9% (versus 1.2%), and Hungarian at 0.4% (versus 0.3%).
Frequently Asked Questions - Diversity
The median resident of Somers is 54, older than 95% of areas nationally. That is 1 year older than at the 2021 Census. 11.1% of residents are aged 15 to 34. Age cohorts are not raw Census counts: the Census split is re-based to the latest ABS population estimates and state projections.
Detail
The demographic makeup of Somers reflects a pronounced retirement and coastal lifestyle orientation. Older and retired residents (65+) represent 35.4% of the community as at August 2026, compared to 15.1% across Greater Melbourne, while young to middle aged adults (25 - 44) make up only 14.1% versus 32.1% across the broader metropolis. The local median age is estimated at 54, climbing from 53 at the 2021 Census, which exceeds the Greater Melbourne Census figure of 37 by 17 years and sits above the Australian Census median of 38. Since the Census, the senior cohort has expanded from 30.6% to an estimated 35.4%.
Looking ahead to 2041, senior brackets are slated to experience the greatest growth, increasing by 276 residents (45%) to 893, while cohorts of children, young adults, and young to middle-aged residents are projected to decline.
Frequently Asked Questions - Age
Data & MethodBoundaries, Sources & Method for Somers
9 of 14 data sections on this page were updated within the last 12 months — the newest current to Oct 2026.
Everything is aggregated to the Suburb (SAL) boundary shown above, on a 2021 Census baseline. Only 3 sections — housing, households and cultural diversity — still wait on the 2026 Census.
The ledger — source, cycle and currency by section
| Section | Source & update cycle | Currency |
|---|---|---|
| Updated within the last 12 months 9 sections | ||
| Population | ABS, GNAF, Geoscience Australia Annual (ABS ERP) | Aug 2026 2 months ago headline measures · 2021 Census baseline |
| Re-based to the ABS Estimated Resident Population (June 2025 release) and updated with new dwellings from GNAF address data. Current to Aug 2026, with the 2021 Census supplying the small-area baseline. | ||
| Age profile | ABS, Geoscience Australia, State governments Annual | Aug 2026 2 months ago headline measures · 2021 Census baseline |
| Age cohorts are re-based to the latest ABS population estimates and state projections, current to Aug 2026. Each cohort is held as a Census baseline and a current estimate. | ||
| Development & approvals | ABS, GNAF Monthly (ABS approvals) | Aug 2026 2 months ago headline measures · Jul 2026 baseline |
| Property sales & rents | Valuer General, Rental Board, ABS Weekly sales, quarterly rents | Oct 2026 this month headline measures · Sep 2026 baseline |
| Sales from the state Valuer General register, refreshed weekly, and rents from quarterly rental bond lodgements. Both are read live each time this page loads, current to Oct 2026. | ||
| Infrastructure projects | Infrastructure Australia, Local governments Daily | May 2026 5 months ago all 2 projects tracked here |
| Project pipeline maintained continuously from Infrastructure Australia, state agencies, local government and public announcements. Records are added and revised daily; this area was last updated May 2026. | ||
| Employment | ABS, DEWR, JSA Quarterly (ABS SALM) | Mar 2026 7 months ago headline measures · 2021 Census baseline |
| Unemployment and labour force from ABS Small Area Labour Markets, current to Mar 2026. The growth outlook applies Department of Employment (now Jobs and Skills Australia) forecasts for all 19 industry divisions to the local industry mix, so it measures sector composition rather than local expansion and makes no allowance for population growth. Job demand comes from the same agency via its Internet Vacancy Index; industry and occupation structure from the 2021 Census. | ||
| Education | ABS, ACARA Annual (ACARA) | Sep 2026 last month headline measures · 2021 Census baseline |
| Transport | ABS, State Transport Departments Each timetable release | Jul 2026 3 months ago headline measures · 2021 Census baseline |
| Services & amenities | Provider directories, ACECQA Continuous | Sep 2026 last month all 14 measures |
| Annual and financial-year sources 2 sections | ||
| Income | ABS, ATO Annual (ATO) | FY 2023 3 years ago headline measures · 2021 Census baseline |
| ATO taxable income statistics for FY 2023, indexed forward using the Wage Price Index. Census household income provides the distribution detail. | ||
| Health | ABS, ATO Annual | 2024 2 years ago headline measures · 2021 Census baseline |
| Census-measured — next update: 2026 Census 3 sections No more current small-area source exists for these, so they are labelled as Census-measured rather than implied to be current. | ||
| Housing | ABS 5-yearly (Census) | 2021 Census next update 2026 all 30 measures |
| Households | ABS 5-yearly (Census) | 2021 Census next update 2026 all 18 measures |
| Cultural diversity | ABS, Geoscience Australia 5-yearly (Census) | 2021 Census next update 2026 all 44 measures |
"Currency" is the most recent release feeding that section. Where the Census supplies the structural baseline underneath a current headline figure, the row says so.
How the numbers are built
Population
The Census provides the small-area baseline, aggregated from mesh blocks to this boundary. It is then re-based to the ABS Estimated Resident Population (June 2025 release), and new dwellings built since Census night are counted from address data — 1 validated new addresses here. The headline figure is therefore a current estimate for Aug 2026, not a 2021 count (1,857 at the 2021 Census → 1,743 now). Annual growth rates are compound (CAGR), not simple averages.
Age profile
Cohort shares are not raw Census counts. Every cohort is held as a pair — the Census baseline and a current estimate — and the split is re-based using ERP and state population projections, current to Aug 2026. Median age is the Census median plus modelled change since. Charts that show both are labelled "2021 Census vs Current Estimate".
Property sales
Sourced from the state valuation authority's sales register — current, not Census, and refreshed weekly. Medians are calculated from settled transactions in the period shown; periods with very low transaction counts are flagged or suppressed, because a handful of sales can move a median substantially.
Rents
Derived from state rental bond lodgement data, by dwelling type and bedroom count. Bonds are lodged at the start of a new tenancy, so this reflects new lettings, not the whole rented stock.
Development & infrastructure
Building approvals come from current ABS releases; development applications are collected from council and state planning portals; the infrastructure pipeline is compiled from Infrastructure Australia and local government sources. Applications are matched to this boundary by address or coordinates, so very recent lodgements may not yet appear.
Employment & income
Industry and occupation structure comes from the Census, but the headline labour-market indicators do not. Unemployment and labour force are derived from ABS Small Area Labour Markets (quarterly). The employment outlook applies Department of Employment forecasts for all 19 industry divisions to this area's own industry mix (the agency is now Jobs and Skills Australia), as does the Internet Vacancy Index used for job demand. Because it is weighted on industry composition alone, that outlook carries no allowance for local population growth — in fast-growing areas the real rise in local jobs will typically be higher. Income combines Census household income with ATO taxable-income statistics for FY 2023, indexed forward using the Wage Price Index.
Education, transport & amenities
School enrolments, ICSEA and performance come from ACARA's current release, not the Census. Public transport stops and service frequency are derived from GTFS timetable feeds published by state transport departments. Services and amenities are proximity and count scores built from provider directories, refreshed on their own cycle. The Census contributes only the travel-to-work and qualification measures.
Rankings and benchmarks. Where we rank this area, the comparison set is every area of the same boundary type — suburbs against suburbs, SA2s against SA2s. Benchmarks compare this area against its greater capital city region and the national figure for the same measure and period.
Limits worth knowing. Small areas carry larger error margins, and the ABS introduces small random adjustments to Census counts to protect confidentiality — so totals may not sum exactly. Estimates re-based from regional data describe the area's expected trajectory, not a direct count of it. Figures are indicative for research and are not financial, planning or valuation advice.
Cross-check us. The Census baseline for this boundary is at ABS 2021 Census QuickStats (SAL22303). QuickStats reports 2021 only — the figures on this page are more current wherever the ledger shows a later date.