Somerset (Tas.)

Somerset is positioned among the lower quartile of areas assessed nationally for population growth based on AreaSearch's assessment of recent, and medium term trends

Based on reviews of ABS demographic updates for the surrounding region alongside fresh addresses confirmed by AreaSearch post-Census, the suburb of Somerset (Tas.) has an estimated population of approximately 4,175 in May 2026. This indicates a rise of 108 residents (2.7%) from the 2021 Census, which counted 4,067 citizens. This variation is calculated from a resident population of 4,169, which AreaSearch projected by analyzing the ABS June 2025 ERP data release and tracking an extra 52 validated new addresses following the Census. This population level translates to a density of 155 persons per square kilometer, offering substantial personal space and possibilities for future growth. The 2.7% post-census growth rate in the suburb of Somerset (Tas.) is within 0.5 percentage points of the broader SA3 region (3.2%), indicating healthy growth foundations. Population expansion locally was largely fueled by interstate migration, which accounted for roughly 83.0% of the total demographic gains in recent times.

AreaSearch implements projections from the ABS and Geoscience Australia for individual SA2 zones, published in 2024 with 2022 chosen as the base year. For SA2 areas lacking this coverage, and to calculate age cohort shifts after 2032, the state authorities' Regional/LGA projections from 2022 using 2021 as a base year are utilized, adjusted by weighting population growth trends from LGA up to SA2 levels. Looking at upcoming demographic shifts, projections point to a contraction in the overall population, with the local count expected to shrink by 373 individuals by 2041 under this approach. Conversely, expansion is anticipated in particular age brackets, especially the 75 to 84 cohort, which is expected to grow by 157 individuals. Refer to the age breakdown for additional details.

AreaSearch assessment of residential development drivers sees a low level of activity in Somerset, placing the area among the bottom 25% of areas assessed nationally

According to AreaSearch evaluations of ABS building permit data mapped from regional statistics, Somerset records close to 12 housing approvals annually, which aggregates to an estimated 60 residential builds over the prior 5 financial years. Thus far in FY-26, 5 permits have been documented. With an average ratio of 1.2 additional residents for each built property over the prior 5 financial years (spanning FY-21 to FY-25), the balance between supply and demand appears solid, yielding steady market conditions, though recent data points to an easing to -0.6 people per home over the prior 2 financial years, indicating improved housing availability. Residential projects average $569,000 in build cost, pointing to developer interest in higher-end, premium properties. Furthermore, commercial building approvals have reached $554,000 this financial year, which points to very minor commercial construction progress.

Relative to the Rest of Tas., Somerset shows roughly three-quarters of the per-capita building volume, while ranking in the 35th percentile of areas evaluated across the nation, which implies a somewhat constrained selection for buyers and reinforces demand for existing properties. This level also falls short of the national benchmark, highlighting the mature state of the local market and suggesting potential construction bottlenecks. Furthermore, recent building activity consisted entirely of standalone houses, maintaining the low-density character of the area and appealing to buyers seeking extra space. The metric of 466 residents per building permit highlights the quiet, slow-paced construction landscape.

Given that demographic projections point toward static or contracting numbers, Somerset is likely to experience less pressure on housing demand, which should benefit prospective purchasers.

Somerset has moderate levels of nearby infrastructure activity, ranking in the top 50% nationally

Few elements impact local performance as directly as updates to regional infrastructure, significant construction projects, and zoning plans. In total, 3 projects have been identified by AreaSearch that are expected to influence the local area. Principal works include the Langley Park Clubroom Redevelopment and Amenities Upgrade, the Draft Outline Development Plan - Malakoff Street, the North West Coastal Pathway - Wynyard to Burnie Section, and the Marinus Link, with the following list highlighting those expected to be most relevant.

Professional plan users can use the search below to filter and access additional projects.

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Employment conditions in Somerset remain below the national average according to AreaSearch analysis

Somerset features a balanced mix of professional and industrial workers, with a solid footprint in key service industries, an unemployment rate sitting at just 3.7%, and an estimated annual job growth of 3.1%, derived from AreaSearch summaries of regional data. In March 2026, 1,952 local citizens were employed, with the unemployment rate tracking 0.2% below the Regional Tas. level of 3.9%, while labor force participation is slightly suppressed (55.8% compared to 58.8% across Regional Tas.). According to Census feedback, a minimal 5.2% of the local workforce operated from home, though the influence of Covid-19 restrictions must be kept in mind.

The primary employment sectors for local citizens are health care & social assistance, retail trade, alongside education & training. The locality exhibits a pronounced concentration in mining, showing an employment share that is 3.2 times the regional average. Conversely, agriculture, forestry & fishing is underrepresented, employing just 2.5% of Somerset's workforce compared to 8.4% across Regional Tas.. The locality appears to provide a constrained number of local jobs, as highlighted by comparing the count of Census day workers against the resident labor pool.

Based on AreaSearch reviews of SALM and ABS statistics aggregated from regional sectors, the 12-month timeframe saw a 3.1% rise in employment alongside a 3.3% increase in the labor force, which ticked the unemployment rate up by 0.1 percentage points. This contrasts with Regional Tas., where employment expanded by 1.8%, the labor force grew by 1.7%, and unemployment decreased slightly. Employment projections released by Jobs and Skills Australia in May-25 offer additional perspective on potential future demand patterns in Somerset. These forecasts, spanning five and ten-year horizons, have been applied to the local workforce structure to model future growth. Although national employment is projected to grow by 6.6% over five years and 13.7% over ten years, the expansion rates vary widely by industry. Projecting these industry-level patterns onto Somerset's workforce configuration indicates local employment would grow by 6.2% over five years and 13.4% over ten years (note that this is a direct weighted extrapolation for demonstration purposes and does not account for local population forecasts).

Income figures position the area below 75% of locations analysed nationally by AreaSearch

The most recent postcode-level ATO statistics compiled by AreaSearch for financial year 2023 show that personal earnings in Somerset track below the national average, with a median of $49,921 and a mean of $58,506. This compares to Regional Tas. averages of $49,689 for the median and $59,358 for the mean. Factoring in Wage Price Index growth of 10.95% since financial year 2023, current estimates would sit at roughly $55,387 for the median and $64,912 for the mean in March 2026. The 2021 Census reveals that household, family, and individual earnings in Somerset all place between the 7th and 12th percentiles nationwide. The income structure shows the largest cluster contains 29.7% of residents (1,239 people) earning in the $400 - 799 bracket, differing from regional trends where 28.5% fall within the $1,500 - 2,999 tier. Once housing costs are met, 86.2% of earnings remain, though this metric ranks in just the 10th percentile nationally.

Somerset is characterized by a predominantly suburban housing profile, with a higher proportion of rental properties than the broader region

The mix of housing types in Somerset at the time of the latest Census consisted of 89.9% standalone houses and 10.1% alternative dwellings (townhouses, apartments, and other types), mirroring the Regional Tas. breakdown of 89.9% houses and 10.1% other dwellings. Meanwhile, the home ownership rate in Somerset aligned with the Regional Tas. level of 41.1%, with the remaining properties being purchased under a mortgage (30.7%) or occupied by renters (28.2%). The median monthly home loan payment in the area sat below the Regional Tas. benchmark at $1,192, while the median weekly rental cost was recorded at $240, compared to $1,274 and $250 in Regional Tas. respectively. Nationally, Somerset's mortgage obligations are far lower than the Australian median of $1,863, while rent costs are also well below the national median of $375.

Somerset features high concentrations of lone person households, with a lower-than-average median household size

Families represent the major share of households at 65.1%, consisting of 20.7% couples with children, 31.7% couples without children, and 12.2% single parent households. Non-family living arrangements account for the remaining 34.9%, with single-person households at 32.8% and group housing making up 2.2% of the total. The median household size of 2.2 individuals is slightly smaller than the Regional Tas. average of 2.3.

Somerset faces educational challenges, with performance metrics placing it in the bottom quartile of areas assessed nationally

Educational markers point to notable hurdles in the area, with university completion rates (12.6%) sitting significantly below the Australian average of 30.4%. This highlights both a difficulty and a clear opening for targeted educational programs. Bachelor degrees represent the largest segment at 8.8%, with postgraduate degrees at 2.3% and graduate diplomas at 1.5%. Practical and vocational credentials are highly visible, with 39.7% of residents aged 15+ holding trade qualifications, consisting of advanced diplomas (8.8%) and certificates (30.9%).

A significant 24.7% of local residents are enrolled in formal studies. This group is composed of 10.1% attending primary schools, 7.6% in high schools, and 2.8% studying at the tertiary level.

Transport servicing is high compared to other areas nationally based on assessment of service frequency, route connectivity and accessibility

Public transit assessment indicates 32 active transport stops are located in Somerset, consisting of a mix of bus services. These stops are connected to 83 distinct routes, which combine to support 5,699 weekly passenger journeys. Transit accessibility is classified as good, with locals generally living 241 meters from their closest stop. As a major residential area, the vast majority of workers travel outside the suburb, with private cars remaining the primary travel mode at 96%. Households own an average of 1.4 vehicles. A minor 5.2% of residents work from home (2021 Census; potentially reflecting COVID-19 settings).

Transit service frequency averages 814 trips daily across all routes, which corresponds to roughly 178 weekly departures for each individual stop.

Health performance in Somerset is well below average with prevalence of common health conditions notable across both younger and older age cohorts

Medical statistics indicate notable difficulties facing Somerset, based on AreaSearch evaluations of mortality patterns and chronic illness rates, with common conditions present across both younger and older generations, and the rate of private health insurance coverage sitting relatively low at roughly 50% of the population (~2,102 people). The national average stands at 55.7%.

The most prevalent health issues in the area are arthritis and mental health challenges, affecting 11.0 and 10.6% of the population respectively, while 58.9% of residents reported having no medical conditions, compared to 62.0% across Regional Tas.. The working-age cohort exhibits elevated rates of chronic illnesses. Residents aged 65 and older make up 27.3% of the local population (1,139 people), exceeding the Regional Tas. share of 24.9%. Seniors' health outcomes reflect several challenges, with national percentiles generally mirroring the broader local demographic trends.

The latest Census data sees Somerset placing among the least culturally diverse areas in the country when compared across a range of language and cultural background related metrics

Somerset exhibits lower levels of ethnic diversity compared to wider averages, with 91.5% of residents born in Australia, 92.5% holding citizenship, and 97.6% speaking only English at home. Christianity is the primary religion, followed by 43.1% of the local population. However, the most pronounced statistical overrepresentation is seen in Judaism, which accounts for no residents, compared to 0.1% across Regional Tas..

Regarding family heritage (parents' countries of birth), the primary groups in Somerset are Australian at 35.0% of the population, English at 34.8%, and Irish at 7.7%. In addition, there are distinct differences in the concentration of other backgrounds: Australian Aboriginal is highly represented at 5.7% of Somerset (compared to 4.1% regionally), Dutch at 1.5% (compared to 1.7%) and Welsh at 0.5% (compared to 0.4%).

Somerset hosts an older demographic, ranking in the top quartile nationwide

With a median age of 48, Somerset is slightly older than the Regional Tas. level of 45 and substantially older than the national median of 38. The 55 - 64 age bracket is highly represented at 16.6% compared to Regional Tas., while the 35 - 44 cohort is less common at 9.7%. This 55 - 64 cohort concentration sits far above the national benchmark of 11.2%. Since the 2021 Census, the 55 to 64 bracket has expanded from 15.3% to 16.6% of the population, while the 65 to 74 group rose from 13.5% to 14.8%. In contrast, the 5 to 14 cohort shrank from 11.0% to 9.7%. Demographic projections suggest the age profile of Somerset will change substantially by 2041. The 75 to 84 cohort is expected to grow strongly, adding 144 individuals (37%) to rise from 392 to 537. Significantly, the combined cohorts aged 65+ will account for 96% of the total population growth, illustrating the aging trend of the area. On the other hand, contractions are projected for the 65 to 74 and 0 to 4 brackets.