Somerville (Vic.)

An assessment of population growth drivers in Somerville reveals an overall ranking slightly below national averages considering recent, and medium term trends

As of Feb 2026, the estimated population of the suburb of Somerville (Vic.) is around 12,638. This reflects an increase of 871 people since the 2021 Census, which reported a population of 11,767. The change was inferred from AreaSearch's estimation of the resident population at 12,072 following examination of ABS data released in June 2024 and an additional 95 validated new addresses since the Census date. This level of population results in a density ratio of 327 persons per square kilometer. Since the 2021 census, Somerville's growth rate of 7.4% exceeded that of its SA3 area (3.7%) and SA4 region. Natural growth contributed approximately 52.0% of overall population gains during recent periods.

AreaSearch is using ABS/Geoscience Australia projections for each SA2 area released in 2024 with a base year of 2022, and VIC State Government's Regional/LGA projections released in 2023 adjusted via weighted aggregation for areas not covered by ABS data. Growth rates by age group are applied across all areas from 2032 to 2041. Projected demographic shifts indicate an above median population growth, with the area expected to expand by 1,440 persons to 2041, reflecting a gain of 6.9% in total over the 17 years.

Residential development activity is lower than average in Somerville according to AreaSearch's national comparison of local real estate markets

Based on AreaSearch analysis using ABS building approval numbers from statistical area data, Somerville averaged approximately 44 new dwelling approvals annually over the past five financial years, totalling an estimated 221 homes. As of FY-26, 14 approvals have been recorded. Between FY-21 and FY-25, there was an average of 0.6 people moving to Somerville for each dwelling built, indicating that supply has met or exceeded demand, offering greater buyer choice while supporting potential population growth above projections. The average expected construction cost value of new dwellings in the area is $502,000, suggesting developers are focusing on the premium market with high-end developments.

In FY-26, there have been $10.9 million in commercial approvals, indicating balanced commercial development activity compared to Greater Melbourne. Somerville records about three-quarters of Melbourne's building activity per person and ranks among the 39th percentile nationally, offering limited buyer choices but supporting demand for existing homes. New building activity comprises 70.0% detached houses and 30.0% townhouses or apartments, expanding medium-density options across various price brackets.

The estimated population density is 445 people per dwelling approval, reflecting its quiet development environment. According to the latest AreaSearch quarterly estimate, Somerville is projected to add 874 residents by 2041. With current construction levels, housing supply should adequately meet demand, creating favourable conditions for buyers while potentially enabling growth that exceeds current forecasts.

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

Changes to local infrastructure significantly affect an area's performance. AreaSearch identified 10 projects potentially impacting the area. Key projects include Somerville Cove, Somerville Local Area Traffic Management - Black Spot Project, Tyabb-Somerville Recycled Water Scheme, and Somerville Active Recreation Hub. The following list details those most relevant:.

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

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.

AreaSearch analysis places Somerville well above average for employment performance across multiple indicators

Somerville has a skilled workforce with essential services sectors well represented. The unemployment rate was 3.0% in the past year, with an estimated employment growth of 2.4%. As of December 2025, 6,506 residents were employed, and the unemployment rate was 1.8% lower than Greater Melbourne's rate of 4.8%.

Workforce participation was 68.0%, slightly below Greater Melbourne's 71.3%. According to Census responses, 19.0% of residents worked from home in Somerville. Leading employment industries were construction, health care & social assistance, and retail trade. Construction had an employment share 1.8 times the regional level, while professional & technical services employed only 5.1% of local workers, below Greater Melbourne's 10.1%.

Employment opportunities locally appeared limited based on Census data comparison between working population and resident population. Between December 2024 and December 2025, employment levels increased by 2.4%, labour force grew by 2.1%, and unemployment rate fell by 0.3 percentage points in Somerville. In Greater Melbourne during the same period, employment grew by 2.4%, labour force expanded by 2.8%, and unemployment rose by 0.3 percentage points. Jobs and Skills Australia's national employment forecasts from May-25 suggest that national employment will expand by 6.6% over five years and 13.7% over ten years. Applying these projections to Somerville's employment mix indicates local employment should increase by 6.3% over five years and 13.1% over ten years, though this is a simple weighting extrapolation for illustrative purposes and does not account for localised population projections.

Income levels align closely with national averages, indicating typical economic conditions for Australian communities according to AreaSearch analysis

According to AreaSearch's aggregation of the latest postcode level ATO data released for financial year ended June 2023, Somerville had a median income among taxpayers of $53,152 and an average income of $68,750. These figures are slightly above the national averages of $52,974 and $71,499 respectively. In Greater Melbourne, the median and average incomes were $57,688 and $75,164 respectively. Based on Wage Price Index growth of 8.25% since financial year ended June 2023, estimated current incomes would be approximately $57,537 (median) and $74,422 (average) as of September 2025. Census data indicates that household, family, and personal incomes in Somerville are around the 51st percentile nationally. The largest income segment comprises 34.9% earning between $1,500 and $2,999 weekly, with a total of 4,410 residents falling into this category. This pattern is similar to the broader area where 32.8% of residents earn within this range. After accounting for housing expenses, 84.9% of income remains for other expenses. The area's SEIFA income ranking places it in the fifth decile nationally.

Somerville is characterized by a predominantly suburban housing profile, with above-average rates of outright home ownership

In Somerville, as per the latest Census evaluation, 82.4% of dwellings were houses, with the remaining 17.6% consisting of other types such as semi-detached homes and apartments. This is in contrast to Melbourne's metropolitan area, where 67.9% of dwellings are houses and 32.1% are other types. Home ownership in Somerville stood at 33.7%, with mortgaged properties making up 49.6% and rented dwellings accounting for 16.6%. The median monthly mortgage repayment in Somerville was $1,800, lower than Melbourne's metro average of $2,000. The median weekly rent figure in Somerville was $380, compared to Melbourne's metro average of $390. Nationally, Somerville's median monthly mortgage repayments were below the Australian average of $1,863, while median weekly rents exceeded the national figure of $375.

Somerville has a typical household mix, with a fairly typical median household size

Family households constitute 74.8% of all households, including 34.8% couples with children, 27.3% couples without children, and 11.8% single parent families. Non-family households account for the remaining 25.2%, with lone person households at 23.5% and group households comprising 1.7%. The median household size is 2.6 people, which aligns with the Greater Melbourne average.

Educational attainment in Somerville aligns closely with national averages, showing typical qualification patterns and performance metrics

The area's university qualification rate is 17.8%, significantly lower than Greater Melbourne's average of 37.0%. Bachelor degrees are the most common at 12.5%, followed by postgraduate qualifications (2.7%) and graduate diplomas (2.6%). Vocational credentials are prevalent, with 42.9% of residents aged 15+ holding them - advanced diplomas at 12.6% and certificates at 30.3%. Educational participation is high, with 26.5% of residents currently enrolled in formal education: 9.5% in primary, 7.6% in secondary, and 3.1% in tertiary education.

Educational participation is notably high, with 26.5% of residents currently enrolled in formal education. This includes 9.5% in primary education, 7.6% in secondary education, and 3.1% pursuing tertiary education.

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

A total of 25 operational public transport stops exist within Somerville, all serving bus routes. These are divided into three distinct routes that collectively facilitate 432 weekly passenger journeys. The accessibility to these transport services is rated as moderate, with residents on average situated 519 meters from their nearest stop. Predominantly residential, most inhabitants commute outward daily. Cars remain the primary mode of transportation, used by 95% of residents. On average, there are 1.8 vehicles per dwelling, exceeding the regional norm.

According to the 2021 Census, 19.0% of Somerville's population works from home, potentially influenced by COVID-19 conditions. Across all routes, service frequency averages 61 trips daily, translating to approximately 17 weekly trips per individual stop.

Health performance in Somerville is lower than average with common health conditions somewhat prevalent across the board, though to a considerably higher degree among older age cohorts

Somerville faces significant health challenges according to AreaSearch's assessment. Mortality rates and chronic condition prevalence are somewhat prevalent across all age groups but more so among older cohorts.

Private health cover is high at approximately 54% of the total population (around 6,825 people), compared to 56.7% in Greater Melbourne. The most common medical conditions are mental health issues (10.3%) and arthritis (9.1%). About 64.0% of residents claim to be free from medical ailments, compared to 72.6% across Greater Melbourne. Working-age residents show a higher prevalence of chronic health conditions than average. The area has 22.2% of residents aged 65 and over (2,805 people), which is higher than the 15.1% in Greater Melbourne. Health outcomes among seniors present some challenges but rank lower nationally compared to the broader population.

Somerville is considerably less culturally diverse than average when assessed alongside AreaSearch's national rankings for language and cultural background related metrics

Somerville's cultural diversity was below average, with 84.3% of its population born in Australia, 92.0% being citizens, and 96.2% speaking English only at home. Christianity was the dominant religion, comprising 42.0% of Somerville's population. Judaism, however, was overrepresented compared to Greater Melbourne, with 0.1% versus 1.0%.

The top three ancestry groups were English (34.6%), Australian (30.6%), and Scottish (8.2%), all higher than the regional averages. Notably, Dutch (2.3%) and Welsh (0.7%) were overrepresented compared to regional figures of 1.2% and 0.4%, respectively.

Somerville's population is slightly older than the national pattern

Somerville has a median age of 40, which is higher than Greater Melbourne's figure of 37 and Australia's median age of 38. The 65-74 cohort is notably over-represented in Somerville at 11.3%, compared to the Greater Melbourne average, while the 25-34 year-olds are under-represented at 11.9%. Between 2021 and present, the 75-84 age group has grown from 5.8% to 7.8% of the population. Conversely, the 25-34 cohort has declined from 13.3% to 11.9%, and the 45-54 group has dropped from 12.3% to 11.0%. Demographic modeling suggests Somerville's age profile will evolve significantly by 2041. The 75-84 age cohort is projected to grow significantly, expanding by 531 people (54%) from 985 to 1,517. Notably, the combined 65+ age groups are expected to account for 87% of total population growth, reflecting the area's aging demographic profile. Meanwhile, the 55-64 and 15-24 cohorts are expected to experience population declines.