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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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Somerville (Vic.) has an estimated 12,251 residents, up from 11,767 at the 2021 Census — a change of 484 people, or 4.1%. Growth has averaged 0.6% a year over five years. That puts 317 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 ABS demographic updates and post-Census address verification by AreaSearch, the suburb of Somerville (Vic.) has a population of approximately 12,251 as of May 2026. Since the 2021 Census, when the population was 11,767, the resident count has grown by 484 individuals, or 4.1%. This latest figure is derived from June 2025 ABS estimated resident population data alongside 96 post-Census address validations. The suburb of Somerville (Vic.) has a density of 317 persons per square kilometer, indicating low-density living and capacity for expansion. This 4.1% increase exceeds the 2.0% growth seen in the broader SA3 and SA4 territories, establishing the suburb of Somerville (Vic.)
as a regional growth leader. Natural increase accounted for roughly 52.0% of these population additions during the recent timeframe. Projections for each SA2 region rely on ABS and Geoscience Australia figures published in 2024 using 2022 as a starting point, with missing SA2 areas supplemented by 2023 state government projections adjusted by aggregating local government area growth. These aggregated age-specific growth trajectories are extended from 2032 to 2041. Based on these projections, the suburb of Somerville (Vic.) is anticipated to grow by 1,355 residents by 2041, representing an overall 11.1% gain over the 16-year projection period, which places its growth rate slightly below the national median for similar areas.
Frequently Asked Questions - Population
241 new dwellings have been approved in Somerville (Vic.) over the past five years, an average of 48 a year. That is 4.0 approvals per 1,000 residents. Of the 46 dwellings approved in the latest reporting year, 72% were detached houses and the rest townhouses or apartments. Approvals are currently running at an annualised 21, well below that longer-run average. Figures come from ABS building approvals aggregated to this Suburb (SAL) boundary and are updated monthly as the ABS releases them.
Detail
ABS building approval statistics analyzed by AreaSearch indicate that Somerville averages about 48 residential approvals per year, totaling 241 homes during the five financial years spanning FY-21 to FY-25, with an additional 20 approvals recorded during FY-26. Market stability is supported by an average influx of 1.4 new residents per home over the FY-21 to FY-25 period, indicating a healthy balance between supply and demand, while a mean construction value of $502,000 highlights a focus on higher-end residential properties. Commercial activity is represented by $10.9 million in approved projects during the current financial year.
Per capita dwelling approvals in Somerville stand at approximately three-quarters of the rate observed across Greater Melbourne, placing the area in the 52nd percentile of national markets. The development mix favors single-family homes, with detached properties making up 72.0% of approvals and attached designs accounting for 28.0%. A high ratio of roughly 317 residents per single approval reflects the low-density character of the locality. Long-term forecasts suggest Somerville will gain 1,355 new residents by 2041 based on the most recent quarterly projections from AreaSearch. The current pace of home building aligns well with this anticipated growth, which should help maintain stable conditions and prevent sharp price increases.
Frequently Asked Questions - Development
Development applications around Somerville (Vic.)
SOURCE: Planning portals and council registers, compiled by AreaSearch. Distance & bearing measured from the suburb midpoint.
AreaSearch tracks 4 current infrastructure and development projects inside Somerville (Vic.), worth an estimated $143 million. A further 73 sit in the immediately surrounding suburbs, taking the tracked pipeline within reach of the area to $13.2 billion. 15 are already under construction and 25 are due for completion within three years. The pipeline spans residential development, communities, precincts & urban renewal and transport & logistics. 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
Infrastructure updates, municipal planning, and construction projects are key drivers of local performance, with AreaSearch tracking 10 active projects in the region. Notable initiatives include the Tyabb-Somerville Recycled Water Scheme, the Somerville Cove development, the Somerville Active Recreation Hub, and safety upgrades under the Somerville Local Area Traffic Management - Black Spot Project.
Professional plan users can use the search below to filter and access additional projects.
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Frequently Asked Questions - Infrastructure
Tyabb-Somerville Recycled Water Scheme
The Tyabb-Somerville Recycled Water Scheme is a proposed recycled water network for agriculture, nurseries and public open space in the Tyabb, Somerville and Pearcedale region. South East Water investigated the scheme with Mornington Peninsula Shire Council and National Water Grid Authority support. The scheme would use Class A recycled water from the South Eastern Outfall near Baxter and deliver about 1,150 ML per year through a pump station, 10.9 km transfer main and 4.8 km of reticulation networks.The business case and feasibility work are complete, but the project is currently on hold and requires significant external funding plus updated planning, design and viability work before delivery.
Somerville Local Area Traffic Management - Black Spot Project
Road safety upgrade delivering area-wide 40 km/h speed limit, raised safety platforms, new line marking and signage across Somerville local streets near Eramosa Road West and East. Detailed design completed in early 2025, contractor engaged, and construction commenced in late June 2025 with completion targeted by end of 2025.
Somerville Cove - Yaringa Boat Harbour Expansion
Approved mixed-use marina and tourism redevelopment at Yaringa Boat Harbour marketed as Somerville Cove. The scheme includes an inland marina basin with 180 wet berths, dry storage for up to 400 boats, marine service industry space, 180 tourist accommodation apartments, food and drink premises, conference and function facilities, road works, channel and lock infrastructure. Current marketing shows apartments with 12 m and 15 m berths available, while a separate 2026 ministerial permit has approved two boat manufacturing warehouses and associated works on nearby Yaringa Boat Harbour land.
Somerville Active Recreation Hub
Completed community recreation hub at Fruit Growers Reserve delivering BMX, scooter, bike and skate areas, a multi-use half court and ball wall, parkour equipment and mini trampolines, providing a free outdoor activity space for Somerville and surrounds.
Somerville Residential Growth Area
Strategic residential planning and growth framework for Somerville township under Mornington Peninsula Planning Scheme Amendment C219morn and the Somerville Township Structure Plan. The framework guides incremental housing delivery, neighborhood character preservation, and infrastructure coordination within the urban growth boundary. As of 2026, the amendment package remains with the Victorian Department of Transport and Planning / Minister for Planning for formal consideration.
Somerville Townhouse Development
Boutique development of 9 properties consisting of 3 four-bedroom townhouses and 6 three-bedroom single storey units. All properties feature double garages with internal access and private low maintenance fully landscaped backyards. Located 350m from town centre and 100m from Somerville Primary School.
Somerville Recreation Centre
The Somerville Recreation Centre is a state-of-the-art multi-purpose venue featuring a four-court multi-sport stadium, fitness facilities, and multi-purpose community rooms. Rebuilt following a fire in 2016, the facility now includes modern change rooms, ancillary accommodation for fitness, and a childcare centre, serving the health and sporting needs of the Mornington Peninsula region.
Martha Cove Marina Development
A $650 million premier waterfront residential master-planned estate and marina on the Mornington Peninsula. The development features approximately 1,150 residential dwellings, including luxury apartments like The Moorings and The Wheelhouse, alongside 600 marina berths and a 200-boat dry storage facility. Key infrastructure includes the $25 million Marine Drive underpass, a retail village centre, and the Martha's Table hospitality venue. While the core infrastructure and initial residential stages are complete, limited final apartment releases and secondary precinct upgrades, such as the Marine Enterprise Precinct, continue to be integrated into the established community.
6,568 residents of Somerville (Vic.) are employed, from a labour force of 6,767. Unemployment sits at 2.9%, with participation at 67.6%. Weighted for its industry mix, the area's sectors are forecast to grow about 6.3% nationally over five years. That reflects industry composition only and makes no allowance for local population growth. The working-day population is estimated at 10,242, about 84% of the resident population, so more people leave the area for work than travel in. Unemployment and labour force come from ABS Small Area Labour Markets, updated quarterly; the industry and occupation profile is from the 2021 Census.
Detail
Somerville has a workforce characterized by strong representation in essential services, an unemployment rate of 2.9%, and a 0.9% rise in jobs over the past year. Employed residents numbered 6,568 as of March 2026, with unemployment sitting 1.8 percentage points below the Greater Melbourne level of 4.8%, while participation is lower at 67.6% compared to the metropolitan average of 70.2%. Census data indicates that 19.0% of local workers operated from home, though this figure was influenced by pandemic-related restrictions. The local workforce is heavily concentrated in construction, health care & social assistance, and retail trade, with construction employment reaching 1.8 times the metropolitan average.
In contrast, professional and technical roles represent only 5.1% of the workforce compared to a regional average of 10.1%. A comparison of local jobs to the size of the working resident population indicates a shortage of employment opportunities within the immediate area. An analysis of SALM and ABS statistics for the year ending March 2026 shows a 0.9% expansion in employment and a 0.6% rise in the labor force, which lowered the unemployment rate by 0.3 percentage points. Over the same period, Greater Melbourne recorded a 2.1% increase in employment, a 2.3% rise in the labor force, and a 0.2 percentage point increase in unemployment. Future local employment trends can be contextualized by the May-25 national forecasts from Jobs and Skills Australia. Projecting these national industry trends onto the local employment structure suggest that Somerville will see employment expand by 6.3% over five years and 13.1% over ten years, based on a simple weighted extrapolation.
Frequently Asked Questions - Employment
Median household income in Somerville (Vic.) is $1,781 a week (about $93,000 a year), with median personal income at $809 a week. ATO records put median taxable income at $53,152 a year against an average of $68,750. 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 records for the 2023 financial year show that incomes in Somerville are slightly above the national average, with a median of $53,152 and an average of $68,750, which compares to Greater Melbourne averages of $57,688 and $75,164. Adjusting these figures for a WPI growth of 9.62% since the 2023 financial year yields estimated values of $58,265 for the median and $75,364 for the average as of March 2026. The 2021 Census places local personal, household, and family incomes around the 51st percentile nationwide. The most common weekly income bracket is $1,500 - 2,999, which contains 34.9% of the population (4,275 people), similar to the 32.8% distribution in the wider metropolitan area.
Discretionary income stands at 84.9% after housing costs, and the area ranks in the 5th decile of the SEIFA index.
Frequently Asked Questions - Income
Somerville (Vic.) had 4,322 occupied dwellings at the 2021 Census, 82% detached houses and 0% apartments. 50% are owned with a mortgage, 17% rented and 34% owned outright. At that Census the median rent was $380 a week and the median mortgage repayment $1,800 a month. Rent absorbs 21.3% of household income here and mortgage repayments 23.3%. Dwelling stock, tenure and housing costs are 2021 Census measures — the only source that counts dwellings at this boundary size.
Detail
At the time of the latest Census, the local housing stock consisted of 82.4% detached houses and 17.6% other dwelling types, such as apartments and townhouses, compared to a metropolitan distribution of 67.9% houses and 32.1% other dwellings. Outright home ownership stands at 33.7%, which is higher than the Melbourne average, while the remaining properties are either mortgaged (49.6%) or occupied by tenants (16.6%). The median mortgage payment of $1,800 per month and median rent of $380 per week both sit below the metropolitan averages of $2,000 and $390. On a national level, monthly mortgage commitments are below the Australian average of $1,863, while weekly rental costs exceed the national average of $375.
Frequently Asked Questions - Housing
Somerville (Vic.) counted 4,322 households at the 2021 Census, averaging 2.6 people each. 35% are couples with children, against 27% couples without children. 24% of households are people living alone, and families average 1.7 children. Household and family composition is measured only by the Census, so these are 2021 figures.
Detail
Families make up 74.8% of local households, consisting of couples with children at 34.8%, couples without children at 27.3%, and single-parent households at 11.8%. Non-family households account for 25.2% of the total, with lone person households representing 23.5% and group living situations making up 1.7%. The median household size is 2.6 residents, matching the metropolitan average.
Frequently Asked Questions - Households
17.8% of adults in Somerville (Vic.) hold a university qualification, including 12.5% with a bachelor degree and 2.7% with postgraduate qualifications. A further 30.3% hold a vocational qualification. 4 schools serve the area, with 1,343 enrolment places and an average ICSEA of 1,001 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
The suburb has a low rate of tertiary qualification, with university degree holders making up 17.8% of the population compared to 37.0% across Greater Melbourne. Bachelor degrees account for 12.5% of qualifications, followed by postgraduate degrees at 2.7% and graduate diplomas at 2.6%. Vocational training is highly prevalent, with 42.9% of residents aged 15 and over holding credentials, including 12.6% with advanced diplomas and 30.3% holding certificates. A high proportion of the community is engaged in study, with 26.5% of residents enrolled in an educational institution. This group comprises 9.5% in primary schools, 7.6% in secondary schools, and 3.1% attending tertiary programs.
Frequently Asked Questions - Education
Schools Detail
Public transport in Somerville (Vic.) reaches 25 stops on 3 routes, timetabled for about 430 services a week. The typical home sits about 520 m from its nearest stop. Households keep an average of 1.8 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
The local transit network features 25 active bus stops serviced by 3 distinct routes, which support a total of 432 passenger trips each week. Access is moderate, with residents living an average of 519 meters from their nearest stop. The suburb is primarily commuter-oriented, with 95% of workers using private vehicles. Household car ownership stands at 1.8 vehicles, which is higher than the metropolitan average. The 2021 Census recorded 19.0% of the workforce working from home, reflecting pandemic conditions. Transit services average 61 daily trips across the network, which translates to roughly 17 weekly departures from each individual stop.
Frequently Asked Questions - Transport
Transport Stops Detail
64.0% of residents in Somerville (Vic.) report no long-term health condition. 5.4% need daily assistance with core activities, and 54.0% hold private health cover. The standardised death rate runs at 5.3 per 1,000 residents. Health conditions, assistance needs and insurance are 2021 Census measures; the death rate comes from current ABS releases.
Detail
Analysis of mortality rates and chronic health issues reveals notable health challenges in the community, with medical conditions widely reported, particularly among senior residents, while 54% of the population (~6,616 people) hold private health insurance, compared to 56.7% in Greater Melbourne. Mental health concerns and arthritis are the most common diagnoses, affecting 10.3% and 9.1% of residents respectively, while 64.0% of the population reported no chronic conditions compared to 72.6% across the metropolitan area. Chronic illness rates among working-age residents are higher than average. Residents aged 65 and over make up 21.8% of the population (2,670 people), which exceeds the Greater Melbourne average of 15.0%.
Senior health outcomes present challenges, though they rank lower nationally than the rest of the local population.
Frequently Asked Questions - Health
Somerville (Vic.) is largely Australian-born, at 84.3% of residents, with 3.8% speaking a language other than English at home. The largest reported ancestries are English (34.6%) and Australian (30.6%). Ancestry, language and country of birth are counted only by the Census, so these are 2021 figures.
Detail
Cultural diversity is below average, with Australian-born residents making up 84.3% of the community, citizens accounting for 92.0%, and English-only speakers comprising 96.2% of households. Christianity is the primary religion at 42.0%. The most pronounced religious overrepresentation is among those identifying as Jewish, who make up 0.1% of the population compared to 1.0% across Greater Melbourne. The leading ancestral origins are English at 34.6% of the population (exceeding the regional average of 20.1%), Australian at 30.6% (exceeding the regional average of 18.4%), and Scottish at 8.2%. Other notable European ancestries include Dutch at 2.3% (compared to 1.2% regionally), Welsh at 0.7% (compared to 0.4% regionally), and Hungarian at 0.3% (compared to 0.3% regionally).
Frequently Asked Questions - Diversity
The median resident of Somerville (Vic.) is 40. 23.1% 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 median age is 40, which is higher than the Greater Melbourne average of 37 and the national average of 38. The 65 - 74 age group is overrepresented at 11.1% of the population, while the 25 - 34 bracket is underrepresented at 12.1%. Since 2021, the proportion of residents aged 75 to 84 grew from 5.8% to 7.6%, while the 45 to 54 cohort shrank from 12.3% to 10.9% and the 25 - 34 group fell from 13.3% to 12.1%. Projections to 2041 indicate that the 75 to 84 cohort will increase by 547 people (59%), growing from 931 to 1,479.
Overall growth will be driven predominantly by residents aged 65 and over, who are expected to account for 77% of the total population increase, while the 35 to 44 and 25 to 34 cohorts are projected to shrink.
Frequently Asked Questions - Age
Data & MethodBoundaries, Sources & Method for Somerville (Vic.)
9 of 14 data sections on this page were updated within the last 12 months — the newest current to Aug 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) | May 2026 3 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 May 2026, with the 2021 Census supplying the small-area baseline. | ||
| Age profile | ABS, Geoscience Australia, State governments Annual | May 2026 3 months ago headline measures · 2021 Census baseline |
| Age cohorts are re-based to the latest ABS population estimates and state projections, current to May 2026. Each cohort is held as a Census baseline and a current estimate. | ||
| Development & approvals | ABS, GNAF Monthly (ABS approvals) | Jun 2026 2 months ago headline measures · May 2026 baseline |
| Property sales & rents | Valuer General, Rental Board, ABS Weekly sales, quarterly rents | Aug 2026 this month all 21 measures |
| 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 Aug 2026. | ||
| Infrastructure projects | Infrastructure Australia, State agencies, Local governments Daily | May 2026 3 months ago all 4 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 5 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) | Aug 2026 this month headline measures · 2021 Census baseline |
| Transport | ABS, State Transport Departments Each timetable release | Jul 2026 last month headline measures · 2021 Census baseline |
| Services & amenities | Provider directories, ACECQA Continuous | Jul 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 — 96 validated new addresses here. The headline figure is therefore a current estimate for May 2026, not a 2021 count (11,767 at the 2021 Census → 12,251 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 May 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 (SAL22305). QuickStats reports 2021 only — the figures on this page are more current wherever the ledger shows a later date.