Hastings - Somers
Statistical Area - sa2

Population growth drivers in Hastings - Somers are strong compared to national averages based on AreaSearch's ranking of recent, and medium to long-term trends

Hastings - Somers' population is approximately 24,229 as of August 2025. This figure represents an increase of 259 people, a 1.1% rise from the 2021 Census count of 23,970. The change is inferred from the estimated resident population of 23,968 in June 2024 and an additional 262 validated new addresses since the Census date. This results in a population density of 222 persons per square kilometer. Hastings - Somers' 1.1% growth since the census is within 1.2 percentage points of the SA3 area's 2.3%, indicating competitive growth fundamentals. Overseas migration contributed approximately 54.7% of overall population gains recently.

AreaSearch uses ABS/Geoscience Australia projections for each SA2 area, released in 2024 with a base year of 2022. For areas not covered, AreaSearch employs VIC State Government's Regional/LGA projections from 2023, adjusted using weighted aggregation methods to SA2 levels. Growth rates by age group are applied across all areas for years 2032 to 2041. Future population trends indicate above median growth, with the area projected to add 3,670 persons by 2041, reflecting a total increase of 14.0% over the 17-year period.

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

Hastings-Somers recorded approximately 82 residential properties granted approval annually. Over the past five financial years, from FY21 to FY25, a total of 411 homes were approved, with an additional 14 approved in FY26 so far. The average number of new residents arriving per year for each new home over these years was approximately 0.1, indicating that the new supply is meeting or exceeding demand and providing ample buyer choice while also allowing for population growth beyond current forecasts.

The average construction value of new homes was $729,000, suggesting developers are targeting the premium market segment with higher-end properties. In FY26, $83.8 million in commercial approvals have been registered, indicating robust local business investment. Compared to Greater Melbourne, Hastings-Somers shows approximately 65% of the construction activity per person and ranks among the 48th percentile of areas assessed nationally, suggesting limited choices for buyers and supporting demand for existing homes. This lower level of development reflects market maturity and possible development constraints.

New development consists of 73.0% standalone homes and 27.0% attached dwellings, maintaining the area's traditional low density character with a focus on family homes appealing to those seeking space. The estimated population per dwelling approval is 350 people, reflecting its quiet, low activity development environment. Looking ahead, Hastings-Somers is expected to grow by 3,401 residents through to 2041. Building activity is keeping pace with growth projections, though buyers may experience heightened competition as the population grows.

Hastings - Somers has strong levels of nearby infrastructure activity, ranking in the top 30% nationally

Infrastructure changes significantly influence an area's performance. AreaSearch identified 19 projects likely to impact the area. Key projects include Mornington Peninsula Residential Development Program, Hastings Early Parenting Centre, Hastings Foreshore Masterplan Implementation, and Hastings Town Centre Structure Plan. The following list details those most relevant.

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

Employment performance in Hastings - Somers has been below expectations when compared to most other areas nationally

Hastings - Somers has an experienced workforce with prominent representation in essential services sectors. The unemployment rate was 5.1% as of June 2025, with estimated employment growth of 3.2% over the past year.

There were 11,671 residents employed by June 2025, with an unemployment rate of 5.6%, which is 0.5% higher than Greater Melbourne's rate of 4.6%. Workforce participation in Hastings - Somers lagged behind Greater Melbourne at 57.4% compared to 64.1%. Key industries for employment among residents were public administration & safety, construction, and health care & social assistance. Employment specialization was particularly high in public administration & safety, with a share of 2.6 times the regional level.

In contrast, professional & technical services employed only 4.5% of local workers, lower than Greater Melbourne's 10.1%. The area appears to offer limited employment opportunities locally, as indicated by the count of Census working population versus resident population. Between June 2024 and June 2025, employment increased by 3.2%, while the labour force grew by 4.5%, causing the unemployment rate to rise by 1.2 percentage points. In comparison, Greater Melbourne saw employment grow by 3.5%, with a labour force increase of 4.0% and an unemployment rate rise of 0.5 percentage points. State-level data from Sep-25 shows Victoria's employment grew by 1.08% year-on-year, adding 39,880 jobs, with the state unemployment rate at 4.7%, compared to the national rate of 4.5%. Jobs and Skills Australia's national employment forecasts from May 2025 project a 6.6% increase over five years and 13.7% over ten years. Applying these projections to Hastings - Somers' employment mix suggests local growth of approximately 5.9% over five years and 12.5% over ten years, though these are simple weighted extrapolations for illustrative purposes only and do not consider localized population projections.

Income levels sit below national averages according to AreaSearch assessment

Hastings - Somers has a higher income level than the national average, according to AreaSearch data aggregated by the ATO for the financial year 2022. The median income among taxpayers in Hastings - Somers is $49,088, with an average income of $68,421. These figures compare to Greater Melbourne's median and average incomes of $54,892 and $73,761 respectively. Based on a 10.11% growth in wages since the financial year 2022, estimated current incomes as of March 2025 are approximately $54,051 (median) and $75,338 (average). According to the 2021 Census, household, family, and personal incomes in Hastings - Somers rank modestly, between the 29th and 39th percentiles. Income analysis shows that the $1,500 - 2,999 bracket dominates with 30.8% of residents (7,462 people). Housing affordability pressures are severe, with only 83.9% of income remaining after housing costs, ranking at the 29th percentile. The area's SEIFA income ranking places it in the 4th decile.

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

Dwelling structure in Hastings - Somers, as evaluated at the latest Census held on 28 August 2016, comprised 82.6% houses and 17.5% other dwellings such as semi-detached homes, apartments, and 'other' dwellings. In comparison, Melbourne metropolitan area had 85.5% houses and 14.5% other dwellings. Home ownership in Hastings - Somers was at 39.2%, with mortgaged dwellings at 37.5% and rented dwellings at 23.3%. The median monthly mortgage repayment in the area, as of June 2021, was $1,733, while the median weekly rent figure stood at $330. These figures compared to Melbourne metropolitan area's $1,989 and $380 respectively. Nationally, Hastings - Somers' mortgage repayments were lower than the Australian average of $1,863, recorded in June 2021, while rents were substantially below the national figure of $375.

Hastings - Somers has a typical household mix, with a fairly typical median household size

Family households constitute 69.6% of all households, including 26.7% couples with children, 29.6% couples without children, and 12.4% single parent families. Non-family households comprise the remaining 30.4%, with lone person households at 28.4% and group households comprising 2.0%. The median household size is 2.4 people, which aligns with the Greater Melbourne average.

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

The area's university qualification rate is 19.1%, significantly lower than Greater Melbourne's average of 37.0%. Bachelor degrees are the most common at 13.0%, followed by postgraduate qualifications (3.3%) and graduate diplomas (2.8%). Vocational credentials are prevalent, with 42.1% of residents aged 15+ holding them - advanced diplomas (12.3%) and certificates (29.8%). Educational participation is high at 28.0%, including 10.1% in primary education, 7.6% in secondary education, and 2.7% pursuing tertiary education.

There are 12 schools serving 2,166 students, with typical Australian school conditions (ICSEA: 983) offering balanced educational opportunities. Education provision is balanced with 9 primary and 3 secondary schools serving distinct age groups. School places per 100 residents (8.9) are below the regional average (14.3), indicating some students may attend schools in adjacent areas. Note: where schools show 'n/a' for enrolments, please refer to the parent campus.

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

Transport analysis indicates 79 active transport stops operating within Hastings - Somers. These include a mix of train and bus services. The area is served by 3 individual routes, collectively providing 696 weekly passenger trips.

Transport accessibility is rated as moderate, with residents typically located 534 meters from the nearest transport stop. Service frequency averages 99 trips per day across all routes, equating to approximately 8 weekly trips per individual stop.

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

Hastings - Somers faces notable health challenges, with common conditions prevalent across both younger and older age groups. Approximately 54% of residents have private health cover (~13,010 people), compared to Greater Melbourne's 57.9%.

The most common conditions are arthritis (10.0%) and mental health issues (9.9%). About 62.9% of residents report no medical ailments, slightly lower than Greater Melbourne's 63.9%. Around 25.9% of residents are aged 65 and over (6,280 people), compared to Greater Melbourne's 29.9%. Health outcomes among seniors present some challenges but generally perform better than the general population in health metrics.

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

Hastings-Somers had a cultural diversity below average, with 84.0% of its population born in Australia, 89.5% being citizens, and 95.9% speaking English only at home. Christianity was the main religion, comprising 39.8% of people in Hastings-Somers. Judaism was overrepresented, making up 0.1% compared to 0.2% across Greater Melbourne.

For ancestry, the top three groups were English (33.6%), Australian (30.9%), and Irish (8.5%). Notably, Dutch (2.0%) was slightly overrepresented compared to the regional average of 1.8%. Scottish representation was also higher at 8.4% versus 9.0%, while French remained steady at 0.5%.

Hastings - Somers hosts an older demographic, ranking in the top quartile nationwide

The median age in Hastings - Somers is 42 years, significantly higher than Greater Melbourne's average of 37 years, and considerably older than Australia's median age of 38 years. In the 65-74 age group, Hastings-Somers shows a strong representation at 13.2%, compared to Greater Melbourne, while the 25-34 cohort is less prevalent at 9.8%. Post-2021 Census data reveals that the 75 to 84 age group has grown from 7.7% to 9.8% of the population. Conversely, the 25 to 34 cohort has declined from 11.4% to 9.8%. Population forecasts for 2041 indicate substantial demographic changes in Hastings - Somers. Leading this shift is the 75-84 age group, which is expected to grow by 61%, reaching 3,812 people from 2,369. Notably, the combined 65+ age groups will account for 79% of total population growth, reflecting the area's aging demographic profile. In contrast, the 35-44 and 0-4 cohorts are expected to experience population declines.