Hastings - Somers

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 23,830 as of May 2026. This figure represents a decrease of 140 people from the 2021 Census count of 23,970. The change is inferred from ABS estimated resident population data of 23,797 in June 2025 and validated new addresses since the census date. The population density is around 218 persons per square kilometer. Hastings - Somers experienced a 0.6% decline between the Census and May 2026, while the SA3 area grew by 2.0%. Overseas migration contributed approximately 63.4% 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, it employs VIC State Government's Regional/LGA projections from 2023, adjusted using weighted aggregation methods. Growth rates by age group are applied across all areas until 2041. Future trends project an above-median population growth for the area, with an expected increase of 3,479 persons to 2041, reflecting a 14.4% total increase over the 16-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 has recorded approximately 82 residential properties granted approval annually. Over the past five financial years, from FY-21 to FY-25, a total of 411 homes were approved, with an additional 51 approved so far in FY-26. On average, over these five years, around 0.1 new residents arrived per new home built.

This suggests that the supply of new homes is keeping pace with or exceeding demand, providing ample buyer choice and creating capacity for population growth beyond current forecasts. The average construction cost value of new homes in the area was $467,000, slightly above the regional average, indicating a focus on quality developments. In FY-26 alone, $83.8 million in commercial approvals have been registered, reflecting robust local business investment. Compared to Greater Melbourne, Hastings - Somers shows approximately 65% of the construction activity per person.

Nationally, it places among the 47th percentile of areas assessed, suggesting more limited choices for buyers and supporting demand for existing homes. This lower level of development reflects market maturity and possible development constraints. The new development in the area consists of 73.0% standalone homes and 27.0% attached dwellings, maintaining its traditional low density character with a focus on family homes appealing to those seeking space. The estimated count of 350 people per dwelling approval reflects its quiet, low activity development environment. Looking ahead, Hastings - Somers is expected to grow by 3,444 residents through to 2041, according to the latest AreaSearch quarterly estimate. If current development rates continue, housing supply may struggle to match population growth, potentially heightening buyer competition and supporting price increases.

Hastings - Somers has emerging levels of nearby infrastructure activity, ranking in the 39thth percentile nationally

Changes to local infrastructure significantly influence an area's performance. AreaSearch has identified 19 projects likely impacting the area. Notable ones include Mornington Peninsula Residential Development Program, Hastings Foreshore Masterplan Implementation, Hastings Early Parenting Centre, 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.

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Hastings - Somers has seen below average employment performance when compared to national benchmarks

Hastings - Somers has a skilled workforce with significant representation in essential services sectors. The unemployment rate was 4.7% as of December 2025, with an estimated employment growth of 2.8% over the past year. In line with Greater Melbourne's rate of 4.8%, the area had an unemployment rate of 4.7%.

However, workforce participation lagged at 61.4%, compared to Greater Melbourne's 69.9%. According to Census responses, 17.4% of residents worked from home. Key industries of employment among residents were public administration & safety, construction, and health care & social assistance. The area had a particular specialization in public administration & safety, with an employment 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%. Analysis of SALM and ABS data for the 12-month period showed employment increasing by 2.8%, alongside a labour force increase of 1.8%, causing the unemployment rate to fall by 1.0 percentage points. Jobs and Skills Australia's national employment forecasts from May-25 estimated that national employment would expand by 6.6% over five years and 13.7% over ten years. Applying these projections to Hastings - Somers' employment mix suggested local employment should increase by 5.9% over five years and 12.5% over ten years, though these are simple weighting extrapolations for illustrative purposes only.

Income levels sit below national averages according to AreaSearch assessment

The Hastings - Somers SA2 had a median taxpayer income of $52,076 and an average income of $69,215 in the financial year 2023, according to ATO data aggregated by AreaSearch. These figures were slightly higher than those for Greater Melbourne, which stood at $57,688 and $75,164 respectively. By March 2026, estimates based on a 9.62% Wage Price Index growth suggest the median income will be approximately $57,086 and the average income will be around $75,873. The 2021 Census data shows that household, family, and personal incomes in Hastings - Somers ranked modestly, between the 29th and 38th percentiles. Income analysis reveals that the majority of residents, 30.8% or 7,339 people, fell into the $1,500 - 2,999 income bracket, aligning with regional trends where this cohort also represented 32.8%. Housing affordability pressures were severe in the area, with only 83.9% of income remaining after housing costs, ranking at the 28th percentile. The area's SEIFA income ranking placed it in the 4th decile.

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

Dwelling structure in Hastings - Somers, as evaluated at the latest Census, comprised 82.6% houses and 17.5% other dwellings. In comparison, Melbourne metro had 67.9% houses and 32.1% other dwellings. Home ownership in Hastings - Somers was 39.2%, with mortgaged dwellings at 37.5% and rented dwellings at 23.3%. The median monthly mortgage repayment was $1,733, below Melbourne metro's average of $2,000. The median weekly rent was $330, compared to Melbourne metro's $390. Nationally, Hastings - Somers' mortgage repayments were lower than the Australian average of $1,863, and rents were substantially below the national figure of $375.

Hastings - Somers has a typical household mix, with a lower-than-average median household size

Family households account for 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 constitute 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 is smaller than the Greater Melbourne average of 2.6.

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 account for 12.3% and certificates for 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.

Educational participation is notably high, with 28.0% of residents currently enrolled in formal education. This includes 10.1% in primary education, 7.6% in secondary education, and 2.7% pursuing tertiary education.

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

Hastings-Somers has 79 active public transport stops, all of which are bus stops. These stops are served by three routes that together facilitate 551 weekly passenger trips. Transport accessibility in the area is moderate, with residents living an average of 534 meters from their nearest stop. Most residents commute outwards daily. Cars remain the primary mode of transport for 86% of residents, while 10% walk to their destinations. On average, there are 1.5 vehicles per dwelling in Hastings-Somers, which is higher than the regional average.

According to the 2021 Census, 17.4% of residents work from home, a figure that may be influenced by COVID-19 conditions. Across all routes, an average of 78 trips are made daily, translating to approximately six weekly trips per individual stop.

Health performance in Hastings - Somers is lower than average with common health conditions somewhat prevalent across both younger and older age cohorts

Hastings-Somers faces significant health challenges based on AreaSearch's assessment of mortality rates and chronic condition prevalence. Common health conditions are somewhat prevalent across both younger and older age cohorts.

The rate of private health cover is approximately 53% of the total population, which consists of around 12,701 people. This compares to 56.7% across Greater Melbourne. The most common medical conditions in the area are arthritis and mental health issues, impacting 10.0% and 9.9% of residents respectively. Meanwhile, 62.9% of residents declare themselves completely clear of medical ailments compared to 72.6% across Greater Melbourne. The working-age population faces notable health challenges with elevated chronic condition rates. The area has 26.8% of residents aged 65 and over, which consists of 6,379 people, higher than the 15.0% in Greater Melbourne. Health outcomes among seniors present some challenges, with national rankings broadly in line with the general population.

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. The dominant religion was Christianity, comprising 39.8% of the population. Judaism was overrepresented at 0.1%, compared to 1.0% across Greater Melbourne.

In terms of ancestry, the top three groups were English (33.6%), Australian (30.9%), and Irish (8.5%). These percentages were substantially higher than the regional averages of 20.1%, 18.4%, respectively. Notably, Dutch (2.0%) was overrepresented compared to the regional average of 1.2%. Similarly, Scottish (8.4%) and French (0.5%) groups showed notable divergences from their respective regional averages of 5.6% and 0.5%.

Hastings - Somers's median age exceeds the national pattern

The median age in Hastings - Somers is 43 years, which is considerably higher than Greater Melbourne's average of 37 years, and substantially exceeds the national average of 38 years. The age profile shows that those aged 65-74 years are particularly prominent, making up 13.4% of the population, while the 25-34 year-olds make up 9.3%, which is comparatively smaller than in Greater Melbourne. Between 2021 and the present, the 75 to 84 age group has grown from 7.7% to 10.2% of the population, while the 85+ cohort has increased from 2.1% to 3.2%. Conversely, the 25 to 34 year-old cohort has declined from 11.4% to 9.3%. Looking ahead to 2041, demographic projections reveal significant shifts in Hastings - Somers's age structure. The 75 to 84 age cohort is projected to rise substantially, increasing by 1,256 people (52%) from 2,435 to 3,692. Notably, the combined 65+ age groups are expected to account for 76% of total population growth, reflecting the area's aging demographic profile. Conversely, the 25 to 34 and 0 to 4 year-old cohorts are expected to experience population declines.