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This analysis uses ABS Statistical Areas Level 2 (SA2) boundaries, which can materially differ from Suburbs and Localities (SAL) even when sharing similar names.
SA2 boundaries are defined by the Australian Bureau of Statistics and are designed to represent communities for statistical reporting (e.g., census and ERP).
Suburbs and Localities (SAL) represent commonly-used suburb/locality names (postal-style areas) and may use different geographic boundaries. For comprehensive analysis, consider reviewing both boundary types if available.
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ABS ERP | -- people | --
2021 Census | -- people
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Somerville has an estimated 19,098 residents, up from 18,522 at the 2021 Census — a change of 576 people, or 3.1%. 196 new addresses have been validated here since Census night. That puts 163 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
As of Aug 2026, demographic research from AreaSearch places the population of Somerville at approximately 19,098. This represents an addition of 576 people (3.1%) compared with the 18,522 people counted during the 2021 Census. This calculation incorporates the ABS June 2025 estimated resident population of 19,098 alongside 196 validated new addresses added after the Census date. With a density of 162 persons per square kilometer, the locality offers ample physical space and capacity for prospective development. Furthermore, Somerville outperformed the broader SA3 area (2.0%) with its 3.1% growth rate since the 2021 census, establishing itself as a regional growth frontrunner.
Overseas migration served as the primary growth catalyst, generating roughly 49.9% of recent gains, with natural increase and interstate arrivals also delivering positive contributions. SA2 demographic modelling by AreaSearch incorporates the 2024 ABS/Geoscience Australia projections using 2022 as the base benchmark year. Where SA2 coverage is absent, figures draw upon the 2023 VIC State Government Regional/LGA projections, adjusting numbers through weighted population growth aggregation from LGA down to SA2 boundaries. Age cohort growth trajectories derived from these models are applied across every district from 2032 to 2041. Future demographic forecasts indicate that expansion will track slightly under the national median, with the community projected to add 2,100 persons by 2041 according to current annual ERP data, amounting to an overall rise of 11.0% across the 16 years.
Frequently Asked Questions - Population
286 new dwellings have been approved in Somerville over the past five years, an average of 57 a year. That is 3.1 approvals per 1,000 residents. Of the 57 dwellings approved in the latest reporting year, 74% were detached houses and the rest townhouses or apartments. Figures come from ABS building approvals aggregated to this SA2 boundary and are updated monthly as the ABS releases them.
Detail
Building approvals in Somerville have averaged roughly 57 dwellings annually, accumulating to 286 homes across the previous 5 financial years. Between FY-22 and FY-26, the area added an average of 1.1 new residents per completed dwelling over the past 5 financial years, reflecting balanced supply and demand dynamics and a steady market environment; nevertheless, this metric surged to 5.7 people per dwelling over the past 2 financial years, pointing toward rising interest and potential housing shortages. Expected construction costs for newly approved residences average $425,000, consistent with wider regional building benchmarks.
In addition, commercial development has recorded moderate momentum, with $17.9 million in commercial project approvals logged throughout this financial year. Per capita residential construction in Somerville is about 62% of the Greater Melbourne level, positioning the suburb in the 18th percentile among areas nationwide, which restricts options for prospective purchasers while bolstering interest in established residences. Building activity also sits below the national benchmark, reflecting an established suburban setting along with prospective planning constraints. Construction permits are divided between 74.0% detached dwellings and 26.0% townhouses or apartments, preserving the low-density footprint and emphasizing standalone houses tailored to space-oriented families. The presence of 753 people per residential approval illustrates the subdued pace of local building activity. Projections from the newest AreaSearch quarterly figures indicate Somerville is on track to add 2,100 residents by 2041. While residential construction currently maintains a reasonable balance against demographic projections, prospective purchasers may encounter heightened market competition as population numbers grow.
Frequently Asked Questions - Development
Development applications around Somerville
SOURCE: Planning portals and council registers, compiled by AreaSearch. Distance & bearing measured from the suburb midpoint.
AreaSearch tracks 26 current infrastructure and development projects inside Somerville, worth an estimated $1.38 billion. A further 117 sit in the immediately surrounding suburbs, taking the tracked pipeline within reach of the area to $14.3 billion. 35 are already under construction and 58 are due for completion within three years. The pipeline spans residential development, transport & logistics and communities, precincts & urban renewal. 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
Planning initiatives, local infrastructure projects, and capital investments play a decisive role in suburban performance. AreaSearch has pinpointed 36 key projects influencing the locality, highlighted by the Tyabb-Somerville Recycled Water Scheme, Somerville Cove, Somerville Active Recreation Hub, and the Somerville Local Area Traffic Management - Black Spot Project.
Professional plan users can use the search below to filter and access additional projects.
INFRASTRUCTURE SEARCH
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Frequently Asked Questions - Infrastructure
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.
Somerville Police Station
A purpose-built 2500-square metre police facility designed by Baldasso Cortese Architects to support the growing Western Port region. The building features a distinctive Corten steel upper facade with folded panels forming a five-pointed star to represent Victoria Police values. It accommodates 150 staff and houses units including the Uniform Branch, Highway Patrol, and Crime Scene Unit, alongside a gymnasium and emergency management conference facilities.
Spindrift Townhomes
Spindrift Townhomes is a multi-unit residential development comprising 37 modern 2, 3, and 4-bedroom townhouses. The project is situated along the main arterial corridor connecting Tyabb and Hastings on the Mornington Peninsula.
Peninsula Pottery Industries Redevelopment
Redevelopment of the historic Peninsula Pottery Industries site by Bayport Group. The project transformed the 60-acre historical site into a modern clay extraction and processing facility, featuring a quarry operating to depths of 30 meters. It now functions as Peninsula Quarries (VIC), supplying essential materials for regional civil infrastructure and construction projects while maintaining a community engagement group and grant program.
Yaringa Boat Harbour Expansion
Major multi-faceted coastal infrastructure and tourism development featuring a new inland marina basin with 180 wet berths, a tide control lock, 180 tourist accommodation units, 400-boat dry stack storage, and expanded marine service industry facilities.
The Wheelhouse Martha Cove
Collection of 29 artfully crafted waterfront residences at Martha Cove marina designed by architect Fender Katsalidis with interiors by Carr Design. The form emulates the hull of a boat with raw maritime materiality. Premium coastal apartments with marina views and world-class amenity, featuring direct marina access and uninterrupted water views with contemporary design and high-end finishes suited to the coastal environment.
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.
Mount Eliza Landfill Capping Rehabilitation Works
Rehabilitation of the closed landfill cap and stormwater system across North and South Regional Parks in Mount Eliza. The works include cap thickening, stormwater swale construction, outfall infrastructure, and extensive revegetation to ensure full EPA Victoria compliance.
10,359 residents of Somerville are employed, from a labour force of 10,716. Unemployment sits at 3.3%, with participation at 68.1%. Weighted for its industry mix, the area's sectors are forecast to grow about 6.2% nationally over five years. That reflects industry composition only and makes no allowance for local population growth. Unemployment and labour force come from ABS Small Area Labour Markets, updated quarterly; the industry and occupation profile is from the 2021 Census.
Detail
The local labour market in Somerville is defined by a capable talent pool, strong construction sector representation, a low unemployment rate of 3.3%, and an estimated 0.7% expansion in jobs over the preceding year. There were 10,359 residents working as of March 2026, while the jobless rate was 1.4% lower than the Greater Melbourne benchmark of 4.8%. The labour force participation rate reached 68.1%, slightly trailing Greater Melbourne at 70.1%. According to Census responses, 19.4% of workers conducted their duties from home, though this figure was influenced by Covid-19 restrictions.
Employment among local residents is centered heavily within retail trade, health care & social assistance, and construction. The community displays strong industry concentration in construction, where the workforce proportion is 1.8 times the broader regional benchmark. In contrast, professional & technical occupations are less prevalent, making up 5.2% of workers versus 10.1% across the region. A comparison between the local Census working population and resident counts suggests a considerable share of residents travel outside the suburb for employment despite local options. AreaSearch evaluation of ABS and SALM statistics shows that in the twelve months to March 2026, local employment grew by 0.7% while the labour force expanded by 0.4%, yielding a 0.3 percentage point decrease in the jobless rate. By comparison, Greater Melbourne recorded a 2.1% increase in employment, a 2.3% rise in the labour pool, and a 0.2 percentage point uptick in unemployment. National employment forecasts from Jobs and Skills Australia as of Mar-26 provide additional context on future demand across Somerville over five-year and ten-year horizons. Nationally, employment is projected to expand by 6.6% over five years and 13.7% over ten years, with performance varying widely by sector. Mapping these projections onto the local employment baseline suggests Somerville employment could grow by 6.2% over five years and 13.0% over ten years, representing a simple weighted model for context without incorporating local population projections.
Frequently Asked Questions - Employment
Median household income in Somerville is $1,781 a week (about $93,000 a year), with median personal income at $797 a week. ATO records put median taxable income at $55,316 a year against an average of $71,063. 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 postcode statistics released by AreaSearch for financial year 2023 indicate local earnings in the Somerville SA2 surpass national benchmarks, with a median taxable income of $55,316 and an average of $71,063. These figures sit below Greater Melbourne, where the median reaches $57,688 and the average is $75,164. Incorporating 9.62% Wage Price Index growth since financial year 2023 produces updated estimates of approximately $60,637 for the median and $77,899 for the average as of March 2026. Across family, household, and individual brackets, Census data aligns local earnings near the 50th percentile nationally.
The $1,500 - 2,999 weekly bracket accounts for 34.9% of the local population (6,665 individuals), closely matching the regional proportion of 32.8%. After covering housing costs, households retain 85.2% of their income, placing the district in the 5th decile on the SEIFA economic index.
Frequently Asked Questions - Income
Somerville had 6,841 occupied dwellings at the 2021 Census, 85% detached houses and 0% apartments. 49% are owned with a mortgage, 16% rented and 35% 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
Census records indicate that Somerville's housing landscape is composed of 85.4% separate houses and 14.7% alternative dwelling formats (including apartments and semi-detached properties), compared to 67.9% houses and 32.1% other types throughout Melbourne metro. Outright property ownership stands at 35.3%, well above the metropolitan rate, while 48.8% of properties are mortgaged and 15.9% are rented. The median monthly mortgage payment was $1,800, below the Melbourne metro figure of $2,000, whereas median weekly rent was $380, compared to $390 across Melbourne metro. Nationally, Somerville mortgages sit under the Australian median of $1,863, while local rental costs exceed the national benchmark of $375.
Frequently Asked Questions - Housing
Somerville counted 6,841 households at the 2021 Census, averaging 2.6 people each. 34% are couples with children, against 28% 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 constitute 74.7% of households in the area, broken down into couples with children (33.8%), couples without children (28.1%), and single parent families (12.0%). Non-family living arrangements account for the remaining 25.3%, including lone person households at 23.6% and group households at 1.7%. The typical household size is 2.6 people, matching Greater Melbourne.
Frequently Asked Questions - Households
17.7% of adults in Somerville hold a university qualification, including 12.5% with a bachelor degree and 2.8% with postgraduate qualifications. A further 30.4% hold a vocational qualification. 11 schools serve the area, with 3,991 enrolment places and an average ICSEA of 1,015 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
Higher education rates present challenges in the district, with tertiary degree attainment at 17.7%, substantially trailing the Greater Melbourne level of 37.0%. Bachelor degrees account for 12.5% of qualifications, ahead of postgraduate qualifications (2.8%) and graduate diplomas (2.4%). Conversely, vocational qualifications are prominent, with 42.7% of residents aged 15+ holding certificates (30.4%) or advanced diplomas (12.3%). A significant 26.1% of local residents are actively engaged in formal education. This proportion comprises 8.9% attending primary school, 7.8% enrolled in secondary school, and 3.3% undertaking tertiary studies.
Frequently Asked Questions - Education
Schools Detail
Public transport in Somerville reaches 57 stops on 10 routes, timetabled for about 1,900 services a week. The typical home sits about 460 m from its nearest stop. Buses carry the largest share of public transport commuters. 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
Public transport in Somerville is delivered via 57 active bus stops across 10 discrete routes, providing 1,879 passenger services each week. Network access is moderate, with residents situated an average of 464 meters from the nearest stop. Private motor vehicles remain the primary commuting method at 95%, with households owning an average of 1.8 vehicles, above the regional benchmark. Working from home accounted for 19.4% of residents during the 2021 Census under COVID-19 influences. Transit schedules across all routes average 268 services each day, translating to roughly 32 departures each week for an individual stop.
Frequently Asked Questions - Transport
Transport Stops Detail
64.2% of residents in Somerville report no long-term health condition. 5.6% need daily assistance with core activities, and 54.1% hold private health cover. The standardised death rate runs at 5.5 per 1,000 residents. Health conditions, assistance needs and insurance are 2021 Census measures; the death rate comes from current ABS releases.
Detail
AreaSearch health metrics show notable chronic disease prevalence and mortality rates across younger and older demographics, while private medical coverage remains solid with approximately 54% of the population (~10,332 people) insured, compared to 56.7% in Greater Melbourne. Mental health conditions (10.1) and arthritis (9.3%) represent the two most common diagnosed medical issues locally, while 64.2% of residents report no chronic health conditions, compared to 72.6% in Greater Melbourne. Chronic ailments show elevated rates among working-age individuals. Residents aged 65 and above account for 21.3% of the community (4,060 people), exceeding the 15.1% share recorded for Greater Melbourne, with senior health indicators broadly aligning with national figures.
Frequently Asked Questions - Health
Somerville is largely Australian-born, at 84.7% of residents, with 3.9% speaking a language other than English at home. The largest reported ancestries are English (34.3%) and Australian (30.3%). Ancestry, language and country of birth are counted only by the Census, so these are 2021 figures.
Detail
Cultural diversity metrics in Somerville sit below regional averages, with 84.7% of the populace born in Australia, 91.9% holding citizenship, and 96.1% speaking only English at home. Christianity represents the leading religious affiliation at 42.1% of the population. Judaism forms 0.1% of the local population, compared to 1.0% across Greater Melbourne. The dominant ancestral backgrounds in Somerville are English (34.3% versus 20.1% regionally), Australian (30.3% versus 18.4% across the region), and Scottish (8.4%). Other European backgrounds show distinct concentrations, including Dutch ancestry at 2.3% (against 1.2% regionally), Welsh at 0.6% (against 0.4%), and Hungarian at 0.3% (against 0.3%).
Frequently Asked Questions - Diversity
The median resident of Somerville is 41. 23.9% 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
Somerville exhibits an older demographic composition than Greater Melbourne. AreaSearch figures for August 2026 place 21.3% of the community in the 65+ age category compared with 15.1% across Greater Melbourne, while residents aged 25 - 44 represent 24.7% compared to 32.1% regionally. The estimated median age of 41 remains unchanged from the 2021 Census and exceeds the Greater Melbourne Census median of 37 by 4 years. The 45 - 64 cohort has declined from 27.0% at the Census to an estimated 24.7%. Looking ahead to 2041, the senior age group is projected to see the largest increase, rising by 1,766 residents (43%) to 5,826, while the numbers of children, young adults, and residents aged 25 - 44 are projected to contract.
Frequently Asked Questions - Age
Data & MethodBoundaries, Sources & Method for Somerville
9 of 14 data sections on this page were updated within the last 12 months — the newest current to Sep 2026.
Everything is aggregated to the SA2 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) | Aug 2026 last month 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 Aug 2026, with the 2021 Census supplying the small-area baseline. | ||
| Age profile | ABS, Geoscience Australia, State governments Annual | Aug 2026 last month headline measures · 2021 Census baseline |
| Age cohorts are re-based to the latest ABS population estimates and state projections, current to Aug 2026. Each cohort is held as a Census baseline and a current estimate. | ||
| Development & approvals | ABS, GNAF Monthly (ABS approvals) | Aug 2026 last month headline measures · Jul 2026 baseline |
| Property sales & rents | Valuer General, Rental Board, ABS Weekly sales, quarterly rents | Sep 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 Sep 2026. | ||
| Infrastructure projects | Infrastructure Australia, State agencies, Local governments Daily | Aug 2026 last month all 26 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 Aug 2026. | ||
| Employment | ABS, DEWR, JSA Quarterly (ABS SALM) | Mar 2026 6 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 last month headline measures · 2021 Census baseline |
| Transport | ABS, State Transport Departments Each timetable release | Jul 2026 2 months ago headline measures · 2021 Census baseline |
| Services & amenities | Provider directories, ACECQA Continuous | Jul 2026 2 months ago 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 — 196 validated new addresses here. The headline figure is therefore a current estimate for Aug 2026, not a 2021 count (18,522 at the 2021 Census → 19,098 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 Aug 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 (214021385). QuickStats reports 2021 only — the figures on this page are more current wherever the ledger shows a later date.