Somers
A median house price of $1,345,000 combined with a 39.8% vacancy rate tells the Somers story clearly: this is a coastal holiday enclave on the Mornington Peninsula that most residents visit rather than occupy year-round. The population of 1,857 is small, the median age of 53 is 13 years above the national figure, and 59.6% of households own their home outright, suggesting established wealth rather than active buyer churn. House price data shows a compound annual growth of 5.2% since 2013, though prices remain 23.8% below the 2022 peak of $1,765,000.
Population
1,857
Median Age
53.0
Household IncomeiMedian weekly household income (ABS Census)
$1,906/wk
DAs (12 months)iDevelopment Applications lodged in the past year
11
Median House
$1.3M
Apr-Jun 2024
The current median house price is $1,345,000, down from a 2022 peak of $1,765,000, a 23.8% correction that has brought the market closer to pre-boom levels. Prices have more than doubled since 2013 when the median was $657,500, representing a 14-year CAGR of 5.2%. The stock is almost entirely separate houses at 94.8%, with 43.1% of dwellings having 4 or more bedrooms and 44.3% having 3 bedrooms, reflecting the holiday-home character. Monthly mortgage repayments average $2,167, translating to a mortgage-to-income ratio of 26.3%, below the 30% stress threshold. That said, household incomes sit at the 71.1st percentile nationally, so buyers are typically well-resourced.
For Buyers
The current median house price is $1,345,000, down from a 2022 peak of $1,765,000, a 23.8% correction that has brought the market closer to pre-boom levels. Prices have more than doubled since 2013 when the median was $657,500, representing a 14-year CAGR of 5.2%. The stock is almost entirely separate houses at 94.8%, with 43.1% of dwellings having 4 or more bedrooms and 44.3% having 3 bedrooms, reflecting the holiday-home character. Monthly mortgage repayments average $2,167, translating to a mortgage-to-income ratio of 26.3%, below the 30% stress threshold. That said, household incomes sit at the 71.1st percentile nationally, so buyers are typically well-resourced.
For Investors
Somers presents an unusual investor profile. The rental vacancy rate of 39.8% is exceptionally high compared to the national norm of around 1-3%, driven by the high proportion of holiday homes that are vacant most of the year. Only 12.1% of dwellings are rented at any given time, and weekly rent averages $391. With only 7 development applications lodged in the past 12 months, new supply is minimal. Net internal migration runs at negative 275 residents per year for the broader area, while overseas migration adds 94, so population growth is thin. Investors should expect holiday letting or short-stay returns rather than conventional long-term rental income, and capital growth has delivered a 5.2% CAGR over 14 years.
Development Activity
Total DAs
13
Last 12 Months
11
YoY ChangeiYear-over-year change in DA lodgements
+1000.0%
Avg DA CostiAverage estimated cost per DA in the past year
N/A
Monthly DA Lodgements
DA Categories
Schools in Somers iICSEA: school advantage index. 1000 = national avg, higher = more advantaged
Somers Primary School
Prep-6 · 209 students
Demographics
The median age of 53 sits 13 years above the national average, making Somers one of the older communities in Victoria. This aging profile has deepened over the decade, with the senior share rising 7.3 points and the working-age share falling 2.4 points. Overseas-born residents make up 16.7%, which is 4.9 percentage points below the national figure, reflecting an Anglo-Celtic dominant population: English ancestry leads at 846 residents, followed by Irish (285) and Scottish (276). University qualifications reach 41.6%, which is 11.5 percentage points above the national average, consistent with the professional-class holiday enclave character. Average household size is 2.4, close to the national figure, and 80.3% of residents have lived at the same address for 5 or more years.
Age Distribution
Bedrooms
Dwelling Structure
94.8%
Houses
2.3%
Townhouse
N/A
Apartment
Tenure
Somers is defined by outright ownership: 59.6% of households own their home without a mortgage, well above the national average, which points to the suburb functioning as a second-home or retirement asset base. Only 28.3% carry a mortgage and 12.1% rent. Separate houses account for 94.8% of all dwellings, with virtually no apartment stock. Bedroom distribution skews large: 43.1% of homes have 4 or more bedrooms and 44.3% have 3, suitable for visiting families. Prices have followed a pronounced cycle from $657,500 in 2013 to $1,765,000 at the 2022 peak, falling 23.8% to $1,345,000 by April-June 2024. The mortgage-to-income ratio of 26.3% remains below stress levels, and rent-to-income runs at 20.5%, comfortably affordable for tenants.
Median House Price Trend
Source: State Valuer-General
Mortgage / mo
$2,167
Rent / wk
$391
HH Size
2.4
Personal Income / wk
$874
Vacancy Ratei% of dwellings unoccupied on Census night (ABS 2021)
39.8%
Unoccupied
456
Rent / IncomeiMedian rent as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
20.5%
Mortgage / IncomeiMedian mortgage as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
26.3%
Community Profile
Ancestry
Household Composition
36.8%
Couples, no children
1,424
Total families
Economy & Employment
The local workforce of around 617 employed residents leans toward high-skill sectors. Healthcare leads at 16.2% of workers (100 people), followed by Education at 15.0% (93) and Professional/Technical services at 11.5% (71). Construction accounts for 11.0% (68), consistent with ongoing maintenance of holiday properties. By occupation, Professionals dominate (249 workers), followed by Managers (121) and Community/Personal service workers (105). The unemployment rate is very low at 1.7%, well below state and national levels. However, the participation rate of only 48.6% is low, because 609 residents are not in the labour force, reflecting the high proportion of retirees and semi-retirees in the 53-median-age population. Real incomes grew 13.3% over the past decade. SEIFA scores are mid-range: IRSD decile 5 and IRSAD decile 4.
Unemployment
4.7%
Labour Force
12,202
Unemployed
572
Quarterly Trend
Source: SALM Dec-25
Socio-Economic Indexes (SEIFA)iABS index ranking suburbs from 1 (most disadvantaged) to 10 (most advantaged)
Full-time
49.2%
Part-time
49.1%
Participation
48.6%
Employed
750
Occupations
Top Industries
University
41.6%
Postgraduate
11.6%
Born Overseas
16.7%
Dwellings
692
Transport to Work
With 87.1% of residents commuting by car and only 8.4% walking or cycling, Somers is car-dependent, as expected for a low-density coastal suburb 90 kilometres from Melbourne. No schools are recorded within the suburb boundary, so families rely on nearby towns, a common trade-off for a holiday-oriented community. The crime rate is 46.3 incidents per 1,000 residents based on 86 total incidents, with property and deception offences accounting for 56 of those, typical for a high-vacancy area with unattended holiday homes. The volunteering rate of 29.1% is high, indicating a locally engaged permanent resident base. Only 3.1% of residents (54 people) need daily assistance, consistent with the active, established-wealth demographic, despite the older median age of 53.
Drive
87.1%
Public Transport
N/A
Walk / Cycle
8.4%
Work from Home
N/A
Population Forecast
+0.93%/yr
(+221 people/yr)
EstablishedAnnual population growth for the broader area runs at 0.93%, adding about 221 residents per year, with medium forecasts projecting growth from roughly 24,700 in 2026 to 25,803 by 2031. Over the past decade, the population has grown 18.1%. However, net internal migration for the area averages negative 275 per year, offset partially by overseas migration of 94, meaning the main growth driver is organic rather than domestic relocation. The gentrification score of 32 signals early signs of change, though the suburb is not classified as actively gentrifying. Rent growth of 37.5% over the period is notable and above the income growth rate of 13.3%, creating affordability pressure for the small renter segment.
Historical + Forecast
Hamilton-Perry + Holt smoothing on ERP 2001-2025
Age Cohort Forecast
Primary Driver
Overseas Migration
Net Overseas / yr
+94
Net Internal / yr
-275
Gentrification Signal
Not gentrifying
Population +14% since 2011, Net internal outflow -275/yr
Safety & Crime
Total Offences
86
Year ending June 2024
Rate per 1,000 People
46.3
Offence Categories
Source: Crime Statistics Agency Victoria / SA Police
National Ranking iPercentile rank among ~15,000 AU suburbs. 90% = higher than 90% of suburbs
How Somers compares to ~15,000 Australian suburbs
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Somers a good suburb to live in?
Somers suits buyers seeking a low-density coastal lifestyle rather than urban convenience. The median age is 53, the volunteering rate is 29.1%, and 80.3% of residents have stayed at the same address for 5 or more years, signalling a stable, established community. The trade-off is car dependency, no recorded schools within the suburb, and a 39.8% vacancy rate that reflects many homes being held as holiday properties.
What is the median house price in Somers?
The median house price is $1,345,000 as of April-June 2024, down 23.8% from the 2022 peak of $1,765,000. Prices have still more than doubled from $657,500 in 2013, a 5.2% compound annual growth rate over 14 years. Monthly mortgage repayments average $2,167, giving a mortgage-to-income ratio of 26.3%.
What schools are in Somers?
No schools are recorded within the Somers suburb boundary in this dataset. Families typically rely on schools in nearby Mornington Peninsula towns. The suburb's own population has 41.6% holding university qualifications, which is 11.5 percentage points above the national figure, but the small permanent population of 1,857 supports limited local educational infrastructure.
Is Somers safe?
Somers recorded 86 total crime incidents, giving a rate of 46.3 per 1,000 residents. Property and deception offences account for 56 of those 86 incidents, a pattern typical of high-vacancy holiday suburbs where unoccupied homes attract opportunistic crime. Crimes against the person numbered just 13, suggesting the area is low-risk for personal safety.
Is Somers good for property investment?
The investment case is primarily capital growth rather than rental yield. Weekly rent averages $391 against a $1,345,000 median, implying a gross yield below 1.5%. The 39.8% vacancy rate reflects holiday-home ownership patterns. House prices have compounded at 5.2% annually over 14 years, and only 7 development applications were lodged in 12 months, so supply is tightly constrained.
How is Somers's population changing?
The broader area is growing at 0.93% annually, adding around 221 residents per year, with the population up 18.1% over 10 years. Medium forecasts project growth from about 24,700 in 2026 to 25,803 by 2031. The resident profile is aging, with the senior share rising 7.3 points over the decade. Net internal migration runs negative 275 per year, partly offset by overseas migration of 94.
How to read these comparisons
Phrases like "above the national average" reference the unweighted median across Australian suburbs with more than 1,000 residents, not population-weighted national figures. Suburb-level medians are more useful for ranking suburbs against each other; ABS census headlines are population-weighted (so dominated by Sydney and Melbourne) and can read very differently.
Current baseline (refreshed 2026-05-10): median age 40, university-educated 30.1%, born overseas 21.6%, average household size 2.5 people.
Data sources: ABS 2021 Census (demographics, income, tenure), state Valuer-General (house prices), Department of Jobs SALM (unemployment), ACARA (school ICSEA), state Crime Statistics agencies (offences), council DA portals (development applications). Population forecasts use a Hamilton-Perry cohort model calibrated to ABS ERP.
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