Somers
Somers stands out for an older resident base, with a median age of 53, which is 13.0 years above the national comparison. Its 1,857 residents live mainly in detached homes, with 94.8% of dwellings separate houses and 58.7% owned outright. Compared with nearby Balnarring and Tyabb, Somers is defined by an established, low-density coastal pattern rather than a large development pipeline. That stability is reinforced by 80.3% of residents staying at the same address, although the 39.8% vacancy rate suggests many properties may not be part of the regular rental market.
Local council: Mornington Peninsula
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
1
Median House
$1.4M
October to December 2025
Housing stock is strongly family-oriented: 44.3% of homes have 3 bedrooms and 43.1% have 4 or more, while 94.8% are separate houses. The typical monthly mortgage figure is $2,167, equal to 26.3% of household income, so mortgage stress is not flagged despite the price point. Values are 19.5% below the 2022 peak but 116.0% above the 2013 trough, giving buyers more negotiating context than during the peak. Compared with an apartment-led market, Somers provides fewer compact options because detached homes dominate.
For Buyers
Housing stock is strongly family-oriented: 44.3% of homes have 3 bedrooms and 43.1% have 4 or more, while 94.8% are separate houses. The typical monthly mortgage figure is $2,167, equal to 26.3% of household income, so mortgage stress is not flagged despite the price point. Values are 19.5% below the 2022 peak but 116.0% above the 2013 trough, giving buyers more negotiating context than during the peak. Compared with an apartment-led market, Somers provides fewer compact options because detached homes dominate.
For Investors
Somers is a selective investment market rather than a high-turnover rental suburb. Only 11.9% of households rent, compared with 58.7% owning outright, and the weekly rent is $391. The 39.8% vacancy rate is higher than a tightly supplied rental market would normally indicate, which can make income consistency more important than headline capital growth. Only 1 development application was recorded over 12 months, limiting evidence of new supply pressure. The wider growth trend is 0.93% annually and is driven primarily by overseas migration. Compared with the owner-occupied base, the small renter share means investors may need to target tenants carefully, while the 94.8% detached-house share supports family rental demand.
Development Activity
Total DAs
3
Last 12 Months
1
YoY ChangeiYear-over-year change in DA lodgements
0.0%
Avg DA CostiAverage estimated cost per DA in the past year
N/A
Monthly DA Lodgements
DA Categories
Schools in Somers
Open-register school locations for education access. This is not a school-quality ranking.
Somers Primary School
Demographics
Somers has an older and more settled population than the national comparison. The median age is 53, or 13.0 years above the national figure, while 41.6% of residents have university qualifications, 11.5 percentage points above the national comparison. Overseas-born residents account for 16.7%, which is 4.9 points below the national level, and the average household size of 2.4 is 0.1 below the national comparison. Residential stability is pronounced, with 80.3% of residents remaining at the same address. English ancestry is recorded for 846 people, followed by Irish at 285 and Scottish at 276. No religion is the largest reported affiliation at 1,033 people, ahead of Christianity at 629. Compared with nearby Balnarring and Tyabb, Somers is more strongly characterised by an established, ageing household base, partly because turnover is only 19.7%.
Age Distribution
Bedrooms
Dwelling Structure
94.8%
Houses
2.3%
Townhouse
0.0%
Apartment
Tenure
Somers has a distinctly detached housing structure, with 94.8% of dwellings separate houses and 2.3% semi-detached homes. Tenure is also unusually settled: 58.7% of homes are owned outright, 27.9% are mortgaged and 11.9% are rented. Across 20 quarters, the long-run compound annual growth rate is 4.1% over 19 years. Compared with the 2013 baseline, Somers housing has more than doubled in value, while the recent decline below the peak may improve choice for buyers who can manage the premium entry price.
Mortgage / mo
$2,167
Rent / wkiABS Census 2021 median across all dwelling types. Current market rents are typically higher.
$391
Census 2021
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
37.6%
Couples with children
51.9%
Couples, no children
10.0%
Single parent
518
Total families
Economy & Employment
Somers combines relatively strong household earnings with a modest labour-force participation rate. Weekly household income is $1,906, placing the suburb at the 71.1st percentile, while the labour force numbers 839 people and unemployment is 1.5%. Healthcare is the largest industry at 16.2%, or 100 workers, followed by education at 15.0% and 93 workers, professional and technical services at 11.5% and 71, construction at 11.0% and 68, and manufacturing at 6.0% and 37. Occupations are led by professionals at 249, managers at 121 and trades at 120. The SEIFA pattern is mixed: IER is one decile higher than IEO at 6 versus 5, while IRSD is 5 and IRSAD is lower at 4. This suggests economic resources are stronger than broader relative advantage, partly because professional employment and household incomes coexist with an older population and 53.4% participation rate.
Unemployment
1.5%
Labour Force
839
Unemployed
13
Source: ABS Census 2021
Socio-Economic Indexes (SEIFA)iABS index ranking suburbs from 1 (most disadvantaged) to 10 (most advantaged)
Full-time
44.7%
Part-time
46.1%
Participation
53.4%
Employed
826
Full-time and part-time are shares of the employed. Source: ABS Census 2021
Occupations
Top Industries
University
41.6%
Postgraduate
11.6%
Born Overseas
16.7%
Dwellings
692
Transport to Work
Somers is practical for residents who rely on cars, with 58.4% recorded as car drivers, compared with 5.6% who walk or cycle to work. Working from home is more common at 33.0%, which may reduce some commuting pressure but does not replace access to services. One local government primary school is listed, Somers Primary School, so families should check secondary enrolment zones against the exact address because school access can cross suburb boundaries. Recorded crime totals 86 offences, or 46.3 per 1,000 residents, with property and deception offences accounting for 56, ahead of 17 justice procedures offences and 13 crimes against the person. The IRSAD decile is 4, below the IER decile of 6, indicating lower broader relative advantage than economic resources alone suggest. Volunteering is comparatively strong at 29.1%, supporting local participation and social connection.
Drive
58.4%
Public Transport
N/A
Walk / Cycle
5.6%
Work from Home
33.0%
Growth Outlook
Somers has an established growth outlook, with the forecast annual trend at 0.93% and overseas migration identified as the primary driver. The wider area records population change of 18.1% over ten years, which is higher than the current annual trend and points to gradual rather than rapid expansion. The shift trajectory is labelled Aging, supported by a 7.3% increase in the senior share and a 2.0% decline in the young share. Gentrification signals are limited: the current score is 5 and the stage is Not gentrifying, although another shift measure records a score of 32 at the Early signs stage. These indicators suggest growth will be shaped more by established households, ageing and selective migration than by major redevelopment. Stable affordability, moving from 44.5% in 2011 to 43.9% in 2021, also limits pressure for rapid demographic change.
Population trend: Mornington Peninsula council area
Somers sits in the Mornington Peninsula council area. These are the council area's residents, not Somers's.
Residents 2025
172,217
Growth, 5 yr average
+0.2%/yr
2020 to 2025
Growth, last year
+0.8%
2024 to 2025
ABS Estimated Resident Population by LGA, 30 June each year; council area, not this suburb
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
What schools are in Somers?
Somers Primary School is the listed local school and is a government primary school. Families should check the enrolment zone for their exact address and confirm secondary options before purchasing, as local school access can differ by street. The suburb has 1 named school in the available listings.
Is Somers safe?
Somers recorded 86 offences, equivalent to 46.3 crimes per 1,000 residents. Property and deception offences were the largest category at 56, followed by 17 justice procedures offences and 13 crimes against the person. Recent incidents and street-level conditions should be considered alongside these figures.
Is Somers good for property investment?
Somers may suit a long-term investor seeking detached housing, but rental conditions require care. The rental share is 11.9%, weekly rent is $391 and vacancy is 39.8%. Annual growth is forecast at 0.93%, while only 1 development application was recorded over 12 months.
How is Somers's population changing?
Somers has a population of 1,857 and an ageing trajectory. The senior share has increased by 7.3%, while the young share has fallen by 2.0%. Wider-area population change is 18.1% over ten years, with forecast growth of 0.93% annually driven primarily by overseas migration.
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), Valuer-General Victoria (house prices), state education open registers (school locations), state Crime Statistics agencies (offences), council DA portals (development applications).
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