Somersby
With a median age of 47 and 100% detached house stock spread across 79.9 square kilometres, Somersby reads as a rural-acreage enclave on the Central Coast rather than a conventional suburb. Household income sits at the 84.2nd percentile nationally, yet population density is just 13.6 people per km2, one of the lowest you will find in the greater Sydney basin fringe. Managers make up the largest occupation group at 118 workers, and 44.4% of dwellings are owned outright, a figure well above the national average, pointing to established, debt-free households rather than active mortgage holders.
Population
1,087
Median Age
47.0
Household IncomeiMedian weekly household income (ABS Census)
$2,215/wk
DAs (12 months)iDevelopment Applications lodged in the past year
38
Median House
$927K
2024-2025 (PSI derived)
The median house price of $927,000 in 2025 rose from $878,163 in 2024, a 5.9% annual gain. Every dwelling recorded in Somersby is a separate house, so buyers face no apartment or semi-detached competition, but supply is genuinely scarce at under 1,100 residents across 79.9 km2. Four-plus bedroom homes account for 54.4% of the stock and three-bedroom homes a further 31.4%, so the typical offering is spacious. Monthly mortgage repayments average $2,800, producing a mortgage-to-income ratio of 29.2%, just below the 30% stress threshold. Outright owners at 44.4% significantly outnumber mortgage holders at 28.4%, suggesting long-held blocks rather than a churn of recent purchasers.
For Buyers
The median house price of $927,000 in 2025 rose from $878,163 in 2024, a 5.9% annual gain. Every dwelling recorded in Somersby is a separate house, so buyers face no apartment or semi-detached competition, but supply is genuinely scarce at under 1,100 residents across 79.9 km2. Four-plus bedroom homes account for 54.4% of the stock and three-bedroom homes a further 31.4%, so the typical offering is spacious. Monthly mortgage repayments average $2,800, producing a mortgage-to-income ratio of 29.2%, just below the 30% stress threshold. Outright owners at 44.4% significantly outnumber mortgage holders at 28.4%, suggesting long-held blocks rather than a churn of recent purchasers.
For Investors
Weekly rent of $380 against a $927,000 median implies a gross yield near 2.1%, modest compared to higher-density markets. The vacancy rate of 8.5% is elevated and points to limited rental demand in an area where 82.7% of residents drive to work and public transport is virtually absent at 1.9%. The renter share of 27.2% is lower than the national average, consistent with an owner-occupier-dominated community. Development activity recorded 36 applications in the past 12 months, including industrial and home business uses, indicating mixed land-use pressure rather than pure residential growth. Investors should factor in the thin tenant pool and high vacancy before committing at the current price point.
Development Activity
Total DAs
186
Last 12 Months
38
YoY ChangeiYear-over-year change in DA lodgements
+31.0%
Avg DA CostiAverage estimated cost per DA in the past year
N/A
Monthly DA Lodgements
DA Categories
Demographics
The median age of 47 is 7 years above the national figure, placing Somersby firmly among Australia's older suburbs. English ancestry leads at 386 residents, followed by Irish at 115 and Scottish at 85, producing an Anglo-Celtic profile more concentrated than the national average. Overseas-born residents account for 16.7% of the population, which is 4.9 percentage points below the national average, consistent with limited international in-migration. University qualifications reach 27.0%, which is 3.1 points below national. The average household size of 3.0 is 0.5 above the national figure, reflecting a preponderance of couple-with-children families: 316 such families versus 255 couples without children in a total of 903 family units.
Age Distribution
Bedrooms
Dwelling Structure
100.0%
Houses
N/A
Townhouse
N/A
Apartment
Tenure
All 1,087 residents live in separate houses, giving Somersby a 100% detached rate, versus roughly 75% nationally, which shapes both the price floor and the buyer profile. The tenure split favours ownership: 44.4% own outright and 28.4% carry a mortgage, leaving only 27.2% renting. Four-plus bedroom homes dominate at 54.4%, with three-bedroom at 31.4% and two-bedroom at 10.6%, so the typical dwelling is larger than state norms. The median price moved from $878,163 in 2024 to $930,000 in 2025, a 5.9% gain over one year. Mortgage stress at 29.2% of income sits just under the conventional 30% threshold, and rent-to-income at 17.2% is well below the 30% stress level, keeping both owner and renter households relatively comfortable.
Median House Price Trend
Source: State Valuer-General
Mortgage / mo
$2,800
Rent / wk
$380
HH Size
3.0
Personal Income / wk
$867
Vacancy Ratei% of dwellings unoccupied on Census night (ABS 2021)
8.5%
Unoccupied
31
Rent / IncomeiMedian rent as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
17.2%
Mortgage / IncomeiMedian mortgage as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
29.2%
Community Profile
Ancestry
Household Composition
28.2%
Couples, no children
903
Total families
Economy & Employment
Healthcare leads Somersby's industry mix at 13.7% of employed residents, followed by Construction and Professional/Tech both at 11.0% and Manufacturing at 9.3%. Agriculture at 9.0% reflects the semi-rural character of the 79.9 km2 area. By occupation, Managers (118) top the list ahead of Professionals (96) and Clerical/Admin (63), which aligns with household income sitting at the 84.2nd percentile nationally. The unemployment rate is 3.7%, in line with the national average, and the full-time employment rate of 64.9% is solid. Participation at 55.9% is below the norm because 293 residents are not in the labour force, consistent with the older median age of 47.
Socio-Economic Indexes (SEIFA)iABS index ranking suburbs from 1 (most disadvantaged) to 10 (most advantaged)
Full-time
64.9%
Part-time
31.4%
Participation
55.9%
Employed
501
Occupations
Top Industries
University
27.0%
Postgraduate
5.0%
Born Overseas
16.7%
Dwellings
332
Transport to Work
Car dependence is extreme here: 82.7% of employed residents drive, while only 1.9% use public transport, well below state averages. Walking or cycling accounts for a surprisingly high 8.9%, likely reflecting local road or trail use given the large lot sizes. No schools are recorded within the Somersby boundary, so families depend on facilities in neighbouring Gosford or Wamberal catchments. Volunteering runs at 19.9% of residents, above average nationally, which reflects the established, community-oriented character of an older population. Rent-to-income at 17.2% is comfortably below the 30% stress threshold, and mortgage-to-income at 29.2% sits just below the stress line, suggesting housing costs are manageable relative to the 84.2nd-percentile household income.
Drive
82.7%
Public Transport
1.9%
Walk / Cycle
8.9%
Work from Home
N/A
National Ranking iPercentile rank among ~15,000 AU suburbs. 90% = higher than 90% of suburbs
How Somersby compares to ~15,000 Australian suburbs
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Somersby a good suburb to live in?
Somersby suits buyers seeking large blocks and privacy in a semi-rural setting. Household income sits at the 84.2nd percentile nationally, 44.4% of dwellings are owned outright, and the mortgage-to-income ratio of 29.2% is below the 30% stress threshold. The main trade-offs are minimal public transport at 1.9% usage and no schools recorded within the suburb.
What is the median house price in Somersby?
The median house price is $927,000 as of 2025, up 5.9% from $878,163 in 2024. All dwellings are separate houses, so there is no apartment or unit market. Monthly mortgage repayments average $2,800, and weekly rent averages $380.
What schools are in Somersby?
No schools are recorded within the Somersby boundary in this dataset. Families typically access schools in nearby Gosford and Central Coast suburbs. University qualifications at 27.0% of residents are 3.1 percentage points below the national figure, suggesting most local children attend external schools.
Is Somersby safe?
Detailed crime statistics are not available for Somersby in this dataset. As indirect indicators, only 3.7% of residents need daily assistance, housing stress is low at 29.2% mortgage-to-income, and the volunteering rate of 19.9% points to a cohesive, established community, all consistent with a low-disadvantage area.
Is Somersby good for property investment?
Weekly rent of $380 against a $927,000 median implies a gross yield near 2.1%, which is low compared to higher-density suburbs. The vacancy rate of 8.5% is elevated and the renter share of 27.2% is below the national average, limiting the tenant pool. The 5.9% price gain in 2024-2025 is the stronger investment argument.
How is Somersby's population changing?
Population data shows 1,087 residents across 79.9 km2, giving a density of 13.6 per km2. The residential turnover rate is just 20.2%, meaning 79.8% of residents did not move in the five years prior to the Census, indicating a very stable, long-settled community with limited in-migration pressure.
How much development is happening in Somersby?
There were 36 development applications lodged in the past 12 months. These include industrial, home business and dwelling house modifications rather than large residential subdivisions, reflecting the mixed-use rural character of the area. The 79.9 km2 land area provides ample capacity for incremental development without rapid densification.
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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