Somersby vs Ourimbah

Ourimbah is the younger of the two, with a median age of 39 against 47 in Somersby. In both, most households own their home and the large majority of homes are detached houses. In Somersby, most households are couple families. In Ourimbah, about half of households are couple families. Houses cost more in Somersby: a median of $2.06 million, against $1.03 million in Ourimbah. On these figures, Ourimbah tends to suit families with children and buyers on a tighter budget.

Which one suits you?

There is no overall winner — the suburb that suits a family with school-age kids is routinely the wrong one for someone commuting into the city. So each of these answers its own question, against a checklist you can see, using the same figures in the tables below.

Families with school-age kids

Ourimbah

ahead on 2 of the 6 things we measure here

  • has more childcare (3 vs 0)
  • has more parks and reserves (9 vs 5)
  • But Somersby has more separate houses rather than flats (98% vs 76%)

Weighs schools, house stock, crime, parks, childcare, and who already lives there.

First-home buyers

Ourimbah

ahead on 3 of the 4 things we measure here

  • has cheaper houses ($1,030,000 vs $2,062,500)
  • leaves households under less mortgage stress (23% vs 29%)
  • has cheaper units ($655,000 vs $770,000)

Weighs house prices, unit prices, land prices, and mortgage stress.

Renters

Too close to call

Nothing among the 3 things we measure here separates them by enough to be worth acting on.

Weighs rent, rental stress, and how much is for rent.

Commuting to the city

Somersby

ahead on 3 of the 3 things we measure here

  • is more walkable (8/100 vs 0/100)
  • has a shorter drive in (67 min vs 90 min)
  • sits closer to the CBD (75.3 km vs 96 km)

Weighs distance, drive time, and walkability.

Downsizers and retirees

Ourimbah

ahead on 2 of the 5 things we measure here

  • has more units and townhouses to downsize into (24% vs 2%)
  • has more GPs (3 vs 0)
  • But Somersby is more walkable (8/100 vs 0/100)

Weighs smaller dwellings, who already lives there, GPs, walkability, and crime.

Investors

Too close to call

Nothing among the 1 things we measure here separates them by enough to be worth acting on.

Weighs population growth.

Where they sit

Somersby and Ourimbah drawn to the same scale. Both outlines are shown together, so the map answers whether they share a border and how their areas compare.

Somersby Ourimbah
Hides rows where both suburbs match

Bars start at zero. Scores, risks and rankings are drawn against their full 0–100 range; other rows are drawn in proportion to the larger of the two.

Side by side, out of 100

Risks are inverted — shown as safety and low exposure — so a longer bar always means better.

Somersby Ourimbah
Walkability 8 / 0
Somersby — Walkability: 8/100 Ourimbah — Walkability: 0/100
Safety 11 / 17
Somersby — Safety: 11/100 Ourimbah — Safety: 17/100
Low fire risk 22 / 44
Somersby — Low fire risk: 22/100 Ourimbah — Low fire risk: 44/100

Demographics

Ourimbah has more residents (4,019 vs 1,087); Somersby skews older (47 vs 39).

Somersby Ourimbah
Population 1,087 4,019
+270% vs other
Population trend (2016 → 2021) +2.0% +1.7%
Median age 47 39
Median household income $115,180/yr
+12% vs other
 $100,880/yr
Median weekly rent $380/wk $400/wk
+5% vs other

Age profile

Share of residents in each band, 2021 Census.

Somersby Ourimbah
0-4 4.1% / 5.6%
Somersby — 0-4: 4.1% Ourimbah — 0-4: 5.6%
5-14 9.8% / 12.9%
Somersby — 5-14: 9.8% Ourimbah — 5-14: 12.9%
15-19 7.8% / 7.1%
Somersby — 15-19: 7.8% Ourimbah — 15-19: 7.1%
20-24 6.7% / 6.1%
Somersby — 20-24: 6.7% Ourimbah — 20-24: 6.1%
25-34 9.0% / 12.5%
Somersby — 25-34: 9.0% Ourimbah — 25-34: 12.5%
35-44 10.0% / 13.4%
Somersby — 35-44: 10.0% Ourimbah — 35-44: 13.4%
45-54 16.3% / 13.7%
Somersby — 45-54: 16.3% Ourimbah — 45-54: 13.7%
55-64 16.7% / 14.3%
Somersby — 55-64: 16.7% Ourimbah — 55-64: 14.3%
65-74 10.9% / 8.6%
Somersby — 65-74: 10.9% Ourimbah — 65-74: 8.6%
75-84 6.3% / 4.3%
Somersby — 75-84: 6.3% Ourimbah — 75-84: 4.3%
85+ 1.9% / 1.3%
Somersby — 85+: 1.9% Ourimbah — 85+: 1.3%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (16.7%).

Who lives together

Household composition, 2021 Census.

Somersby 58.1% couple families
Somersby — Couple Families: 58.1% Somersby — Lone Person: 23.6% Somersby — One Parent Families: 12.2% Somersby — Group Household: 2.4% Somersby — Other Families: 3.7%
Ourimbah 48.8% couple families
Ourimbah — Couple Families: 48.8% Ourimbah — Lone Person: 27.4% Ourimbah — One Parent Families: 17.8% Ourimbah — Group Household: 4.3% Ourimbah — Other Families: 1.8%
Couple Families Lone Person One Parent Families Group Household Other Families

Who owns and who rents

Occupied private dwellings by tenure, 2021 Census.

Somersby 27.2% renting
Somersby — Owned Outright: 44.4% Somersby — Mortgage: 28.4% Somersby — Renting: 27.2%
Ourimbah 23.6% renting
Ourimbah — Owned Outright: 32.4% Ourimbah — Mortgage: 43.9% Ourimbah — Renting: 23.6%
Owned outright Mortgage Renting

Qualifications

Highest non-school qualification, residents 15+, 2021 Census.

Somersby Ourimbah
Certificate III & IV 18.9% / 18.4%
Somersby — Certificate III & IV: 18.9% Ourimbah — Certificate III & IV: 18.4%
Bachelor Degree 12.5% / 12.6%
Somersby — Bachelor Degree: 12.5% Ourimbah — Bachelor Degree: 12.6%
Advanced Diploma / Diploma 9.4% / 8.8%
Somersby — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 9.4% Ourimbah — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 8.8%
Postgraduate Degree 2.9% / 3.3%
Somersby — Postgraduate Degree: 2.9% Ourimbah — Postgraduate Degree: 3.3%
Graduate Diploma / Certificate 1.1% / 1.9%
Somersby — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 1.1% Ourimbah — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 1.9%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (18.9%).

Where residents were born

Largest overseas birthplaces, as a share of all residents, 2021 Census. A dash means that country is not among the suburb's own eight largest.

Somersby Ourimbah
England 3.9% / 4.6%
Somersby — England: 3.9% Ourimbah — England: 4.6%
New Zealand 1.3% / 1.9%
Somersby — New Zealand: 1.3% Ourimbah — New Zealand: 1.9%
China 0.7% / 0.8%
Somersby — China: 0.7% Ourimbah — China: 0.8%
South Africa 0.7% / 0.6%
Somersby — South Africa: 0.7% Ourimbah — South Africa: 0.6%
Thailand 0.8% / —
Somersby — Thailand: 0.8% Ourimbah — Thailand: not among its largest
Philippines — / 0.8%
Somersby — Philippines: not among its largest Ourimbah — Philippines: 0.8%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (4.6%).

What people live in

Occupied private dwellings by structure, 2021 Census.

Somersby 97.6% houses
Somersby — Houses: 97.6% Somersby — Townhouses: 0.0% Somersby — Flats / Apartments: 2.4%
Ourimbah 75.9% houses
Ourimbah — Houses: 75.9% Ourimbah — Townhouses: 22.7% Ourimbah — Flats / Apartments: 1.5%
Houses Townhouses Flats / Apartments

Property market

Somersby Ourimbah
Median house price $2,062,500 $1,030,000
Median unit price $770,000 $655,000
Median land price $1,702,500 $1,577,500
Typical days to sell (houses) 30 days
from 3 sales
 20 days
from 30 sales

Zoning mix

Ourimbah has more land zoned for conservation (56% vs 42%).

Somersby Ourimbah
Environmental 42% 56%
Rural and farming 43% 39%
Infrastructure and transport 9% 3%
Industrial 4% 0%
Parks and recreation 2% 0%
Residential 0% 1%
Zoning sets what may be built, not what is there today. A single address can sit in a different zone to the suburb around it. Zones as at 2026-09.

Development activity

Somersby Ourimbah
New dwellings approved 1,441
across Central Coast (NSW)
same for both
Approvals change year on year +67%
same for both

Gross rental yield

Gross — before strata, rates, management, insurance and vacancy. From median advertised rents and median asking prices over the last 6 months. How we calculate.

Somersby Ourimbah
Houses — 3.6%
$750/wk on $1.07M
Units —
same for both

Ranking within NSW

Somersby Ourimbah
House price Higher than 96% of NSW Higher than 60% of NSW
Income Higher than 79% of NSW Higher than 69% of NSW
Schools —
same for both
Walkability Higher than 52% of NSW Higher than 4% of NSW
Affordability Higher than 5% of NSW Higher than 54% of NSW
EV adoption Higher than 83% of NSW Higher than 82% of NSW
NBN connectivity Higher than 66% of NSW Higher than 71% of NSW
Rental yield (houses) — Higher than 52% of NSW

Liveability

Somersby is more walkable (8 vs 0).

Somersby Ourimbah
Grade C
same for both
Score 33/100 30/100
Socio-economic band very advantaged area
decile 9/10
 advantaged area
decile 7/10

Risk profile

Somersby carries more bushfire risk (78 vs 56).

Somersby Ourimbah
Bushfire High
78/100
 Moderate
56/100
Crime High
89/100
 High
83/100
Flood Not mapped
no mapped data here
same for both
Coastal erosion None
0/100
same for both
Aircraft noise None
0/100
same for both
Industrial facilities nearby 4
within 5 km
 0
within 5 km

Schools

Somersby Ourimbah
Inside the suburb 1
same for both
Rated above peers 0
same for both
Rated at peers 1 0
Rated below peers 0 1
Universities within 10 km 1
The University of Newcastle (Central Coast), 9.0 km
 1
The University of Newcastle (Central Coast), 0.0 km
Full-time students aged 15–24 1.5% 2.1%

Schools in Somersby

  • Somersby Public School Government · Primary at peers

Schools in Ourimbah

  • Ourimbah Public School Government · Primary below peers

Amenities in the suburb

Somersby Ourimbah
Cafes & restaurants 1 7
Parks & reserves 5 9
Childcare 0 3
GPs 0 3
Pharmacies 0 1
Banks & Bank@Post 0 1
Fuel stations 0 4
Waterways 33 26

Mobility

Ourimbah sits further from the CBD (96 km vs 75.3 km).

Somersby Ourimbah
Walkability score 8/100 0/100
Distance to Sydney 75.3 km 96 km
+27% vs other
Drive time (normal traffic) 67 min 90 min
Public transport score 56/100
Bus
 87/100
Rail · Bus
Peak arrivals per hour 45.8
7-9am + 5-7pm
 100.5
7-9am + 5-7pm
Median peak wait 1 min
scheduled, not actual
 0 min
scheduled, not actual
Electric vehicle share 1.1%
postcode 2250
 1.1%
postcode 2258
Rooftop solar per 100 dwellings 36
postcode 2250
 47
postcode 2258

How people get to work

Method of travel on census day 2021 — which fell during COVID restrictions, so working from home is inflated and every travel mode understated.

Somersby Ourimbah
Car (driver) 54.5% / 62.1%
Somersby — Car (driver): 54.5% Ourimbah — Car (driver): 62.1%
Worked from Home 34.1% / 30.7%
Somersby — Worked from Home: 34.1% Ourimbah — Worked from Home: 30.7%
Car (passenger) 4.2% / 3.3%
Somersby — Car (passenger): 4.2% Ourimbah — Car (passenger): 3.3%
Walked Only 5.1% / 1.1%
Somersby — Walked Only: 5.1% Ourimbah — Walked Only: 1.1%
Train — / 2.2%
Somersby — Train: not among its largest Ourimbah — Train: 2.2%
Bus 1.3% / 0.6%
Somersby — Bus: 1.3% Ourimbah — Bus: 0.6%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (62.1%).

Setting

Somersby Ourimbah
Elevation 260 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
 177 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
Distance to the ocean 15.6 km 15.5 km

NBN connectivity

Somersby Ourimbah
Connectivity score 47/100 62/100
Most common technology Fixed wireless Fibre to the node
Full-fibre (FTTP) share 16%
784 premises
 33%
1,629 premises

Climate

Somersby Ourimbah
Annual rainfall 1,272 mm
same for both
Summer max (Jan) 26.4°C
same for both
Winter min (Jul) 10.6°C
same for both

Air quality (annual mean)

Somersby Ourimbah
PM2.5 5.1 µg/m³
same for both
PM10 14.8 µg/m³
same for both
NO₂ 0.36 pphm
same for both

Council rates

Somersby Ourimbah
Average residential rate $1,409/yr
same for both
Council Central Coast (NSW)
same for both

Federal electorate

Somersby Ourimbah
Division Robertson Dobell
Member Gordon Reid Emma Mcbride
Party Australian Labor Party
same for both

First Home Owner Grant

Somersby Ourimbah
Grant amount $10,000
same for both
Property price cap $600,000
same for both
Eligibility New
same for both

Tags

Somersby

Premium Rural

Ourimbah

Rural Townhouses Transport Hub

More comparisons

Other comparisons with Somersby

Somersby vs Narara Somersby vs Kariong Somersby vs Niagara Park Somersby vs West Gosford Somersby vs Peats Ridge Somersby vs Central Mangrove

Other comparisons with Ourimbah

Ourimbah vs Tumbi Umbi Ourimbah vs Lisarow Ourimbah vs Mardi Ourimbah vs Niagara Park Ourimbah vs Glenning Valley Ourimbah vs Fountaindale
Full data on Somersby Full data on Ourimbah
Unlock full address-level data — $29/month

Information shown is provided as-is from Australian government and commercial data sources.
Always verify with the relevant authority before making property decisions.
See Data Sources and How We Calculate for details.

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