Somersby vs Palm Grove

Somersby is the younger of the two, with a median age of 47 against 55 in Palm Grove. In both, most households own their home and the large majority of homes are detached houses. In Somersby, most households are couple families. In Palm Grove, about half of households are people living alone. On these figures, Somersby tends to suit couples, while Palm Grove suits people living alone and older residents.

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

Somersby

ahead on 2 of the 6 things we measure here

  • has more parks and reserves (5 vs 0)
  • is already more of a family suburb (70% vs 55%)

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

First-home buyers

Too close to call

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

Weighs mortgage stress.

Renters

They split

one each way, out of the 2 things we measure here

  • Somersby leaves renters under less rental stress (17% vs 23%)
  • Palm Grove has cheaper rent ($320/wk vs $380/wk)

Weighs rent and rental stress.

Commuting to the city

Somersby

ahead on 2 of the 3 things we measure here

  • sits closer to the CBD (75.3 km vs 91.6 km)
  • has a shorter drive in (67 min vs 80 min)

Weighs distance, drive time, and walkability.

Downsizers and retirees

Palm Grove

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • has more residents already 65 and over (27% vs 19%)

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

Investors

Somersby

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • is growing faster (2.0% vs -17.9%)

Weighs population growth.

Where they sit

Somersby and Palm Grove 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 Palm Grove
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 Palm Grove
Walkability 8 / 10
Somersby — Walkability: 8/100 Palm Grove — Walkability: 10/100
Safety 11 / 6
Somersby — Safety: 11/100 Palm Grove — Safety: 6/100
Low fire risk 22 / 37
Somersby — Low fire risk: 22/100 Palm Grove — Low fire risk: 37/100

Demographics

Somersby has more residents (1,087 vs 87); Somersby has higher household incomes ($115,180 vs $73,632).

Somersby Palm Grove
Population 1,087
+92% vs other
 87
Population trend (2016 → 2021) +2.0% -17.9%
Median age 47 55
Median household income $115,180/yr
+36% vs other
 $73,632/yr
Median weekly rent $380/wk
+16% vs other
 $320/wk

Age profile

Share of residents in each band, 2021 Census.

Somersby Palm Grove
0-4 4.1% / 3.4%
Somersby — 0-4: 4.1% Palm Grove — 0-4: 3.4%
5-14 9.8% / 9.2%
Somersby — 5-14: 9.8% Palm Grove — 5-14: 9.2%
15-19 7.8% / —
Somersby — 15-19: 7.8% Palm Grove — 15-19: not among its largest
20-24 6.7% / 4.6%
Somersby — 20-24: 6.7% Palm Grove — 20-24: 4.6%
25-34 9.0% / 6.9%
Somersby — 25-34: 9.0% Palm Grove — 25-34: 6.9%
35-44 10.0% / 8.0%
Somersby — 35-44: 10.0% Palm Grove — 35-44: 8.0%
45-54 16.3% / 18.4%
Somersby — 45-54: 16.3% Palm Grove — 45-54: 18.4%
55-64 16.7% / 20.7%
Somersby — 55-64: 16.7% Palm Grove — 55-64: 20.7%
65-74 10.9% / 18.4%
Somersby — 65-74: 10.9% Palm Grove — 65-74: 18.4%
75-84 6.3% / 5.7%
Somersby — 75-84: 6.3% Palm Grove — 75-84: 5.7%
85+ 1.9% / 3.4%
Somersby — 85+: 1.9% Palm Grove — 85+: 3.4%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (20.7%).

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 — Other Families: 3.7% Somersby — Group Household: 2.4%
Palm Grove 35.0% couple families
Palm Grove — Couple Families: 35.0% Palm Grove — Lone Person: 45.0% Palm Grove — One Parent Families: 20.0% Palm Grove — Other Families: 0.0% Palm Grove — Group Household: 0.0%
Couple Families Lone Person One Parent Families Other Families Group Household

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%
Palm Grove 0.0% renting
Palm Grove — Owned Outright: 75.0% Palm Grove — Mortgage: 25.0% Palm Grove — Renting: 0.0%
Owned outright Mortgage Renting

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 Palm Grove
England 3.9% / 3.4%
Somersby — England: 3.9% Palm Grove — England: 3.4%
New Zealand 1.3% / —
Somersby — New Zealand: 1.3% Palm Grove — New Zealand: not among its largest
Thailand 0.8% / —
Somersby — Thailand: 0.8% Palm Grove — Thailand: not among its largest
China 0.7% / —
Somersby — China: 0.7% Palm Grove — China: not among its largest
South Africa 0.7% / —
Somersby — South Africa: 0.7% Palm Grove — South Africa: not among its largest

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (3.9%).

Qualifications

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

Somersby Palm Grove
Bachelor Degree 12.5% / 21.8%
Somersby — Bachelor Degree: 12.5% Palm Grove — Bachelor Degree: 21.8%
Certificate III & IV 18.9% / 13.8%
Somersby — Certificate III & IV: 18.9% Palm Grove — Certificate III & IV: 13.8%
Advanced Diploma / Diploma 9.4% / 10.3%
Somersby — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 9.4% Palm Grove — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 10.3%
Postgraduate Degree 2.9% / 4.6%
Somersby — Postgraduate Degree: 2.9% Palm Grove — Postgraduate Degree: 4.6%
Graduate Diploma / Certificate 1.1% / 4.6%
Somersby — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 1.1% Palm Grove — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 4.6%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (21.8%).

What people live in

Occupied private dwellings by structure, 2021 Census.

Somersby 97.6% houses
Somersby — Houses: 97.6% Somersby — Flats / Apartments: 2.4%
Palm Grove 100.0% houses
Palm Grove — Houses: 100.0% Palm Grove — Flats / Apartments: 0.0%
Houses Flats / Apartments

Property market

Somersby Palm Grove
Median house price $2,062,500 —
Median unit price $770,000 —
Median land price $1,702,500 —
Typical days to sell (houses) 30 days
from 3 sales
 —

Zoning mix

Palm Grove has more land zoned for conservation (81% vs 42%); Somersby has more rural and farming land (43% vs 19%).

Somersby Palm Grove
Environmental 42% 81%
Rural and farming 43% 19%
Infrastructure and transport 9% 0%
Industrial 4% 0%
Parks and recreation 2% 0%
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 Palm Grove
New dwellings approved 1,441
across Central Coast (NSW)
same for both
Approvals change year on year +67%
same for both

Ranking within NSW

Somersby Palm Grove
House price Higher than 96% of NSW —
Income Higher than 79% of NSW Higher than 40% of NSW
Schools —
same for both
Walkability Higher than 52% of NSW Higher than 56% of NSW
Affordability Higher than 5% of NSW —
EV adoption Higher than 83% of NSW Higher than 82% of NSW
NBN connectivity Higher than 66% of NSW Higher than 29% of NSW

Liveability

Somersby Palm Grove
Grade C —
Score 33/100 —
Socio-economic band very advantaged area
decile 9/10
same for both

Risk profile

Somersby carries more bushfire risk (78 vs 63).

Somersby Palm Grove
Bushfire High
78/100
 Moderate
63/100
Crime High
89/100
 High
94/100
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 Palm Grove
Inside the suburb 1 0
Rated above peers 0
same for both
Rated at peers 1 0
Rated below peers 0
same for both
Universities within 10 km 1
The University of Newcastle (Central Coast), 9.0 km
 1
The University of Newcastle (Central Coast), 2.9 km

Schools in Somersby

  • Somersby Public School Government · Primary at peers

Schools in Palm Grove

No schools recorded inside this suburb's boundary. Children here will be zoned to schools nearby.

Amenities in the suburb

Somersby Palm Grove
Cafes & restaurants 1 0
Parks & reserves 5 0
Waterways 33 2

Mobility

Palm Grove sits further from the CBD (91.6 km vs 75.3 km).

Somersby Palm Grove
Walkability score 8/100 10/100
Distance to Sydney 75.3 km 91.6 km
+22% vs other
Drive time (normal traffic) 67 min 80 min
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 Palm Grove
Worked from Home 34.1% / 61.9%
Somersby — Worked from Home: 34.1% Palm Grove — Worked from Home: 61.9%
Car (driver) 54.5% / 38.1%
Somersby — Car (driver): 54.5% Palm Grove — Car (driver): 38.1%
Walked Only 5.1% / —
Somersby — Walked Only: 5.1% Palm Grove — Walked Only: not among its largest
Car (passenger) 4.2% / —
Somersby — Car (passenger): 4.2% Palm Grove — Car (passenger): not among its largest
Bus 1.3% / —
Somersby — Bus: 1.3% Palm Grove — Bus: not among its largest

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (61.9%).

Setting

Somersby Palm Grove
Elevation 260 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
 90 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
Distance to the ocean 15.6 km 18.2 km

NBN connectivity

Somersby Palm Grove
Connectivity score 47/100 20/100
Most common technology Fixed wireless Satellite (Sky Muster)
Full-fibre (FTTP) share 16%
784 premises
 0%
40 premises

Climate

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

Federal electorate

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

First Home Owner Grant

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

Tags

Somersby

Premium Rural

Palm Grove

Retirees River Rural

More comparisons

Other comparisons with Somersby

Somersby vs Narara Somersby vs Kariong Somersby vs Ourimbah Somersby vs Niagara Park Somersby vs West Gosford Somersby vs Peats Ridge

Other comparisons with Palm Grove

Palm Grove vs Ourimbah Palm Grove vs Central Mangrove
Full data on Somersby Full data on Palm Grove
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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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