Somersby vs West Gosford

West Gosford is the younger of the two, with a median age of 44 against 47 in Somersby. In Somersby, most households own their home, the large majority of homes are detached houses, and most households are couple families. In West Gosford, about half of households rent and most households are people living alone. Houses cost more in Somersby: a median of $2.06 million, against $1.15 million in West Gosford. On these figures, Somersby tends to suit couples, while West Gosford suits renters, people living alone, and older residents.

Somersby and West Gosford sit close to Sydney's CBD, but they serve quite different buyer profiles. Somersby commands significantly higher property prices—median houses at $2,062,500 versus $1,152,500—and residents earn substantially more, with median household income of $115,180 compared to $60,788. West Gosford is far more walkable (score 56 versus 8), making it better suited to those prioritising local amenities and transport access, while Somersby ranks higher on liveability and socio-economic measures. Both suburbs face notable bushfire and crime risk, though Somersby's are somewhat lower, and rental costs are identical at $380 per week.

Written by an AI language model from the figures below. Every number in it is checked against those figures before it is published.

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 separate houses rather than flats (98% vs 22%)
  • is already more of a family suburb (70% vs 32%)
  • But West Gosford has more childcare (6 vs 0)

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

First-home buyers

West Gosford

ahead on 3 of the 4 things we measure here

  • has cheaper land ($448,210 vs $1,702,500)
  • has cheaper houses ($1,152,500 vs $2,062,500)
  • has cheaper units ($625,000 vs $770,000)
  • But Somersby leaves households under less mortgage stress (29% vs 34%)

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

Renters

They split

one each way, out of the 3 things we measure here

  • Somersby leaves renters under less rental stress (17% vs 32%)
  • West Gosford has a bigger rental market to choose from (54% vs 27%)

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

Commuting to the city

West Gosford

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • is more walkable (63/100 vs 8/100)

Weighs distance, drive time, and walkability.

Downsizers and retirees

West Gosford

ahead on 3 of the 5 things we measure here

  • has more units and townhouses to downsize into (78% vs 2%)
  • is more walkable (63/100 vs 8/100)
  • has more residents already 65 and over (29% vs 19%)

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

Investors

West Gosford

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • is growing faster (20.0% vs 2.0%)

Weighs population growth.

Where they sit

Somersby and West Gosford 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 West Gosford
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 West Gosford
Walkability 8 / 63
Somersby — Walkability: 8/100 West Gosford — Walkability: 63/100
Safety 11 / 2
Somersby — Safety: 11/100 West Gosford — Safety: 2/100
Low fire risk 22 / 6
Somersby — Low fire risk: 22/100 West Gosford — Low fire risk: 6/100

Demographics

Somersby has higher household incomes ($115,180 vs $60,788); West Gosford has more residents (1,602 vs 1,087).

Somersby West Gosford
Population 1,087 1,602
+47% vs other
Population trend (2016 → 2021) +2.0% +20.0%
Median age 47 44
Median household income $115,180/yr
+47% vs other
 $60,788/yr
Median weekly rent $380/wk
same for both

Age profile

Share of residents in each band, 2021 Census.

Somersby West Gosford
0-4 4.1% / 4.4%
Somersby — 0-4: 4.1% West Gosford — 0-4: 4.4%
5-14 9.8% / 8.2%
Somersby — 5-14: 9.8% West Gosford — 5-14: 8.2%
15-19 7.8% / 4.3%
Somersby — 15-19: 7.8% West Gosford — 15-19: 4.3%
20-24 6.7% / 6.4%
Somersby — 20-24: 6.7% West Gosford — 20-24: 6.4%
25-34 9.0% / 15.0%
Somersby — 25-34: 9.0% West Gosford — 25-34: 15.0%
35-44 10.0% / 11.7%
Somersby — 35-44: 10.0% West Gosford — 35-44: 11.7%
45-54 16.3% / 11.2%
Somersby — 45-54: 16.3% West Gosford — 45-54: 11.2%
55-64 16.7% / 10.1%
Somersby — 55-64: 16.7% West Gosford — 55-64: 10.1%
65-74 10.9% / 9.3%
Somersby — 65-74: 10.9% West Gosford — 65-74: 9.3%
75-84 6.3% / 9.2%
Somersby — 75-84: 6.3% West Gosford — 75-84: 9.2%
85+ 1.9% / 10.7%
Somersby — 85+: 1.9% West Gosford — 85+: 10.7%

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

Who lives together

Household composition, 2021 Census.

Somersby 23.6% lone person
Somersby — Lone Person: 23.6% Somersby — Couple Families: 58.1% Somersby — One Parent Families: 12.2% Somersby — Group Household: 2.4% Somersby — Other Families: 3.7%
West Gosford 59.0% lone person
West Gosford — Lone Person: 59.0% West Gosford — Couple Families: 16.6% West Gosford — One Parent Families: 15.6% West Gosford — Group Household: 7.7% West Gosford — Other Families: 1.1%
Lone Person Couple Families 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%
West Gosford 54.5% renting
West Gosford — Owned Outright: 23.0% West Gosford — Mortgage: 22.4% West Gosford — Renting: 54.5%
Owned outright Mortgage Renting

Qualifications

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

Somersby West Gosford
Certificate III & IV 18.9% / 13.4%
Somersby — Certificate III & IV: 18.9% West Gosford — Certificate III & IV: 13.4%
Bachelor Degree 12.5% / 12.2%
Somersby — Bachelor Degree: 12.5% West Gosford — Bachelor Degree: 12.2%
Advanced Diploma / Diploma 9.4% / 8.1%
Somersby — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 9.4% West Gosford — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 8.1%
Postgraduate Degree 2.9% / 4.3%
Somersby — Postgraduate Degree: 2.9% West Gosford — Postgraduate Degree: 4.3%
Graduate Diploma / Certificate 1.1% / 1.4%
Somersby — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 1.1% West Gosford — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 1.4%

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 West Gosford
England 3.9% / 4.8%
Somersby — England: 3.9% West Gosford — England: 4.8%
New Zealand 1.3% / 2.1%
Somersby — New Zealand: 1.3% West Gosford — New Zealand: 2.1%
India 0.6% / 1.9%
Somersby — India: 0.6% West Gosford — India: 1.9%
China 0.7% / 1.7%
Somersby — China: 0.7% West Gosford — China: 1.7%
South Africa 0.7% / 0.9%
Somersby — South Africa: 0.7% West Gosford — South Africa: 0.9%
Philippines — / 1.4%
Somersby — Philippines: not among its largest West Gosford — Philippines: 1.4%
Thailand 0.8% / —
Somersby — Thailand: 0.8% West Gosford — Thailand: not among its largest

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (4.8%).

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%
West Gosford 22.3% houses
West Gosford — Houses: 22.3% West Gosford — Townhouses: 41.1% West Gosford — Flats / Apartments: 36.6%
Houses Townhouses Flats / Apartments

Property market

Somersby West Gosford
Median house price $2,062,500 $1,152,500
Median unit price $770,000 $625,000
Median land price $1,702,500 $448,210
Typical days to sell (houses) 30 days
from 3 sales
 37 days
from 3 sales

Zoning mix

Somersby has more rural and farming land (43% vs 0%); West Gosford has more industrially zoned land (37% vs 4%).

Somersby West Gosford
Rural and farming 43% 0%
Environmental 42% 24%
Industrial 4% 37%
Parks and recreation 2% 22%
Infrastructure and transport 9% 6%
Residential 0% 7%
Commercial 0% 5%
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 West Gosford
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 West Gosford
House price Higher than 96% of NSW Higher than 50% of NSW
Income Higher than 79% of NSW —
Schools —
same for both
Walkability Higher than 52% of NSW Higher than 86% of NSW
Affordability Higher than 5% of NSW —
EV adoption Higher than 83% of NSW
same for both
NBN connectivity Higher than 66% of NSW Higher than 97% of NSW

Liveability

West Gosford is more walkable (63 vs 8).

Somersby West Gosford
Grade C D
Score 33/100 30/100
Socio-economic band very advantaged area
decile 9/10
 below-average income
decile 3/10

Risk profile

West Gosford carries more bushfire risk (94 vs 78).

Somersby West Gosford
Bushfire High
78/100
 High
94/100
Crime High
89/100
 High
98/100
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
same for both

Schools

Somersby West Gosford
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
 None

Schools in Somersby

  • Somersby Public School Government · Primary at peers

Schools in West Gosford

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

Amenities in the suburb

Somersby West Gosford
Supermarkets 0 1
Cafes & restaurants 1 3
Parks & reserves 5
same for both
Childcare 0 6
GPs 0 1
Pharmacies 0 2
Banks & Bank@Post 0 1
Fuel stations 0 5
Waterways 33 3

Mobility

Somersby West Gosford
Walkability score 8/100 63/100
Distance to Sydney 75.3 km
+1% vs other
 74.3 km
Drive time (normal traffic) 67 min 66 min
Public transport score 56/100
Bus
 79/100
Bus
Peak arrivals per hour 45.8
7-9am + 5-7pm
 71.8
7-9am + 5-7pm
Median peak wait 1 min
scheduled, not actual
 0 min
scheduled, not actual
Electric vehicle share 1.1%
postcode 2250
same for both
Rooftop solar per 100 dwellings 36
postcode 2250
same for both

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 West Gosford
Car (driver) 54.5% / 55.0%
Somersby — Car (driver): 54.5% West Gosford — Car (driver): 55.0%
Worked from Home 34.1% / 30.3%
Somersby — Worked from Home: 34.1% West Gosford — Worked from Home: 30.3%
Walked Only 5.1% / 3.9%
Somersby — Walked Only: 5.1% West Gosford — Walked Only: 3.9%
Car (passenger) 4.2% / 4.1%
Somersby — Car (passenger): 4.2% West Gosford — Car (passenger): 4.1%
Train — / 5.1%
Somersby — Train: not among its largest West Gosford — Train: 5.1%
Bus 1.3% / 1.6%
Somersby — Bus: 1.3% West Gosford — Bus: 1.6%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (55.0%).

Setting

Somersby West Gosford
Elevation 260 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
 -2 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
Distance to the ocean 15.6 km 9.6 km

NBN connectivity

Somersby West Gosford
Connectivity score 47/100 98/100
Most common technology Fixed wireless Fibre to the premises
Full-fibre (FTTP) share 16%
784 premises
 96%
2,319 premises

Climate

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

Federal electorate

Somersby West Gosford
Division Robertson
same for both
Member Gordon Reid
same for both
Party Australian Labor Party
same for both

First Home Owner Grant

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

Tags

Somersby

Premium Rural

West Gosford

Affordable Apartments Retirees River Townhouses

More comparisons

Other comparisons with Somersby

Somersby vs Narara Somersby vs Kariong Somersby vs Ourimbah Somersby vs Niagara Park Somersby vs Peats Ridge Somersby vs Central Mangrove

Other comparisons with West Gosford

West Gosford vs Narara West Gosford vs Kariong West Gosford vs Gosford West Gosford vs Point Clare
Full data on Somersby Full data on West Gosford
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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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