Somerville vs South Kalgoorlie

In both, most households own their home and most homes are detached houses. In Somerville, most households are couple families. Houses cost more in Somerville: a median of $590,000, against $425,000 in South Kalgoorlie, and rent is higher there too. On these figures, Somerville tends to suit couples, while South Kalgoorlie suits 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

Somerville

ahead on 2 of the 6 things we measure here

  • has more parks and reserves (4 vs 0)
  • is already more of a family suburb (67% vs 57%)
  • But South Kalgoorlie has more separate houses rather than flats (83% vs 72%)

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

First-home buyers

South Kalgoorlie

ahead on 2 of the 3 things we measure here

  • has cheaper houses ($425,000 vs $590,000)
  • has cheaper units ($310,000 vs $390,000)

Weighs house prices, unit prices, and mortgage stress.

Renters

South Kalgoorlie

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • has cheaper rent ($300/wk vs $330/wk)

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

Commuting to the city

Somerville

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • sits closer to the CBD (591.6 km vs 594.4 km)

Weighs distance, drive time, and walkability.

Downsizers and retirees

They split

one each way, out of the 5 things we measure here

  • Somerville has more units and townhouses to downsize into (28% vs 17%)
  • South Kalgoorlie has more residents already 65 and over (11% vs 6%)

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

Investors

Somerville

ahead on 2 of the 3 things we measure here

  • is growing faster (0.2% vs -10.3%)
  • returns a higher gross yield on units (6.7% vs 5.1%)
  • But South Kalgoorlie returns a higher gross yield on houses (7.2% vs 6.3%)

Weighs house yield, unit yield, and population growth.

Where they sit

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

Somerville South Kalgoorlie
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.

Somerville South Kalgoorlie
Walkability 58 / 60
Somerville — Walkability: 58/100 South Kalgoorlie — Walkability: 60/100
Safety 24 / 15
Somerville — Safety: 24/100 South Kalgoorlie — Safety: 15/100
Low fire risk 100 / 100
Somerville — Low fire risk: 100/100 South Kalgoorlie — Low fire risk: 100/100
Low flood risk 39 / 86
Somerville — Low flood risk: 39/100 South Kalgoorlie — Low flood risk: 86/100

Demographics

Somerville has higher household incomes ($155,792 vs $113,724); Somerville rents higher ($330/wk vs $300/wk).

Somerville South Kalgoorlie
Population 4,165 4,416
+6% vs other
Population trend (2016 → 2021) +0.2% -10.3%
Median age 33 34
Median household income $155,792/yr
+27% vs other
 $113,724/yr
Median weekly rent $330/wk
+9% vs other
 $300/wk

Age profile

Share of residents in each band, 2021 Census.

Somerville South Kalgoorlie
0-4 8.4% / 7.9%
Somerville — 0-4: 8.4% South Kalgoorlie — 0-4: 7.9%
5-14 15.8% / 15.2%
Somerville — 5-14: 15.8% South Kalgoorlie — 5-14: 15.2%
15-19 6.4% / 6.0%
Somerville — 15-19: 6.4% South Kalgoorlie — 15-19: 6.0%
20-24 6.3% / 6.7%
Somerville — 20-24: 6.3% South Kalgoorlie — 20-24: 6.7%
25-34 15.6% / 15.5%
Somerville — 25-34: 15.6% South Kalgoorlie — 25-34: 15.5%
35-44 15.5% / 14.6%
Somerville — 35-44: 15.5% South Kalgoorlie — 35-44: 14.6%
45-54 15.2% / 11.8%
Somerville — 45-54: 15.2% South Kalgoorlie — 45-54: 11.8%
55-64 10.9% / 11.1%
Somerville — 55-64: 10.9% South Kalgoorlie — 55-64: 11.1%
65-74 4.9% / 6.9%
Somerville — 65-74: 4.9% South Kalgoorlie — 65-74: 6.9%
75-84 1.0% / 3.2%
Somerville — 75-84: 1.0% South Kalgoorlie — 75-84: 3.2%
85+ 0.1% / 1.0%
Somerville — 85+: 0.1% South Kalgoorlie — 85+: 1.0%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (15.8%).

Who lives together

Household composition, 2021 Census.

Somerville 57.6% couple families
Somerville — Couple Families: 57.6% Somerville — Lone Person: 28.8% Somerville — One Parent Families: 9.1% Somerville — Group Household: 3.2% Somerville — Other Families: 1.3%
South Kalgoorlie 41.1% couple families
South Kalgoorlie — Couple Families: 41.1% South Kalgoorlie — Lone Person: 36.3% South Kalgoorlie — One Parent Families: 16.3% South Kalgoorlie — Group Household: 4.0% South Kalgoorlie — Other Families: 2.3%
Couple Families Lone Person One Parent Families Group Household Other Families

Who owns and who rents

Occupied private dwellings by tenure, 2021 Census.

Somerville 38.1% renting
Somerville — Owned Outright: 16.1% Somerville — Mortgage: 45.8% Somerville — Renting: 38.1%
South Kalgoorlie 37.1% renting
South Kalgoorlie — Owned Outright: 17.3% South Kalgoorlie — Mortgage: 45.6% South Kalgoorlie — Renting: 37.1%
Owned outright Mortgage Renting

Qualifications

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

Somerville South Kalgoorlie
Certificate III & IV 18.3% / 17.8%
Somerville — Certificate III & IV: 18.3% South Kalgoorlie — Certificate III & IV: 17.8%
Bachelor Degree 9.3% / 5.4%
Somerville — Bachelor Degree: 9.3% South Kalgoorlie — Bachelor Degree: 5.4%
Advanced Diploma / Diploma 5.5% / 4.5%
Somerville — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 5.5% South Kalgoorlie — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 4.5%
Postgraduate Degree 3.1% / 1.0%
Somerville — Postgraduate Degree: 3.1% South Kalgoorlie — Postgraduate Degree: 1.0%
Graduate Diploma / Certificate 1.2% / 0.7%
Somerville — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 1.2% South Kalgoorlie — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 0.7%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (18.3%).

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.

Somerville South Kalgoorlie
New Zealand 6.7% / 9.2%
Somerville — New Zealand: 6.7% South Kalgoorlie — New Zealand: 9.2%
Philippines 1.4% / 5.2%
Somerville — Philippines: 1.4% South Kalgoorlie — Philippines: 5.2%
South Africa 2.7% / 1.3%
Somerville — South Africa: 2.7% South Kalgoorlie — South Africa: 1.3%
England 1.9% / 1.8%
Somerville — England: 1.9% South Kalgoorlie — England: 1.8%
Zimbabwe 2.5% / 0.7%
Somerville — Zimbabwe: 2.5% South Kalgoorlie — Zimbabwe: 0.7%
India 2.0% / 1.2%
Somerville — India: 2.0% South Kalgoorlie — India: 1.2%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (9.2%).

What people live in

Occupied private dwellings by structure, 2021 Census.

Somerville 72.2% houses
Somerville — Houses: 72.2% Somerville — Townhouses: 21.4% Somerville — Flats / Apartments: 6.4%
South Kalgoorlie 83.0% houses
South Kalgoorlie — Houses: 83.0% South Kalgoorlie — Townhouses: 15.6% South Kalgoorlie — Flats / Apartments: 1.4%
Houses Townhouses Flats / Apartments

Property market

Somerville South Kalgoorlie
Median house price $590,000 $425,000
Median unit price $390,000 $310,000
Median land price $275,000 —
Typical days to sell (houses) 34 days
from 45 sales
 38 days
from 48 sales

Unit price by bedroom count

Only bed counts both suburbs published enough sales for. Sale counts are shown because the buckets differ in depth.

Somerville South Kalgoorlie
2 bed $360K / $250K
Somerville — 2 bed: $360K (15 sales) South Kalgoorlie — 2 bed: $250K (7 sales)

15 vs 7 sales

3 bed $488K / $365K
Somerville — 3 bed: $488K (8 sales) South Kalgoorlie — 3 bed: $365K (5 sales)

8 vs 5 sales

House price by bedroom count

Only bed counts both suburbs published enough sales for. Sale counts are shown because the buckets differ in depth.

Somerville South Kalgoorlie
2 bed $360K / $300K
Somerville — 2 bed: $360K (11 sales) South Kalgoorlie — 2 bed: $300K (9 sales)

11 vs 9 sales

3 bed $473K / $403K
Somerville — 3 bed: $473K (34 sales) South Kalgoorlie — 3 bed: $403K (66 sales)

34 vs 66 sales

4 bed $742K / $514K
Somerville — 4 bed: $742K (59 sales) South Kalgoorlie — 4 bed: $514K (32 sales)

59 vs 32 sales

Development activity

Somerville South Kalgoorlie
New dwellings approved 48
across Kalgoorlie-Boulder
same for both
Approvals change year on year -8%
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.

Somerville South Kalgoorlie
Houses 6.3%
$850/wk on $699K
 7.2%
$690/wk on $498K
Units 6.7%
$665/wk on $518K
 5.1%
$480/wk on $488K

Ranking within WA

Somerville South Kalgoorlie
House price —
same for both
Income Higher than 96% of WA Higher than 80% of WA
Schools Higher than 23% of WA Higher than 30% of WA
Walkability Higher than 85% of WA Higher than 86% of WA
Affordability —
same for both
EV adoption Higher than 15% of WA
same for both
NBN connectivity Higher than 71% of WA Higher than 76% of WA
Rental yield (houses) Higher than 92% of WA Higher than 95% of WA
Rental yield (units) Higher than 89% of WA Higher than 35% of WA

Liveability

Somerville South Kalgoorlie
Grade C
same for both
Score 39/100 35/100
Socio-economic band very advantaged area
decile 9/10
 below-average income
decile 3/10

Risk profile

Somerville carries more flood risk (61 vs 14).

Somerville South Kalgoorlie
Bushfire None
0/100
same for both
Crime High
76/100
 High
85/100
Flood Moderate
61/100
 Low
14/100
Coastal erosion None
0/100
same for both
Aircraft noise None
0/100
same for both
Industrial facilities nearby 11
within 5 km
 12
within 5 km

Schools

Somerville South Kalgoorlie
Inside the suburb 3 4
Rated above peers 0
same for both
Rated at peers 0 2
Rated below peers 2 0

Schools in Somerville

  • Goldfields Baptist College Independent · Combined below peers
  • O'Connor Primary School Government · Primary below peers
  • O'Connor Education Support Centre Government · Primary · Special school

Schools in South Kalgoorlie

  • Kalgoorlie-Boulder Community High School Government · Secondary at peers
  • South Kalgoorlie Primary School Government · Primary at peers
  • Eastern Goldfields Education Support Centre Government · Secondary · Special school
  • Fairbridge College - Kalgoorlie Campus Independent · Secondary · Special school

Amenities in the suburb

Somerville South Kalgoorlie
Supermarkets 1
same for both
Cafes & restaurants 0 1
Parks & reserves 4 0
Childcare 1 3
Fuel stations 1 0
EV chargers 1 0

Mobility

South Kalgoorlie sits further from the CBD (594.4 km vs 591.6 km).

Somerville South Kalgoorlie
Walkability score 58/100 60/100
Distance to Perth 591.6 km 594.4 km
Drive time (normal traffic) 399 min 403 min
Public transport score 45/100
Bus
 49/100
Bus
Peak arrivals per hour 15.0
7-9am + 5-7pm
 17.0
7-9am + 5-7pm
Median peak wait 1 min
scheduled, not actual
same for both
Electric vehicle share 0.2%
postcode 6430
same for both
Rooftop solar per 100 dwellings 29
postcode 6430
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.

Somerville South Kalgoorlie
Car (driver) 81.3% / 79.6%
Somerville — Car (driver): 81.3% South Kalgoorlie — Car (driver): 79.6%
Car (passenger) 8.7% / 10.3%
Somerville — Car (passenger): 8.7% South Kalgoorlie — Car (passenger): 10.3%
Bus 3.0% / 3.8%
Somerville — Bus: 3.0% South Kalgoorlie — Bus: 3.8%
Worked from Home 3.9% / 2.1%
Somerville — Worked from Home: 3.9% South Kalgoorlie — Worked from Home: 2.1%
Walked Only 2.3% / 3.0%
Somerville — Walked Only: 2.3% South Kalgoorlie — Walked Only: 3.0%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (81.3%).

Setting

Somerville South Kalgoorlie
Elevation 360 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
 367 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre

NBN connectivity

Somerville South Kalgoorlie
Connectivity score 50/100 62/100
Most common technology Fibre to the node
same for both
Full-fibre (FTTP) share 9%
1,722 premises
 31%
2,234 premises

Climate

Somerville South Kalgoorlie
Annual rainfall 261 mm
same for both
Summer max (Jan) 33.2°C
same for both
Winter min (Jul) 6.6°C
same for both

Council rates

Somerville South Kalgoorlie
Average residential rate $2,625/yr
same for both
Council Kalgoorlie-Boulder
same for both

Federal electorate

Somerville South Kalgoorlie
Division O'connor
same for both
Member Rick Wilson
same for both
Party Liberal
same for both

First Home Owner Grant

Somerville South Kalgoorlie
Grant amount $10,000
same for both
Property price cap $800,000
same for both
Eligibility New
same for both

Tags

Somerville

Affordable Family Townhouses

South Kalgoorlie

Affordable Family

More comparisons

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Other comparisons with South Kalgoorlie

South Kalgoorlie vs Boulder South Kalgoorlie vs Kalgoorlie South Kalgoorlie vs Victory Heights South Kalgoorlie vs Williamstown
Full data on Somerville Full data on South Kalgoorlie
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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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