Socio-Economic Indexes
SEIFA – disadvantage
About this topic
SEIFA (Socio-Economic Indexes for Areas) ranks Australian areas by relative advantage and disadvantage using Census data. The ABS constructs each index from a weighted combination of variables including household income, educational attainment, employment status, occupation skill level, and housing conditions.
Scores are relative, not absolute - they show how an area compares to all other areas in Australia, not whether residents are "poor" or "wealthy" in dollar terms. A score of 1000 represents the national average. Areas scoring below 1000 have relatively greater disadvantage; areas above have relatively less.
IRSD measures disadvantage only - it identifies areas where residents have fewer economic and social resources, but cannot distinguish between advantaged and average areas. IRSAD captures both ends of the spectrum, incorporating indicators of advantage such as high income and tertiary qualifications alongside disadvantage indicators.
SEIFA scores are widely used in grant applications, needs assessments, and service planning to identify areas requiring targeted investment or support.
Related topics
Key insight
In 2021, Ararat (RC)'s Index of Relative Socio-economic Disadvantage (IRSD) score was 955.2, placing it in the 34th percentile nationally. Within Ararat (RC), scores ranged from Ararat to Narrapumelap South.
View
955.2
Ararat (RC) IRSD score
34th percentile nationally
1073.9
Highest local score
Narrapumelap South
928.5
Lowest local score
Ararat
Chart view
SEIFA – disadvantage across Victoria LGAs
Compare the selected index across Victoria LGAs with the current municipality highlighted.
Nillumbik (S)
1092.9
Bayside (C)
1090.4
Boroondara (C)
1089.6
Surf Coast (S)
1086.2
Stonnington (C)
1084.5
Queenscliffe (B)
1082.2
Glen Eira (C)
1074.6
Macedon Ranges (S)
1062.8
Port Phillip (C)
1061
Banyule (C)
1057.7
Manningham (C)
1056.1
Yarra (C)
1045.7
Kingston (C) (Vic.)
1044.3
Whitehorse (C)
1042.7
Monash (C)
1042.3
Knox (C)
1042.2
Yarra Ranges (S)
1041.2
Maroondah (C)
1041
Moonee Valley (C)
1040.7
Golden Plains (S)
1039.9
Mornington Peninsula (S)
1037.5
Indigo (S)
1029.4
Moyne (S)
1029
Mansfield (S)
1027.6
Alpine (S)
1027.6
Moreland (C)
1026.5
Cardinia (S)
1021
Hobsons Bay (C)
1020.7
Darebin (C)
1018.3
Moorabool (S)
1017.2
Melbourne (C)
1016.7
Unincorporated Vic
1012.4
Maribyrnong (C)
1009.7
Mount Alexander (S)
1007.5
Greater Geelong (C)
1007.3
Hepburn (S)
1006.3
Wyndham (C)
1005.5
Murrindindi (S)
1004.7
Baw Baw (S)
1003.3
Frankston (C)
1003.1
South Gippsland (S)
1002.6
Towong (S)
1000.8
Mitchell (S)
999.5
Warrnambool (C)
994.9
Casey (C)
994.7
Southern Grampians (S)
993.7
Bass Coast (S)
992.8
West Wimmera (S)
991
Horsham (RC)
990.1
Whittlesea (C)
989.6
Wangaratta (RC)
988.4
Ballarat (C)
985.7
Melton (C)
985.2
Greater Bendigo (C)
985
Corangamite (S)
984.6
Strathbogie (S)
982
Buloke (S)
975
Wodonga (C)
973.1
Wellington (S)
973
Colac-Otway (S)
972.6
Benalla (RC)
968.4
Campaspe (S)
964.9
East Gippsland (S)
963.3
Pyrenees (S)
958.7
Moira (S)
958.3
Ararat (RC)
955.2
Gannawarra (S)
952.4
Glenelg (S)
952.3
Northern Grampians (S)
951.3
Loddon (S)
948.1
Yarriambiack (S)
945.9
Greater Shepparton (C)
944
Hume (C)
940.8
Swan Hill (RC)
940.6
Hindmarsh (S)
940.1
Mildura (RC)
940
Latrobe (C) (Vic.)
930.8
Brimbank (C)
912.5
Central Goldfields (S)
897.6
Greater Dandenong (C)
886.7
Data table
SEIFA – disadvantage across Victoria LGAs table
Download the underlying SEIFA scores and percentiles shown in the current view.
| Area | Score | Percentile |
|---|---|---|
| Nillumbik (S) | 1092.9 | 98 |
| Bayside (C) | 1090.4 | 98 |
| Boroondara (C) | 1089.6 | 98 |
| Surf Coast (S) | 1086.2 | 97 |
| Stonnington (C) | 1084.5 | 97 |
| Queenscliffe (B) | 1082.2 | 97 |
| Glen Eira (C) | 1074.6 | 95 |
| Macedon Ranges (S) | 1062.8 | 93 |
| Port Phillip (C) | 1061 | 92 |
| Banyule (C) | 1057.7 | 92 |
| Manningham (C) | 1056.1 | 91 |
| Yarra (C) | 1045.7 | 90 |
| Kingston (C) (Vic.) | 1044.3 | 88 |
| Whitehorse (C) | 1042.7 | 88 |
| Monash (C) | 1042.3 | 88 |
| Knox (C) | 1042.2 | 87 |
| Yarra Ranges (S) | 1041.2 | 87 |
| Maroondah (C) | 1041 | 87 |
| Moonee Valley (C) | 1040.7 | 87 |
| Golden Plains (S) | 1039.9 | 86 |
| Mornington Peninsula (S) | 1037.5 | 86 |
| Indigo (S) | 1029.4 | 83 |
| Moyne (S) | 1029 | 82 |
| Mansfield (S) | 1027.6 | 82 |
| Alpine (S) | 1027.6 | 81 |
| Moreland (C) | 1026.5 | 80 |
| Cardinia (S) | 1021 | 78 |
| Hobsons Bay (C) | 1020.7 | 78 |
| Darebin (C) | 1018.3 | 77 |
| Moorabool (S) | 1017.2 | 76 |
| Melbourne (C) | 1016.7 | 76 |
| Unincorporated Vic | 1012.4 | 75 |
| Maribyrnong (C) | 1009.7 | 74 |
| Mount Alexander (S) | 1007.5 | 72 |
| Greater Geelong (C) | 1007.3 | 72 |
| Hepburn (S) | 1006.3 | 71 |
| Wyndham (C) | 1005.5 | 71 |
| Murrindindi (S) | 1004.7 | 70 |
| Baw Baw (S) | 1003.3 | 69 |
| Frankston (C) | 1003.1 | 69 |
| South Gippsland (S) | 1002.6 | 68 |
| Towong (S) | 1000.8 | 68 |
| Mitchell (S) | 999.5 | 67 |
| Warrnambool (C) | 994.9 | 64 |
| Casey (C) | 994.7 | 63 |
| Southern Grampians (S) | 993.7 | 62 |
| Bass Coast (S) | 992.8 | 62 |
| West Wimmera (S) | 991 | 60 |
| Horsham (RC) | 990.1 | 60 |
| Whittlesea (C) | 989.6 | 59 |
| Wangaratta (RC) | 988.4 | 57 |
| Ballarat (C) | 985.7 | 55 |
| Melton (C) | 985.2 | 55 |
| Greater Bendigo (C) | 985 | 55 |
| Corangamite (S) | 984.6 | 54 |
| Strathbogie (S) | 982 | 53 |
| Buloke (S) | 975 | 48 |
| Wodonga (C) | 973.1 | 46 |
| Wellington (S) | 973 | 46 |
| Colac-Otway (S) | 972.6 | 46 |
| Benalla (RC) | 968.4 | 43 |
| Campaspe (S) | 964.9 | 40 |
| East Gippsland (S) | 963.3 | 39 |
| Pyrenees (S) | 958.7 | 36 |
| Moira (S) | 958.3 | 35 |
| Ararat (RC) | 955.2 | 34 |
| Gannawarra (S) | 952.4 | 32 |
| Glenelg (S) | 952.3 | 32 |
| Northern Grampians (S) | 951.3 | 31 |
| Loddon (S) | 948.1 | 29 |
| Yarriambiack (S) | 945.9 | 28 |
| Greater Shepparton (C) | 944 | 27 |
| Hume (C) | 940.8 | 25 |
| Swan Hill (RC) | 940.6 | 25 |
| Hindmarsh (S) | 940.1 | 25 |
| Mildura (RC) | 940 | 24 |
| Latrobe (C) (Vic.) | 930.8 | 21 |
| Brimbank (C) | 912.5 | 16 |
| Central Goldfields (S) | 897.6 | 12 |
| Greater Dandenong (C) | 886.7 | 11 |
Chart view
Variation within Ararat (RC)
See the spread of scores across smaller areas within the municipality.
Narrapumelap South
1073.9
Percentile 87
Wickliffe
1073.9
Percentile 87
Bornes Hill
1073.7
Percentile 87
Mafeking
1073.7
Percentile 87
Stavely
1073.7
Percentile 87
Willaura North
1073.7
Percentile 87
Ballyrogan
1064.9
Percentile 82
Langi Logan
1064.9
Percentile 82
Maroona
1064.9
Percentile 82
Rossbridge
1064.9
Percentile 82
Tatyoon
1064.9
Percentile 82
Yalla-Y-Poora
1064.9
Percentile 82
Mininera
1048.5
Percentile 71
Streatham (part)
1048.5
Percentile 71
Westmere
1048.5
Percentile 71
Armstrong
1045
Percentile 69
Cathcart (Vic.)
1045
Percentile 69
Denicull Creek
1045
Percentile 69
Norval
1045
Percentile 69
Rocky Point (Vic.)
1045
Percentile 69
Nerrin Nerrin (part)
1035.9
Percentile 63
Pura Pura (part)
1029.4
Percentile 60
Pomonal (part)
1028.2
Percentile 59
Rhymney
1028.2
Percentile 59
Lake Bolac
1015.2
Percentile 51
Moyston
1008.9
Percentile 47
Bayindeen
975.8
Percentile 29
Buangor (part)
975.8
Percentile 29
Dobie
975.8
Percentile 29
Dunneworthy
975.8
Percentile 29
Mount Cole
975.8
Percentile 29
Mount Cole Creek
975.8
Percentile 29
Warrak
975.8
Percentile 29
Elmhurst (part)
967.9
Percentile 26
Eversley
967.9
Percentile 26
Willaura
937.8
Percentile 17
Ararat
928.5
Percentile 14
Data table
Variation within Ararat (RC) table
Download the underlying SEIFA scores and percentiles shown in the current view.
| Area | Score | Percentile |
|---|---|---|
| Narrapumelap South | 1073.9 | 87 |
| Wickliffe | 1073.9 | 87 |
| Bornes Hill | 1073.7 | 87 |
| Mafeking | 1073.7 | 87 |
| Stavely | 1073.7 | 87 |
| Willaura North | 1073.7 | 87 |
| Ballyrogan | 1064.9 | 82 |
| Langi Logan | 1064.9 | 82 |
| Maroona | 1064.9 | 82 |
| Rossbridge | 1064.9 | 82 |
| Tatyoon | 1064.9 | 82 |
| Yalla-Y-Poora | 1064.9 | 82 |
| Mininera | 1048.5 | 71 |
| Streatham (part) | 1048.5 | 71 |
| Westmere | 1048.5 | 71 |
| Armstrong | 1045 | 69 |
| Cathcart (Vic.) | 1045 | 69 |
| Denicull Creek | 1045 | 69 |
| Norval | 1045 | 69 |
| Rocky Point (Vic.) | 1045 | 69 |
| Nerrin Nerrin (part) | 1035.9 | 63 |
| Pura Pura (part) | 1029.4 | 60 |
| Pomonal (part) | 1028.2 | 59 |
| Rhymney | 1028.2 | 59 |
| Lake Bolac | 1015.2 | 51 |
| Moyston | 1008.9 | 47 |
| Bayindeen | 975.8 | 29 |
| Buangor (part) | 975.8 | 29 |
| Dobie | 975.8 | 29 |
| Dunneworthy | 975.8 | 29 |
| Mount Cole | 975.8 | 29 |
| Mount Cole Creek | 975.8 | 29 |
| Warrak | 975.8 | 29 |
| Elmhurst (part) | 967.9 | 26 |
| Eversley | 967.9 | 26 |
| Willaura | 937.8 | 17 |
| Ararat | 928.5 | 14 |