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, Ballarat (C)'s Index of Relative Socio-economic Disadvantage (IRSD) score was 985.7, placing it in the 55th percentile nationally. Within Ballarat (C), scores ranged from Wendouree to Glen Park (part).
View
985.7
Ballarat (C) IRSD score
55th percentile nationally
1113.7
Highest local score
Glen Park (part)
855.9
Lowest local score
Wendouree
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 Ballarat (C)
See the spread of scores across smaller areas within the municipality.
Glen Park (part)
1113.7
Percentile 99
Gong Gong
1113.7
Percentile 99
Invermay (Vic.)
1101.2
Percentile 97
Nerrina
1088.7
Percentile 93
Cardigan
1085.7
Percentile 92
Cardigan Village
1072.3
Percentile 86
Buninyong (part)
1071.8
Percentile 86
Lake Wendouree
1069.4
Percentile 85
Magpie
1066
Percentile 83
Mount Helen
1064
Percentile 82
Addington
1060.9
Percentile 80
Weatherboard
1060.9
Percentile 80
Windermere (Vic.)
1060.9
Percentile 80
Bald Hills (Vic.)
1060.1
Percentile 79
Blowhard
1058
Percentile 78
Scotsburn (part)
1056.8
Percentile 77
Newington (Vic.)
1053.3
Percentile 75
Lake Gardens
1051.4
Percentile 74
Ascot (Ballarat - Vic.)
1049.8
Percentile 72
Coghills Creek
1049.8
Percentile 72
Glendaruel
1049.8
Percentile 72
Glendonald
1049.8
Percentile 72
Mount Bolton
1049.8
Percentile 72
Tourello
1049.8
Percentile 72
Bunkers Hill
1048.8
Percentile 72
Scotchmans Lead
1048
Percentile 71
Invermay Park
1045.7
Percentile 70
Miners Rest
1045.5
Percentile 70
Durham Lead (part)
1045.4
Percentile 70
Mount Rowan
1043.9
Percentile 69
Brown Hill (Vic.)
1041.4
Percentile 67
Lucas
1037.5
Percentile 65
Winter Valley
1034.8
Percentile 63
Bonshaw (Vic.)
1032.5
Percentile 61
Alfredton
1026.4
Percentile 57
Soldiers Hill (Vic.)
1024.9
Percentile 56
Learmonth (Vic.)
1023.5
Percentile 56
Ballarat Central
1021.6
Percentile 55
Warrenheip (part)
1019.5
Percentile 53
Bakery Hill
999.8
Percentile 42
Canadian
992.4
Percentile 38
Mount Clear
990.9
Percentile 37
Ballarat North
990.8
Percentile 37
Black Hill (Vic.)
988.7
Percentile 36
Bo Peep
978.7
Percentile 31
Burrumbeet (part)
978.7
Percentile 31
Golden Point (Ballarat - Vic.)
975.7
Percentile 29
Ballarat East
943.9
Percentile 18
Mount Pleasant (Vic.)
941.8
Percentile 17
Eureka (Vic.)
941.4
Percentile 17
Delacombe
930.3
Percentile 15
Mitchell Park (Vic.)
929.6
Percentile 14
Redan
900
Percentile 9
Sebastopol (Vic.)
877
Percentile 7
Wendouree
855.9
Percentile 5
Data table
Variation within Ballarat (C) table
Download the underlying SEIFA scores and percentiles shown in the current view.
| Area | Score | Percentile |
|---|---|---|
| Glen Park (part) | 1113.7 | 99 |
| Gong Gong | 1113.7 | 99 |
| Invermay (Vic.) | 1101.2 | 97 |
| Nerrina | 1088.7 | 93 |
| Cardigan | 1085.7 | 92 |
| Cardigan Village | 1072.3 | 86 |
| Buninyong (part) | 1071.8 | 86 |
| Lake Wendouree | 1069.4 | 85 |
| Magpie | 1066 | 83 |
| Mount Helen | 1064 | 82 |
| Addington | 1060.9 | 80 |
| Weatherboard | 1060.9 | 80 |
| Windermere (Vic.) | 1060.9 | 80 |
| Bald Hills (Vic.) | 1060.1 | 79 |
| Blowhard | 1058 | 78 |
| Scotsburn (part) | 1056.8 | 77 |
| Newington (Vic.) | 1053.3 | 75 |
| Lake Gardens | 1051.4 | 74 |
| Ascot (Ballarat - Vic.) | 1049.8 | 72 |
| Coghills Creek | 1049.8 | 72 |
| Glendaruel | 1049.8 | 72 |
| Glendonald | 1049.8 | 72 |
| Mount Bolton | 1049.8 | 72 |
| Tourello | 1049.8 | 72 |
| Bunkers Hill | 1048.8 | 72 |
| Scotchmans Lead | 1048 | 71 |
| Invermay Park | 1045.7 | 70 |
| Miners Rest | 1045.5 | 70 |
| Durham Lead (part) | 1045.4 | 70 |
| Mount Rowan | 1043.9 | 69 |
| Brown Hill (Vic.) | 1041.4 | 67 |
| Lucas | 1037.5 | 65 |
| Winter Valley | 1034.8 | 63 |
| Bonshaw (Vic.) | 1032.5 | 61 |
| Alfredton | 1026.4 | 57 |
| Soldiers Hill (Vic.) | 1024.9 | 56 |
| Learmonth (Vic.) | 1023.5 | 56 |
| Ballarat Central | 1021.6 | 55 |
| Warrenheip (part) | 1019.5 | 53 |
| Bakery Hill | 999.8 | 42 |
| Canadian | 992.4 | 38 |
| Mount Clear | 990.9 | 37 |
| Ballarat North | 990.8 | 37 |
| Black Hill (Vic.) | 988.7 | 36 |
| Bo Peep | 978.7 | 31 |
| Burrumbeet (part) | 978.7 | 31 |
| Golden Point (Ballarat - Vic.) | 975.7 | 29 |
| Ballarat East | 943.9 | 18 |
| Mount Pleasant (Vic.) | 941.8 | 17 |
| Eureka (Vic.) | 941.4 | 17 |
| Delacombe | 930.3 | 15 |
| Mitchell Park (Vic.) | 929.6 | 14 |
| Redan | 900 | 9 |
| Sebastopol (Vic.) | 877 | 7 |
| Wendouree | 855.9 | 5 |