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, Ballina (A)'s Index of Relative Socio-economic Disadvantage (IRSD) score was 1015.1, placing it in the 76th percentile nationally. Within Ballina (A), scores ranged from Cabbage Tree Island (Ballina - NSW) to Brooklet.
View
1015.1
Ballina (A) IRSD score
76th percentile nationally
1086.5
Highest local score
Brooklet
406.2
Lowest local score
Cabbage Tree Island (Ballina - NSW)
Chart view
SEIFA – disadvantage across New South Wales LGAs
Compare the selected index across New South Wales LGAs with the current municipality highlighted.
Woollahra (A)
1109.7
Mosman (A)
1109.5
Ku-ring-gai (A)
1108.1
Lane Cove (A)
1104.9
Hunters Hill (A)
1100.6
The Hills Shire (A)
1098.1
North Sydney (A)
1096
Waverley (A)
1092.2
Northern Beaches (A)
1088.6
Hornsby (A)
1082.2
Sutherland Shire (A)
1078.8
Willoughby (C)
1074.7
Kiama (A)
1070
Canada Bay (A)
1066.8
Yass Valley (A)
1065.3
Queanbeyan-Palerang Regional (A)
1061.2
Randwick (C)
1059.1
Inner West (A)
1057
Ryde (C)
1055.2
Blue Mountains (C)
1048.2
Unincorporated NSW
1045.6
Wingecarribee (A)
1045.5
Camden (A)
1044.8
Wollondilly (A)
1041
Sydney (C)
1030.6
Parramatta (C)
1029.5
Hawkesbury (C)
1025.9
Cabonne (A)
1022.9
Upper Lachlan Shire (A)
1021.9
Byron (A)
1020.7
Snowy Monaro Regional (A)
1019.7
Ballina (A)
1015.1
Newcastle (C)
1012.1
Georges River (A)
1011.3
Strathfield (A)
1011
Dungog (A)
1008.9
Bayside (NSW)
1003.9
Lake Macquarie (C)
1003.7
Wollongong (C)
999.8
Greater Hume Shire (A)
999.3
Singleton (A)
998.1
Murray River (A)
997.9
Orange (C)
997.2
Central Coast (C) (NSW)
994.2
Bland (A)
992.6
Walcha (A)
992.5
Bathurst Regional (A)
991.5
Penrith (C)
991.3
Blayney (A)
991.2
Uralla (A)
989.9
Wagga Wagga (C)
989.4
Tweed (A)
988.7
Maitland (C)
988.5
Blacktown (C)
987.3
Bega Valley (A)
985.8
Dubbo Regional
985.5
Port Macquarie-Hastings (A)
985
Eurobodalla (A)
984.7
Coolamon (A)
983.3
Murrumbidgee (A)
983.2
Shellharbour (C)
982.9
Port Stephens (A)
982.1
Bellingen (A)
980.9
Armidale Regional
980.4
Shoalhaven (C)
979.5
Mid-Western Regional (A)
978.6
Oberon (A)
977.6
Burwood (A)
977.2
Lockhart (A)
976
Upper Hunter Shire (A)
974.8
Griffith (C)
974.2
Wentworth (A)
973.6
Carrathool (A)
973.1
Coffs Harbour (C)
972
Temora (A)
971.7
Goulburn Mulwaree (A)
971.7
Federation (A)
969.4
Forbes (A)
968.5
Albury (C)
967.9
Gunnedah (A)
966.7
Edward River (A)
966.5
Bogan (A)
965.9
Berrigan (A)
965.8
Lismore (C)
965.6
Cobar (A)
965.3
Narrabri (A)
963.9
Warren (A)
961.6
Tamworth Regional (A)
961.1
Weddin (A)
960.5
Balranald (A)
960.2
Narromine (A)
958.3
Gwydir (A)
956.6
Hay (A)
955.9
Hilltops (A)
954.3
Cootamundra-Gundagai Regional
952.9
Snowy Valleys (A)
952.5
Lachlan (A)
950.2
Leeton (A)
949.1
Campbelltown (C) (NSW)
947.5
Bourke (A)
946.7
Parkes (A)
945.8
Mid-Coast (A)
942.5
Moree Plains (A)
940.3
Clarence Valley (A)
940
Cessnock (C)
939.4
Muswellbrook (A)
937
Lithgow (C)
934.7
Junee (A)
933.9
Cowra (A)
931.8
Liverpool (C)
930.8
Gilgandra (A)
929.6
Narrandera (A)
929.1
Inverell
928.3
Warrumbungle Shire (A)
927.2
Liverpool Plains (A)
925.7
Richmond Valley (A)
923.6
Kyogle (A)
921.1
Tenterfield (A)
920.3
Nambucca (A)
920.3
Canterbury-Bankstown (A)
916.8
Broken Hill (C)
913.2
Glen Innes Severn (A)
906.1
Cumberland (A)
903.6
Kempsey (A)
903.3
Walgett (A)
887.7
Coonamble (A)
883.2
Central Darling (A)
826.7
Brewarrina (A)
817.9
Fairfield (C)
814
Data table
SEIFA – disadvantage across New South Wales LGAs table
Download the underlying SEIFA scores and percentiles shown in the current view.
| Area | Score | Percentile |
|---|---|---|
| Woollahra (A) | 1109.7 | 99 |
| Mosman (A) | 1109.5 | 99 |
| Ku-ring-gai (A) | 1108.1 | 99 |
| Lane Cove (A) | 1104.9 | 99 |
| Hunters Hill (A) | 1100.6 | 99 |
| The Hills Shire (A) | 1098.1 | 98 |
| North Sydney (A) | 1096 | 98 |
| Waverley (A) | 1092.2 | 98 |
| Northern Beaches (A) | 1088.6 | 97 |
| Hornsby (A) | 1082.2 | 96 |
| Sutherland Shire (A) | 1078.8 | 96 |
| Willoughby (C) | 1074.7 | 95 |
| Kiama (A) | 1070 | 94 |
| Canada Bay (A) | 1066.8 | 93 |
| Yass Valley (A) | 1065.3 | 93 |
| Queanbeyan-Palerang Regional (A) | 1061.2 | 92 |
| Randwick (C) | 1059.1 | 92 |
| Inner West (A) | 1057 | 92 |
| Ryde (C) | 1055.2 | 91 |
| Blue Mountains (C) | 1048.2 | 90 |
| Unincorporated NSW | 1045.6 | 89 |
| Wingecarribee (A) | 1045.5 | 89 |
| Camden (A) | 1044.8 | 89 |
| Wollondilly (A) | 1041 | 87 |
| Sydney (C) | 1030.6 | 84 |
| Parramatta (C) | 1029.5 | 83 |
| Hawkesbury (C) | 1025.9 | 80 |
| Cabonne (A) | 1022.9 | 79 |
| Upper Lachlan Shire (A) | 1021.9 | 78 |
| Byron (A) | 1020.7 | 78 |
| Snowy Monaro Regional (A) | 1019.7 | 77 |
| Ballina (A) | 1015.1 | 76 |
| Newcastle (C) | 1012.1 | 75 |
| Georges River (A) | 1011.3 | 74 |
| Strathfield (A) | 1011 | 74 |
| Dungog (A) | 1008.9 | 73 |
| Bayside (NSW) | 1003.9 | 70 |
| Lake Macquarie (C) | 1003.7 | 69 |
| Wollongong (C) | 999.8 | 67 |
| Greater Hume Shire (A) | 999.3 | 66 |
| Singleton (A) | 998.1 | 66 |
| Murray River (A) | 997.9 | 66 |
| Orange (C) | 997.2 | 65 |
| Central Coast (C) (NSW) | 994.2 | 63 |
| Bland (A) | 992.6 | 61 |
| Walcha (A) | 992.5 | 61 |
| Bathurst Regional (A) | 991.5 | 61 |
| Penrith (C) | 991.3 | 60 |
| Blayney (A) | 991.2 | 60 |
| Uralla (A) | 989.9 | 59 |
| Wagga Wagga (C) | 989.4 | 59 |
| Tweed (A) | 988.7 | 58 |
| Maitland (C) | 988.5 | 58 |
| Blacktown (C) | 987.3 | 56 |
| Bega Valley (A) | 985.8 | 56 |
| Dubbo Regional | 985.5 | 55 |
| Port Macquarie-Hastings (A) | 985 | 55 |
| Eurobodalla (A) | 984.7 | 54 |
| Coolamon (A) | 983.3 | 54 |
| Murrumbidgee (A) | 983.2 | 54 |
| Shellharbour (C) | 982.9 | 53 |
| Port Stephens (A) | 982.1 | 53 |
| Bellingen (A) | 980.9 | 52 |
| Armidale Regional | 980.4 | 52 |
| Shoalhaven (C) | 979.5 | 51 |
| Mid-Western Regional (A) | 978.6 | 50 |
| Oberon (A) | 977.6 | 49 |
| Burwood (A) | 977.2 | 49 |
| Lockhart (A) | 976 | 49 |
| Upper Hunter Shire (A) | 974.8 | 48 |
| Griffith (C) | 974.2 | 47 |
| Wentworth (A) | 973.6 | 47 |
| Carrathool (A) | 973.1 | 46 |
| Coffs Harbour (C) | 972 | 45 |
| Temora (A) | 971.7 | 45 |
| Goulburn Mulwaree (A) | 971.7 | 45 |
| Federation (A) | 969.4 | 44 |
| Forbes (A) | 968.5 | 43 |
| Albury (C) | 967.9 | 43 |
| Gunnedah (A) | 966.7 | 43 |
| Edward River (A) | 966.5 | 42 |
| Bogan (A) | 965.9 | 42 |
| Berrigan (A) | 965.8 | 42 |
| Lismore (C) | 965.6 | 41 |
| Cobar (A) | 965.3 | 41 |
| Narrabri (A) | 963.9 | 40 |
| Warren (A) | 961.6 | 38 |
| Tamworth Regional (A) | 961.1 | 38 |
| Weddin (A) | 960.5 | 37 |
| Balranald (A) | 960.2 | 37 |
| Narromine (A) | 958.3 | 35 |
| Gwydir (A) | 956.6 | 34 |
| Hay (A) | 955.9 | 34 |
| Hilltops (A) | 954.3 | 33 |
| Cootamundra-Gundagai Regional | 952.9 | 32 |
| Snowy Valleys (A) | 952.5 | 32 |
| Lachlan (A) | 950.2 | 30 |
| Leeton (A) | 949.1 | 30 |
| Campbelltown (C) (NSW) | 947.5 | 29 |
| Bourke (A) | 946.7 | 28 |
| Parkes (A) | 945.8 | 28 |
| Mid-Coast (A) | 942.5 | 26 |
| Moree Plains (A) | 940.3 | 25 |
| Clarence Valley (A) | 940 | 24 |
| Cessnock (C) | 939.4 | 24 |
| Muswellbrook (A) | 937 | 23 |
| Lithgow (C) | 934.7 | 22 |
| Junee (A) | 933.9 | 22 |
| Cowra (A) | 931.8 | 22 |
| Liverpool (C) | 930.8 | 21 |
| Gilgandra (A) | 929.6 | 21 |
| Narrandera (A) | 929.1 | 20 |
| Inverell | 928.3 | 20 |
| Warrumbungle Shire (A) | 927.2 | 20 |
| Liverpool Plains (A) | 925.7 | 19 |
| Richmond Valley (A) | 923.6 | 19 |
| Kyogle (A) | 921.1 | 18 |
| Tenterfield (A) | 920.3 | 17 |
| Nambucca (A) | 920.3 | 17 |
| Canterbury-Bankstown (A) | 916.8 | 17 |
| Broken Hill (C) | 913.2 | 16 |
| Glen Innes Severn (A) | 906.1 | 14 |
| Cumberland (A) | 903.6 | 13 |
| Kempsey (A) | 903.3 | 13 |
| Walgett (A) | 887.7 | 11 |
| Coonamble (A) | 883.2 | 10 |
| Central Darling (A) | 826.7 | 7 |
| Brewarrina (A) | 817.9 | 7 |
| Fairfield (C) | 814 | 7 |
Chart view
Variation within Ballina (A)
See the spread of scores across smaller areas within the municipality.
Brooklet
1086.5
Percentile 93
Knockrow
1074.1
Percentile 87
Lennox Head
1073
Percentile 87
Pearces Creek (part)
1071.2
Percentile 86
Dalwood (Ballina - NSW)
1070
Percentile 85
Tintenbar
1069.2
Percentile 85
Newrybar
1068.8
Percentile 85
Cumbalum
1067.6
Percentile 84
Alstonvale
1067.4
Percentile 84
Uralba
1064.7
Percentile 82
Teven
1057.9
Percentile 78
Rous
1057.4
Percentile 78
Fernleigh
1055.7
Percentile 76
Skennars Head
1054.7
Percentile 76
Meerschaum Vale
1054
Percentile 75
Lynwood (NSW)
1053.6
Percentile 75
Keith Hall
1051.9
Percentile 74
South Ballina
1051.9
Percentile 74
Tuckombil
1043.3
Percentile 68
East Ballina
1042.5
Percentile 68
Rous Mill
1040.6
Percentile 67
Wollongbar
1039.8
Percentile 66
Kinvara
1033.8
Percentile 62
Empire Vale
1024.2
Percentile 56
Patchs Beach
1024.2
Percentile 56
Alstonville
1006.1
Percentile 45
East Wardell
991.2
Percentile 37
Coolgardie (NSW)
985.4
Percentile 34
Pimlico (NSW)
985.4
Percentile 34
Ballina
946.8
Percentile 19
Wardell
945.8
Percentile 18
West Ballina
944.4
Percentile 18
Bagotville
931.9
Percentile 15
Goat Island
931.9
Percentile 15
Cabbage Tree Island (Ballina - NSW)
406.2
Percentile 1
Data table
Variation within Ballina (A) table
Download the underlying SEIFA scores and percentiles shown in the current view.
| Area | Score | Percentile |
|---|---|---|
| Brooklet | 1086.5 | 93 |
| Knockrow | 1074.1 | 87 |
| Lennox Head | 1073 | 87 |
| Pearces Creek (part) | 1071.2 | 86 |
| Dalwood (Ballina - NSW) | 1070 | 85 |
| Tintenbar | 1069.2 | 85 |
| Newrybar | 1068.8 | 85 |
| Cumbalum | 1067.6 | 84 |
| Alstonvale | 1067.4 | 84 |
| Uralba | 1064.7 | 82 |
| Teven | 1057.9 | 78 |
| Rous | 1057.4 | 78 |
| Fernleigh | 1055.7 | 76 |
| Skennars Head | 1054.7 | 76 |
| Meerschaum Vale | 1054 | 75 |
| Lynwood (NSW) | 1053.6 | 75 |
| Keith Hall | 1051.9 | 74 |
| South Ballina | 1051.9 | 74 |
| Tuckombil | 1043.3 | 68 |
| East Ballina | 1042.5 | 68 |
| Rous Mill | 1040.6 | 67 |
| Wollongbar | 1039.8 | 66 |
| Kinvara | 1033.8 | 62 |
| Empire Vale | 1024.2 | 56 |
| Patchs Beach | 1024.2 | 56 |
| Alstonville | 1006.1 | 45 |
| East Wardell | 991.2 | 37 |
| Coolgardie (NSW) | 985.4 | 34 |
| Pimlico (NSW) | 985.4 | 34 |
| Ballina | 946.8 | 19 |
| Wardell | 945.8 | 18 |
| West Ballina | 944.4 | 18 |
| Bagotville | 931.9 | 15 |
| Goat Island | 931.9 | 15 |
| Cabbage Tree Island (Ballina - NSW) | 406.2 | 1 |