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, Cessnock (C)'s Index of Relative Socio-economic Disadvantage (IRSD) score was 939.4, placing it in the 24th percentile nationally. Within Cessnock (C), scores ranged from Neath to Pokolbin (part).
View
939.4
Cessnock (C) IRSD score
24th percentile nationally
1112.3
Highest local score
Pokolbin (part)
816.2
Lowest local score
Neath
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 Cessnock (C)
See the spread of scores across smaller areas within the municipality.
Pokolbin (part)
1112.3
Percentile 99
Rothbury
1082.6
Percentile 91
Mount Vincent
1074.8
Percentile 88
Keinbah
1066.5
Percentile 83
Lovedale
1065.4
Percentile 83
Richmond Vale
1059.2
Percentile 79
Stockrington
1059.2
Percentile 79
Brunkerville
1058.9
Percentile 79
Buchanan (NSW)
1057.2
Percentile 77
Buttai
1055.6
Percentile 76
Mulbring
1049.7
Percentile 72
Elrington
1048.2
Percentile 71
Quorrobolong
1042.4
Percentile 68
Nulkaba
1039.9
Percentile 66
Wollombi
1039.6
Percentile 66
Bucketty (part)
1037.7
Percentile 65
Dairy Arm
1037.7
Percentile 65
Fernances Crossing
1037.7
Percentile 65
Murrays Run
1037.7
Percentile 65
Watagan
1037.7
Percentile 65
Paynes Crossing (part)
1034.7
Percentile 63
Laguna
1033.2
Percentile 62
Yengo National Park
1031.7
Percentile 61
Allandale (NSW) (part)
1029.2
Percentile 59
North Rothbury
1022.3
Percentile 55
Congewai
1008.1
Percentile 46
Cliftleigh (part)
1002.4
Percentile 43
Heddon Greta
996.9
Percentile 40
East Branxton
996.2
Percentile 40
Millfield
994.1
Percentile 39
Abernethy
993.5
Percentile 38
Cedar Creek (Cessnock - NSW)
983.9
Percentile 33
Sweetmans Creek
983.9
Percentile 33
Loxford
983.5
Percentile 33
Sawyers Gully
983.5
Percentile 33
Kitchener
978.8
Percentile 31
Greta (NSW) (part)
977.4
Percentile 30
Mount View
960.1
Percentile 23
Ellalong
951.2
Percentile 20
Greta Main
950.4
Percentile 20
Pelton
950.4
Percentile 20
Stanford Merthyr
949.9
Percentile 19
Kearsley
944
Percentile 18
Bellbird Heights
933
Percentile 15
Paxton
928.9
Percentile 14
Abermain
923.1
Percentile 13
Bellbird
915
Percentile 11
Kurri Kurri
895.8
Percentile 9
Pelaw Main
887.1
Percentile 8
Aberdare
883.7
Percentile 7
Cessnock
881.8
Percentile 7
Weston (NSW)
881
Percentile 7
Neath
816.2
Percentile 3
Data table
Variation within Cessnock (C) table
Download the underlying SEIFA scores and percentiles shown in the current view.
| Area | Score | Percentile |
|---|---|---|
| Pokolbin (part) | 1112.3 | 99 |
| Rothbury | 1082.6 | 91 |
| Mount Vincent | 1074.8 | 88 |
| Keinbah | 1066.5 | 83 |
| Lovedale | 1065.4 | 83 |
| Richmond Vale | 1059.2 | 79 |
| Stockrington | 1059.2 | 79 |
| Brunkerville | 1058.9 | 79 |
| Buchanan (NSW) | 1057.2 | 77 |
| Buttai | 1055.6 | 76 |
| Mulbring | 1049.7 | 72 |
| Elrington | 1048.2 | 71 |
| Quorrobolong | 1042.4 | 68 |
| Nulkaba | 1039.9 | 66 |
| Wollombi | 1039.6 | 66 |
| Bucketty (part) | 1037.7 | 65 |
| Dairy Arm | 1037.7 | 65 |
| Fernances Crossing | 1037.7 | 65 |
| Murrays Run | 1037.7 | 65 |
| Watagan | 1037.7 | 65 |
| Paynes Crossing (part) | 1034.7 | 63 |
| Laguna | 1033.2 | 62 |
| Yengo National Park | 1031.7 | 61 |
| Allandale (NSW) (part) | 1029.2 | 59 |
| North Rothbury | 1022.3 | 55 |
| Congewai | 1008.1 | 46 |
| Cliftleigh (part) | 1002.4 | 43 |
| Heddon Greta | 996.9 | 40 |
| East Branxton | 996.2 | 40 |
| Millfield | 994.1 | 39 |
| Abernethy | 993.5 | 38 |
| Cedar Creek (Cessnock - NSW) | 983.9 | 33 |
| Sweetmans Creek | 983.9 | 33 |
| Loxford | 983.5 | 33 |
| Sawyers Gully | 983.5 | 33 |
| Kitchener | 978.8 | 31 |
| Greta (NSW) (part) | 977.4 | 30 |
| Mount View | 960.1 | 23 |
| Ellalong | 951.2 | 20 |
| Greta Main | 950.4 | 20 |
| Pelton | 950.4 | 20 |
| Stanford Merthyr | 949.9 | 19 |
| Kearsley | 944 | 18 |
| Bellbird Heights | 933 | 15 |
| Paxton | 928.9 | 14 |
| Abermain | 923.1 | 13 |
| Bellbird | 915 | 11 |
| Kurri Kurri | 895.8 | 9 |
| Pelaw Main | 887.1 | 8 |
| Aberdare | 883.7 | 7 |
| Cessnock | 881.8 | 7 |
| Weston (NSW) | 881 | 7 |
| Neath | 816.2 | 3 |