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, Lake Macquarie (C)'s Index of Relative Socio-economic Disadvantage (IRSD) score was 1003.7, placing it in the 69th percentile nationally. Within Lake Macquarie (C), scores ranged from Windale to Murrays Beach.
View
1003.7
Lake Macquarie (C) IRSD score
69th percentile nationally
1098.7
Highest local score
Murrays Beach
660.3
Lowest local score
Windale
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 Lake Macquarie (C)
See the spread of scores across smaller areas within the municipality.
Murrays Beach
1098.7
Percentile 96
Coal Point
1097.7
Percentile 96
Lakelands (NSW)
1094.1
Percentile 95
Catherine Hill Bay
1093.4
Percentile 95
New Lambton Heights (part)
1093.1
Percentile 95
Highfields (NSW)
1087.6
Percentile 93
Eleebana
1086.5
Percentile 93
Valentine
1081.6
Percentile 91
Dudley
1079.7
Percentile 90
Kilaben Bay
1077.1
Percentile 89
Garden Suburb
1074.4
Percentile 88
Wakefield
1071.4
Percentile 86
Eraring
1067.5
Percentile 84
Martinsville
1066
Percentile 83
Whitebridge
1063.9
Percentile 82
Cameron Park
1062.5
Percentile 81
Swansea Heads
1061.5
Percentile 80
Fishing Point
1061.2
Percentile 80
Jewells
1060.5
Percentile 80
Cardiff Heights
1060.4
Percentile 80
Macquarie Hills
1058
Percentile 78
Croudace Bay
1057
Percentile 77
Kotara South
1056
Percentile 77
Floraville
1054
Percentile 75
Marmong Point
1053.8
Percentile 75
Mandalong
1052.3
Percentile 74
Balmoral (Lake Macquarie - NSW)
1050
Percentile 72
Killingworth (NSW)
1048.3
Percentile 71
Kahibah
1047.8
Percentile 71
Redhead
1042.7
Percentile 68
Charlestown (NSW)
1039.5
Percentile 66
Nords Wharf
1035.8
Percentile 63
Buttaba
1030.2
Percentile 60
Caves Beach
1030
Percentile 60
Warners Bay
1029.5
Percentile 60
Hillsborough (Lake Macquarie - NSW)
1029.4
Percentile 59
Ryhope
1026.1
Percentile 57
Speers Point
1021.3
Percentile 54
Seahampton
1020.5
Percentile 54
Arcadia Vale
1019.1
Percentile 53
Tingira Heights
1018.7
Percentile 53
Brightwaters
1016.7
Percentile 52
Morisset Park
1015.3
Percentile 51
Cooranbong
1013.6
Percentile 50
Teralba
1010.7
Percentile 48
Rathmines
1009.2
Percentile 47
Mirrabooka (NSW)
1007.3
Percentile 46
Cardiff South
1006.5
Percentile 45
Wangi Wangi
1003.6
Percentile 44
Sunshine (NSW)
1001.1
Percentile 42
Belmont North
999.1
Percentile 41
Carey Bay
999.1
Percentile 41
Pelican (NSW)
995.8
Percentile 40
Wyee Point
991.6
Percentile 37
Barnsley
991.3
Percentile 37
Bonnells Bay
990.7
Percentile 37
West Wallsend
990.4
Percentile 36
Wyee
988.7
Percentile 36
Boolaroo
986.6
Percentile 34
Balcolyn
986.4
Percentile 34
Cardiff (NSW)
986.1
Percentile 34
Awaba
983.9
Percentile 33
Yarrawonga Park
982.8
Percentile 32
Blackalls Park
976.3
Percentile 29
Mount Hutton (NSW)
975.1
Percentile 29
Woodrising
974.1
Percentile 29
Holmesville
972.8
Percentile 28
Belmont (NSW)
971.7
Percentile 27
Dora Creek
971.4
Percentile 27
Glendale (NSW)
968.2
Percentile 26
Blacksmiths
965.8
Percentile 25
Cams Wharf
963.7
Percentile 24
Fassifern (NSW)
962.9
Percentile 24
Fennell Bay
959.4
Percentile 23
Edgeworth
957.8
Percentile 22
Silverwater (Lake Macquarie - NSW)
951.9
Percentile 20
Windermere Park
946.6
Percentile 19
Swansea (NSW)
932.5
Percentile 15
Marks Point
931.6
Percentile 15
Booragul
931.2
Percentile 15
Belmont South
919.6
Percentile 12
Freemans Waterhole
913
Percentile 11
Toronto
908.7
Percentile 10
Bolton Point
891.5
Percentile 8
Little Pelican
890.7
Percentile 8
Argenton
889
Percentile 8
Morisset
887.1
Percentile 8
Gateshead
855.8
Percentile 5
Windale
660.3
Percentile 2
Data table
Variation within Lake Macquarie (C) table
Download the underlying SEIFA scores and percentiles shown in the current view.
| Area | Score | Percentile |
|---|---|---|
| Murrays Beach | 1098.7 | 96 |
| Coal Point | 1097.7 | 96 |
| Lakelands (NSW) | 1094.1 | 95 |
| Catherine Hill Bay | 1093.4 | 95 |
| New Lambton Heights (part) | 1093.1 | 95 |
| Highfields (NSW) | 1087.6 | 93 |
| Eleebana | 1086.5 | 93 |
| Valentine | 1081.6 | 91 |
| Dudley | 1079.7 | 90 |
| Kilaben Bay | 1077.1 | 89 |
| Garden Suburb | 1074.4 | 88 |
| Wakefield | 1071.4 | 86 |
| Eraring | 1067.5 | 84 |
| Martinsville | 1066 | 83 |
| Whitebridge | 1063.9 | 82 |
| Cameron Park | 1062.5 | 81 |
| Swansea Heads | 1061.5 | 80 |
| Fishing Point | 1061.2 | 80 |
| Jewells | 1060.5 | 80 |
| Cardiff Heights | 1060.4 | 80 |
| Macquarie Hills | 1058 | 78 |
| Croudace Bay | 1057 | 77 |
| Kotara South | 1056 | 77 |
| Floraville | 1054 | 75 |
| Marmong Point | 1053.8 | 75 |
| Mandalong | 1052.3 | 74 |
| Balmoral (Lake Macquarie - NSW) | 1050 | 72 |
| Killingworth (NSW) | 1048.3 | 71 |
| Kahibah | 1047.8 | 71 |
| Redhead | 1042.7 | 68 |
| Charlestown (NSW) | 1039.5 | 66 |
| Nords Wharf | 1035.8 | 63 |
| Buttaba | 1030.2 | 60 |
| Caves Beach | 1030 | 60 |
| Warners Bay | 1029.5 | 60 |
| Hillsborough (Lake Macquarie - NSW) | 1029.4 | 59 |
| Ryhope | 1026.1 | 57 |
| Speers Point | 1021.3 | 54 |
| Seahampton | 1020.5 | 54 |
| Arcadia Vale | 1019.1 | 53 |
| Tingira Heights | 1018.7 | 53 |
| Brightwaters | 1016.7 | 52 |
| Morisset Park | 1015.3 | 51 |
| Cooranbong | 1013.6 | 50 |
| Teralba | 1010.7 | 48 |
| Rathmines | 1009.2 | 47 |
| Mirrabooka (NSW) | 1007.3 | 46 |
| Cardiff South | 1006.5 | 45 |
| Wangi Wangi | 1003.6 | 44 |
| Sunshine (NSW) | 1001.1 | 42 |
| Belmont North | 999.1 | 41 |
| Carey Bay | 999.1 | 41 |
| Pelican (NSW) | 995.8 | 40 |
| Wyee Point | 991.6 | 37 |
| Barnsley | 991.3 | 37 |
| Bonnells Bay | 990.7 | 37 |
| West Wallsend | 990.4 | 36 |
| Wyee | 988.7 | 36 |
| Boolaroo | 986.6 | 34 |
| Balcolyn | 986.4 | 34 |
| Cardiff (NSW) | 986.1 | 34 |
| Awaba | 983.9 | 33 |
| Yarrawonga Park | 982.8 | 32 |
| Blackalls Park | 976.3 | 29 |
| Mount Hutton (NSW) | 975.1 | 29 |
| Woodrising | 974.1 | 29 |
| Holmesville | 972.8 | 28 |
| Belmont (NSW) | 971.7 | 27 |
| Dora Creek | 971.4 | 27 |
| Glendale (NSW) | 968.2 | 26 |
| Blacksmiths | 965.8 | 25 |
| Cams Wharf | 963.7 | 24 |
| Fassifern (NSW) | 962.9 | 24 |
| Fennell Bay | 959.4 | 23 |
| Edgeworth | 957.8 | 22 |
| Silverwater (Lake Macquarie - NSW) | 951.9 | 20 |
| Windermere Park | 946.6 | 19 |
| Swansea (NSW) | 932.5 | 15 |
| Marks Point | 931.6 | 15 |
| Booragul | 931.2 | 15 |
| Belmont South | 919.6 | 12 |
| Freemans Waterhole | 913 | 11 |
| Toronto | 908.7 | 10 |
| Bolton Point | 891.5 | 8 |
| Little Pelican | 890.7 | 8 |
| Argenton | 889 | 8 |
| Morisset | 887.1 | 8 |
| Gateshead | 855.8 | 5 |
| Windale | 660.3 | 2 |