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, Lithgow (C)'s Index of Relative Socio-economic Disadvantage (IRSD) score was 934.7, placing it in the 22nd percentile nationally. Within Lithgow (C), scores ranged from Bowenfels to Mount Lambie.
View
934.7
Lithgow (C) IRSD score
22nd percentile nationally
1083.6
Highest local score
Mount Lambie
778.2
Lowest local score
Bowenfels
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 Lithgow (C)
See the spread of scores across smaller areas within the municipality.
Mount Lambie
1083.6
Percentile 92
Kanimbla (NSW)
1071.2
Percentile 86
Little Hartley
1070.5
Percentile 86
Clarence
1055.4
Percentile 76
Sodwalls
1053.5
Percentile 75
Marrangaroo
1052.7
Percentile 74
Tarana (part)
1048.7
Percentile 72
South Bowenfels
1045.7
Percentile 70
Ganbenang (part)
1044.3
Percentile 69
Good Forest
1044.3
Percentile 69
Hampton (NSW)
1044.3
Percentile 69
Lowther
1044.3
Percentile 69
Hartley (NSW)
1033.5
Percentile 62
Hartley Vale
1017.6
Percentile 52
Blackmans Flat
1017.4
Percentile 52
Newnes
1017.4
Percentile 52
Wolgan Valley
1017.4
Percentile 52
Lidsdale
1015.6
Percentile 51
Dargan
1014.1
Percentile 50
Sheedys Gully
972.4
Percentile 28
Cobar Park
968.9
Percentile 26
McKellars Park
968.9
Percentile 26
Bogee
967.2
Percentile 26
Dunville Loop
967.2
Percentile 26
Glen Alice
967.2
Percentile 26
Glen Davis
967.2
Percentile 26
Mount Marsden
967.2
Percentile 26
Upper Nile
967.2
Percentile 26
Littleton
958.6
Percentile 22
Rydal
955.9
Percentile 21
Ben Bullen
939.1
Percentile 17
Capertee
939.1
Percentile 17
Dark Corner
939.1
Percentile 17
Palmers Oaky
939.1
Percentile 17
Round Swamp
939.1
Percentile 17
Wallerawang
935.1
Percentile 16
Cullen Bullen
927.9
Percentile 14
Oakey Park
927.2
Percentile 14
South Littleton
919.5
Percentile 12
Portland (NSW)
915.1
Percentile 11
Morts Estate
910.8
Percentile 11
State Mine Gully
910.8
Percentile 11
Lithgow
905.3
Percentile 10
Pottery Estate
896.6
Percentile 9
Hermitage Flat
883.6
Percentile 7
Corney Town
871.1
Percentile 6
Doctors Gap
871.1
Percentile 6
Vale Of Clwydd
871.1
Percentile 6
Bowenfels
778.2
Percentile 3
Data table
Variation within Lithgow (C) table
Download the underlying SEIFA scores and percentiles shown in the current view.
| Area | Score | Percentile |
|---|---|---|
| Mount Lambie | 1083.6 | 92 |
| Kanimbla (NSW) | 1071.2 | 86 |
| Little Hartley | 1070.5 | 86 |
| Clarence | 1055.4 | 76 |
| Sodwalls | 1053.5 | 75 |
| Marrangaroo | 1052.7 | 74 |
| Tarana (part) | 1048.7 | 72 |
| South Bowenfels | 1045.7 | 70 |
| Ganbenang (part) | 1044.3 | 69 |
| Good Forest | 1044.3 | 69 |
| Hampton (NSW) | 1044.3 | 69 |
| Lowther | 1044.3 | 69 |
| Hartley (NSW) | 1033.5 | 62 |
| Hartley Vale | 1017.6 | 52 |
| Blackmans Flat | 1017.4 | 52 |
| Newnes | 1017.4 | 52 |
| Wolgan Valley | 1017.4 | 52 |
| Lidsdale | 1015.6 | 51 |
| Dargan | 1014.1 | 50 |
| Sheedys Gully | 972.4 | 28 |
| Cobar Park | 968.9 | 26 |
| McKellars Park | 968.9 | 26 |
| Bogee | 967.2 | 26 |
| Dunville Loop | 967.2 | 26 |
| Glen Alice | 967.2 | 26 |
| Glen Davis | 967.2 | 26 |
| Mount Marsden | 967.2 | 26 |
| Upper Nile | 967.2 | 26 |
| Littleton | 958.6 | 22 |
| Rydal | 955.9 | 21 |
| Ben Bullen | 939.1 | 17 |
| Capertee | 939.1 | 17 |
| Dark Corner | 939.1 | 17 |
| Palmers Oaky | 939.1 | 17 |
| Round Swamp | 939.1 | 17 |
| Wallerawang | 935.1 | 16 |
| Cullen Bullen | 927.9 | 14 |
| Oakey Park | 927.2 | 14 |
| South Littleton | 919.5 | 12 |
| Portland (NSW) | 915.1 | 11 |
| Morts Estate | 910.8 | 11 |
| State Mine Gully | 910.8 | 11 |
| Lithgow | 905.3 | 10 |
| Pottery Estate | 896.6 | 9 |
| Hermitage Flat | 883.6 | 7 |
| Corney Town | 871.1 | 6 |
| Doctors Gap | 871.1 | 6 |
| Vale Of Clwydd | 871.1 | 6 |
| Bowenfels | 778.2 | 3 |