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, Melville (C)'s Index of Relative Socio-economic Disadvantage (IRSD) score was 1070, placing it in the 94th percentile nationally. Within Melville (C), scores ranged from Willagee to Mount Pleasant (WA).
View
1070
Melville (C) IRSD score
94th percentile nationally
1102.8
Highest local score
Mount Pleasant (WA)
970.6
Lowest local score
Willagee
Chart view
SEIFA – disadvantage across Western Australia LGAs
Compare the selected index across Western Australia LGAs with the current municipality highlighted.
Nedlands (C)
1114.9
Cambridge (T)
1112.6
Cottesloe (T)
1112
Peppermint Grove (S)
1111.1
East Fremantle (T)
1082.2
Claremont (T)
1081
Subiaco (C)
1078.8
Kent (S)
1072.2
Joondalup (C)
1071.7
Melville (C)
1070
Vincent (C)
1067.5
South Perth (C)
1065.6
Mosman Park (T)
1061.5
Dalwallinu (S)
1056.5
Karratha (C)
1052
Lake Grace (S)
1050.6
Kulin (S)
1045.1
Perenjori (S)
1044.4
Mundaring (S)
1042.3
Perth (C)
1040.4
Exmouth (S)
1037.8
Kalamunda (S)
1033.6
Cockburn (C)
1033.3
Augusta-Margaret River (S)
1031.4
Fremantle (C)
1031.2
Westonia (S)
1030.2
Chittering (S)
1030.2
Victoria Park (T)
1030.1
Williams (S)
1029.7
Serpentine-Jarrahdale (S)
1028.2
Narembeen (S)
1028.1
Victoria Plains (S)
1028
West Arthur (S)
1027.7
Chapman Valley (S)
1027.3
Stirling (C)
1026.6
Jerramungup (S)
1024.9
Mukinbudin (S)
1024.8
Ashburton (S)
1023.6
Corrigin (S)
1023.3
Canning (C)
1023.3
Busselton (C)
1018.6
Bayswater (C)
1017.7
Capel (S)
1015.6
Bassendean (T)
1015.1
Port Hedland (T)
1011.2
Dumbleyung (S)
1009.3
Cunderdin (S)
1008.2
Kalgoorlie/Boulder (C)
1008
Mingenew (S)
1006.8
Dardanup (S)
1005.6
Wanneroo (C)
1005.3
Wandering (S)
1003.7
Denmark (S)
1003.2
Woodanilling (S)
1003.1
Ravensthorpe (S)
1002
Bridgetown-Greenbushes (S)
1000.5
Goomalling (S)
998
Harvey (S)
997.8
Kojonup (S)
996.9
Gnowangerup (S)
995.7
Dandaragan (S)
995.1
Swan (C)
994.8
Boyup Brook (S)
994.8
Esperance (S)
994.8
Wickepin (S)
994
Armadale (C)
990
Rockingham (C)
989.3
Albany (C)
987.3
Donnybrook-Balingup (S)
986.9
Belmont (C)
986.7
Toodyay (S)
986.1
Dowerin (S)
982.7
Koorda (S)
980.4
Mount Marshall (S)
979.9
Nungarin (S)
979
Bruce Rock (S)
978.7
Coorow (S)
978.4
Nannup (S)
978.4
Kondinin (S)
977.6
Boddington (S)
975.7
Gingin (S)
975.1
Gosnells (C)
974.6
Yilgarn (S)
973.5
Cuballing (S)
972.4
Merredin (S)
971
Kwinana (C)
970.5
Christmas Island
970.5
Shark Bay (S)
970.3
York (S)
967.9
Irwin (S)
966.2
Greater Geraldton (C)
965.4
Carnamah (S)
965.4
Cranbrook (S)
964.3
Narrogin (S)
963.8
Quairading (S)
963.5
Wongan-Ballidu (S)
963.5
Three Springs (S)
962.8
Murray (S)
962.5
Broome (S)
961.6
Broomehill-Tambellup (S)
961.1
Manjimup (S)
959.5
Mandurah (C)
959.1
Moora (S)
959.1
Tammin (S)
958.9
Beverley (S)
955.9
Sandstone (S)
954.4
Northampton (S)
953.7
Plantagenet (S)
948.6
Leonora (S)
948.4
Wagin (S)
946.8
Bunbury (C)
944.1
Brookton (S)
944
Morawa (S)
942.9
East Pilbara (S)
939.4
Northam (S)
938.4
Waroona (S)
935.9
Carnarvon (S)
926
Kellerberrin (S)
920.5
Upper Gascoyne (S)
910.1
Trayning (S)
909.4
Collie (S)
908.2
Pingelly (S)
907
Katanning (S)
906.7
Yalgoo (S)
899.7
Wyndham-East Kimberley (S)
899.4
Wyalkatchem (S)
899
Cue (S)
898.3
Coolgardie (S)
897.2
Mount Magnet (S)
863.9
Menzies (S)
860.3
Dundas (S)
855.5
Cocos Islands
850
Meekatharra (S)
847.7
Murchison (S)
833.7
Wiluna (S)
772.6
Laverton (S)
751.1
Derby-West Kimberley (S)
734.1
Halls Creek (S)
540.1
Ngaanyatjarraku (S)
509.4
Data table
SEIFA – disadvantage across Western Australia LGAs table
Download the underlying SEIFA scores and percentiles shown in the current view.
| Area | Score | Percentile |
|---|---|---|
| Nedlands (C) | 1114.9 | 100 |
| Cambridge (T) | 1112.6 | 100 |
| Cottesloe (T) | 1112 | 100 |
| Peppermint Grove (S) | 1111.1 | 100 |
| East Fremantle (T) | 1082.2 | 96 |
| Claremont (T) | 1081 | 96 |
| Subiaco (C) | 1078.8 | 96 |
| Kent (S) | 1072.2 | 95 |
| Joondalup (C) | 1071.7 | 94 |
| Melville (C) | 1070 | 94 |
| Vincent (C) | 1067.5 | 94 |
| South Perth (C) | 1065.6 | 93 |
| Mosman Park (T) | 1061.5 | 93 |
| Dalwallinu (S) | 1056.5 | 91 |
| Karratha (C) | 1052 | 91 |
| Lake Grace (S) | 1050.6 | 90 |
| Kulin (S) | 1045.1 | 89 |
| Perenjori (S) | 1044.4 | 88 |
| Mundaring (S) | 1042.3 | 88 |
| Perth (C) | 1040.4 | 86 |
| Exmouth (S) | 1037.8 | 86 |
| Kalamunda (S) | 1033.6 | 85 |
| Cockburn (C) | 1033.3 | 85 |
| Augusta-Margaret River (S) | 1031.4 | 85 |
| Fremantle (C) | 1031.2 | 84 |
| Westonia (S) | 1030.2 | 84 |
| Chittering (S) | 1030.2 | 84 |
| Victoria Park (T) | 1030.1 | 83 |
| Williams (S) | 1029.7 | 83 |
| Serpentine-Jarrahdale (S) | 1028.2 | 82 |
| Narembeen (S) | 1028.1 | 82 |
| Victoria Plains (S) | 1028 | 82 |
| West Arthur (S) | 1027.7 | 82 |
| Chapman Valley (S) | 1027.3 | 81 |
| Stirling (C) | 1026.6 | 81 |
| Jerramungup (S) | 1024.9 | 80 |
| Mukinbudin (S) | 1024.8 | 80 |
| Ashburton (S) | 1023.6 | 79 |
| Corrigin (S) | 1023.3 | 79 |
| Canning (C) | 1023.3 | 79 |
| Busselton (C) | 1018.6 | 77 |
| Bayswater (C) | 1017.7 | 76 |
| Capel (S) | 1015.6 | 76 |
| Bassendean (T) | 1015.1 | 76 |
| Port Hedland (T) | 1011.2 | 74 |
| Dumbleyung (S) | 1009.3 | 73 |
| Cunderdin (S) | 1008.2 | 72 |
| Kalgoorlie/Boulder (C) | 1008 | 72 |
| Mingenew (S) | 1006.8 | 71 |
| Dardanup (S) | 1005.6 | 71 |
| Wanneroo (C) | 1005.3 | 71 |
| Wandering (S) | 1003.7 | 70 |
| Denmark (S) | 1003.2 | 69 |
| Woodanilling (S) | 1003.1 | 69 |
| Ravensthorpe (S) | 1002 | 68 |
| Bridgetown-Greenbushes (S) | 1000.5 | 67 |
| Goomalling (S) | 998 | 66 |
| Harvey (S) | 997.8 | 65 |
| Kojonup (S) | 996.9 | 65 |
| Gnowangerup (S) | 995.7 | 65 |
| Dandaragan (S) | 995.1 | 64 |
| Swan (C) | 994.8 | 64 |
| Boyup Brook (S) | 994.8 | 63 |
| Esperance (S) | 994.8 | 63 |
| Wickepin (S) | 994 | 63 |
| Armadale (C) | 990 | 59 |
| Rockingham (C) | 989.3 | 58 |
| Albany (C) | 987.3 | 57 |
| Donnybrook-Balingup (S) | 986.9 | 56 |
| Belmont (C) | 986.7 | 56 |
| Toodyay (S) | 986.1 | 56 |
| Dowerin (S) | 982.7 | 53 |
| Koorda (S) | 980.4 | 52 |
| Mount Marshall (S) | 979.9 | 52 |
| Nungarin (S) | 979 | 51 |
| Bruce Rock (S) | 978.7 | 51 |
| Coorow (S) | 978.4 | 50 |
| Nannup (S) | 978.4 | 50 |
| Kondinin (S) | 977.6 | 50 |
| Boddington (S) | 975.7 | 48 |
| Gingin (S) | 975.1 | 48 |
| Gosnells (C) | 974.6 | 48 |
| Yilgarn (S) | 973.5 | 46 |
| Cuballing (S) | 972.4 | 46 |
| Merredin (S) | 971 | 45 |
| Kwinana (C) | 970.5 | 44 |
| Christmas Island | 970.5 | 44 |
| Shark Bay (S) | 970.3 | 44 |
| York (S) | 967.9 | 43 |
| Irwin (S) | 966.2 | 42 |
| Greater Geraldton (C) | 965.4 | 41 |
| Carnamah (S) | 965.4 | 41 |
| Cranbrook (S) | 964.3 | 40 |
| Narrogin (S) | 963.8 | 40 |
| Quairading (S) | 963.5 | 40 |
| Wongan-Ballidu (S) | 963.5 | 39 |
| Three Springs (S) | 962.8 | 39 |
| Murray (S) | 962.5 | 39 |
| Broome (S) | 961.6 | 38 |
| Broomehill-Tambellup (S) | 961.1 | 38 |
| Manjimup (S) | 959.5 | 37 |
| Mandurah (C) | 959.1 | 36 |
| Moora (S) | 959.1 | 36 |
| Tammin (S) | 958.9 | 36 |
| Beverley (S) | 955.9 | 34 |
| Sandstone (S) | 954.4 | 33 |
| Northampton (S) | 953.7 | 33 |
| Plantagenet (S) | 948.6 | 30 |
| Leonora (S) | 948.4 | 30 |
| Wagin (S) | 946.8 | 28 |
| Bunbury (C) | 944.1 | 27 |
| Brookton (S) | 944 | 27 |
| Morawa (S) | 942.9 | 26 |
| East Pilbara (S) | 939.4 | 24 |
| Northam (S) | 938.4 | 23 |
| Waroona (S) | 935.9 | 23 |
| Carnarvon (S) | 926 | 19 |
| Kellerberrin (S) | 920.5 | 18 |
| Upper Gascoyne (S) | 910.1 | 15 |
| Trayning (S) | 909.4 | 15 |
| Collie (S) | 908.2 | 15 |
| Pingelly (S) | 907 | 15 |
| Katanning (S) | 906.7 | 14 |
| Yalgoo (S) | 899.7 | 12 |
| Wyndham-East Kimberley (S) | 899.4 | 12 |
| Wyalkatchem (S) | 899 | 12 |
| Cue (S) | 898.3 | 12 |
| Coolgardie (S) | 897.2 | 11 |
| Mount Magnet (S) | 863.9 | 9 |
| Menzies (S) | 860.3 | 9 |
| Dundas (S) | 855.5 | 8 |
| Cocos Islands | 850 | 8 |
| Meekatharra (S) | 847.7 | 8 |
| Murchison (S) | 833.7 | 7 |
| Wiluna (S) | 772.6 | 7 |
| Laverton (S) | 751.1 | 6 |
| Derby-West Kimberley (S) | 734.1 | 6 |
| Halls Creek (S) | 540.1 | 3 |
| Ngaanyatjarraku (S) | 509.4 | 2 |
Chart view
Variation within Melville (C)
See the spread of scores across smaller areas within the municipality.
Mount Pleasant (WA)
1102.8
Percentile 97
Attadale
1099.7
Percentile 97
Applecross
1098
Percentile 96
Winthrop
1095.5
Percentile 96
Ardross
1093.5
Percentile 95
Leeming (part)
1089.3
Percentile 94
Melville (WA)
1084.6
Percentile 92
Alfred Cove
1081.9
Percentile 91
Bateman
1075.9
Percentile 88
Booragoon
1073.8
Percentile 87
Bicton
1072.3
Percentile 86
Bull Creek (WA)
1067.2
Percentile 84
Kardinya
1061
Percentile 80
Myaree
1051.4
Percentile 74
Palmyra (WA)
1040.7
Percentile 67
Murdoch
1018.9
Percentile 53
Brentwood (WA)
992.8
Percentile 38
Willagee
970.6
Percentile 27
Data table
Variation within Melville (C) table
Download the underlying SEIFA scores and percentiles shown in the current view.
| Area | Score | Percentile |
|---|---|---|
| Mount Pleasant (WA) | 1102.8 | 97 |
| Attadale | 1099.7 | 97 |
| Applecross | 1098 | 96 |
| Winthrop | 1095.5 | 96 |
| Ardross | 1093.5 | 95 |
| Leeming (part) | 1089.3 | 94 |
| Melville (WA) | 1084.6 | 92 |
| Alfred Cove | 1081.9 | 91 |
| Bateman | 1075.9 | 88 |
| Booragoon | 1073.8 | 87 |
| Bicton | 1072.3 | 86 |
| Bull Creek (WA) | 1067.2 | 84 |
| Kardinya | 1061 | 80 |
| Myaree | 1051.4 | 74 |
| Palmyra (WA) | 1040.7 | 67 |
| Murdoch | 1018.9 | 53 |
| Brentwood (WA) | 992.8 | 38 |
| Willagee | 970.6 | 27 |