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, Mount Alexander (S)'s Index of Relative Socio-economic Disadvantage (IRSD) score was 1007.5, placing it in the 72nd percentile nationally. Within Mount Alexander (S), scores ranged from Castlemaine to Ravenswood South.
View
1007.5
Mount Alexander (S) IRSD score
72nd percentile nationally
1098.5
Highest local score
Ravenswood South
985.5
Lowest local score
Castlemaine
Chart view
SEIFA – disadvantage across Victoria LGAs
Compare the selected index across Victoria LGAs with the current municipality highlighted.
Nillumbik (S)
1092.9
Bayside (C)
1090.4
Boroondara (C)
1089.6
Surf Coast (S)
1086.2
Stonnington (C)
1084.5
Queenscliffe (B)
1082.2
Glen Eira (C)
1074.6
Macedon Ranges (S)
1062.8
Port Phillip (C)
1061
Banyule (C)
1057.7
Manningham (C)
1056.1
Yarra (C)
1045.7
Kingston (C) (Vic.)
1044.3
Whitehorse (C)
1042.7
Monash (C)
1042.3
Knox (C)
1042.2
Yarra Ranges (S)
1041.2
Maroondah (C)
1041
Moonee Valley (C)
1040.7
Golden Plains (S)
1039.9
Mornington Peninsula (S)
1037.5
Indigo (S)
1029.4
Moyne (S)
1029
Mansfield (S)
1027.6
Alpine (S)
1027.6
Moreland (C)
1026.5
Cardinia (S)
1021
Hobsons Bay (C)
1020.7
Darebin (C)
1018.3
Moorabool (S)
1017.2
Melbourne (C)
1016.7
Unincorporated Vic
1012.4
Maribyrnong (C)
1009.7
Mount Alexander (S)
1007.5
Greater Geelong (C)
1007.3
Hepburn (S)
1006.3
Wyndham (C)
1005.5
Murrindindi (S)
1004.7
Baw Baw (S)
1003.3
Frankston (C)
1003.1
South Gippsland (S)
1002.6
Towong (S)
1000.8
Mitchell (S)
999.5
Warrnambool (C)
994.9
Casey (C)
994.7
Southern Grampians (S)
993.7
Bass Coast (S)
992.8
West Wimmera (S)
991
Horsham (RC)
990.1
Whittlesea (C)
989.6
Wangaratta (RC)
988.4
Ballarat (C)
985.7
Melton (C)
985.2
Greater Bendigo (C)
985
Corangamite (S)
984.6
Strathbogie (S)
982
Buloke (S)
975
Wodonga (C)
973.1
Wellington (S)
973
Colac-Otway (S)
972.6
Benalla (RC)
968.4
Campaspe (S)
964.9
East Gippsland (S)
963.3
Pyrenees (S)
958.7
Moira (S)
958.3
Ararat (RC)
955.2
Gannawarra (S)
952.4
Glenelg (S)
952.3
Northern Grampians (S)
951.3
Loddon (S)
948.1
Yarriambiack (S)
945.9
Greater Shepparton (C)
944
Hume (C)
940.8
Swan Hill (RC)
940.6
Hindmarsh (S)
940.1
Mildura (RC)
940
Latrobe (C) (Vic.)
930.8
Brimbank (C)
912.5
Central Goldfields (S)
897.6
Greater Dandenong (C)
886.7
Data table
SEIFA – disadvantage across Victoria LGAs table
Download the underlying SEIFA scores and percentiles shown in the current view.
| Area | Score | Percentile |
|---|---|---|
| Nillumbik (S) | 1092.9 | 98 |
| Bayside (C) | 1090.4 | 98 |
| Boroondara (C) | 1089.6 | 98 |
| Surf Coast (S) | 1086.2 | 97 |
| Stonnington (C) | 1084.5 | 97 |
| Queenscliffe (B) | 1082.2 | 97 |
| Glen Eira (C) | 1074.6 | 95 |
| Macedon Ranges (S) | 1062.8 | 93 |
| Port Phillip (C) | 1061 | 92 |
| Banyule (C) | 1057.7 | 92 |
| Manningham (C) | 1056.1 | 91 |
| Yarra (C) | 1045.7 | 90 |
| Kingston (C) (Vic.) | 1044.3 | 88 |
| Whitehorse (C) | 1042.7 | 88 |
| Monash (C) | 1042.3 | 88 |
| Knox (C) | 1042.2 | 87 |
| Yarra Ranges (S) | 1041.2 | 87 |
| Maroondah (C) | 1041 | 87 |
| Moonee Valley (C) | 1040.7 | 87 |
| Golden Plains (S) | 1039.9 | 86 |
| Mornington Peninsula (S) | 1037.5 | 86 |
| Indigo (S) | 1029.4 | 83 |
| Moyne (S) | 1029 | 82 |
| Mansfield (S) | 1027.6 | 82 |
| Alpine (S) | 1027.6 | 81 |
| Moreland (C) | 1026.5 | 80 |
| Cardinia (S) | 1021 | 78 |
| Hobsons Bay (C) | 1020.7 | 78 |
| Darebin (C) | 1018.3 | 77 |
| Moorabool (S) | 1017.2 | 76 |
| Melbourne (C) | 1016.7 | 76 |
| Unincorporated Vic | 1012.4 | 75 |
| Maribyrnong (C) | 1009.7 | 74 |
| Mount Alexander (S) | 1007.5 | 72 |
| Greater Geelong (C) | 1007.3 | 72 |
| Hepburn (S) | 1006.3 | 71 |
| Wyndham (C) | 1005.5 | 71 |
| Murrindindi (S) | 1004.7 | 70 |
| Baw Baw (S) | 1003.3 | 69 |
| Frankston (C) | 1003.1 | 69 |
| South Gippsland (S) | 1002.6 | 68 |
| Towong (S) | 1000.8 | 68 |
| Mitchell (S) | 999.5 | 67 |
| Warrnambool (C) | 994.9 | 64 |
| Casey (C) | 994.7 | 63 |
| Southern Grampians (S) | 993.7 | 62 |
| Bass Coast (S) | 992.8 | 62 |
| West Wimmera (S) | 991 | 60 |
| Horsham (RC) | 990.1 | 60 |
| Whittlesea (C) | 989.6 | 59 |
| Wangaratta (RC) | 988.4 | 57 |
| Ballarat (C) | 985.7 | 55 |
| Melton (C) | 985.2 | 55 |
| Greater Bendigo (C) | 985 | 55 |
| Corangamite (S) | 984.6 | 54 |
| Strathbogie (S) | 982 | 53 |
| Buloke (S) | 975 | 48 |
| Wodonga (C) | 973.1 | 46 |
| Wellington (S) | 973 | 46 |
| Colac-Otway (S) | 972.6 | 46 |
| Benalla (RC) | 968.4 | 43 |
| Campaspe (S) | 964.9 | 40 |
| East Gippsland (S) | 963.3 | 39 |
| Pyrenees (S) | 958.7 | 36 |
| Moira (S) | 958.3 | 35 |
| Ararat (RC) | 955.2 | 34 |
| Gannawarra (S) | 952.4 | 32 |
| Glenelg (S) | 952.3 | 32 |
| Northern Grampians (S) | 951.3 | 31 |
| Loddon (S) | 948.1 | 29 |
| Yarriambiack (S) | 945.9 | 28 |
| Greater Shepparton (C) | 944 | 27 |
| Hume (C) | 940.8 | 25 |
| Swan Hill (RC) | 940.6 | 25 |
| Hindmarsh (S) | 940.1 | 25 |
| Mildura (RC) | 940 | 24 |
| Latrobe (C) (Vic.) | 930.8 | 21 |
| Brimbank (C) | 912.5 | 16 |
| Central Goldfields (S) | 897.6 | 12 |
| Greater Dandenong (C) | 886.7 | 11 |
Chart view
Variation within Mount Alexander (S)
See the spread of scores across smaller areas within the municipality.
Ravenswood South
1098.5
Percentile 96
McKenzie Hill
1058
Percentile 78
Barkers Creek
1055.9
Percentile 77
Muckleford
1046.7
Percentile 70
Barfold
1045.3
Percentile 69
Langley
1045.3
Percentile 69
Metcalfe
1045.3
Percentile 69
Metcalfe East
1045.3
Percentile 69
Fryerstown
1043
Percentile 68
Glenluce
1043
Percentile 68
Irishtown (Vic.)
1043
Percentile 68
Vaughan
1043
Percentile 68
Werona (part)
1041
Percentile 67
Green Gully (Vic.)
1040.1
Percentile 66
Joyces Creek (part)
1040.1
Percentile 66
Muckleford South
1039.3
Percentile 66
Yapeen
1039.3
Percentile 66
Sandon (Vic.)
1038.1
Percentile 65
Strathlea (part)
1038.1
Percentile 65
Yandoit Hills
1038.1
Percentile 65
Chewton Bushlands
1038
Percentile 65
Golden Point (Mount Alexander - Vic.)
1038
Percentile 65
Moonlight Flat (Mount Alexander - Vic.)
1038
Percentile 65
Strangways (part)
1036.9
Percentile 64
Campbelltown (Vic.) (part)
1036.4
Percentile 64
Tarilta (part)
1034.2
Percentile 62
Baringhup
1034
Percentile 62
Baringhup West
1034
Percentile 62
Neereman
1034
Percentile 62
Tarrengower
1034
Percentile 62
Faraday
1033.7
Percentile 62
Taradale (Vic.) (part)
1033.6
Percentile 62
Elphinstone (Vic.)
1027.5
Percentile 58
Sutton Grange
1022.2
Percentile 55
Gower
1015.4
Percentile 51
Welshmans Reef
1015.4
Percentile 51
Walmer (Vic.)
1015.3
Percentile 51
Campbells Creek
1012.8
Percentile 49
Chewton
1007.7
Percentile 46
Harcourt
997.2
Percentile 41
Newstead (Vic.)
997
Percentile 40
Maldon (Vic.)
995.8
Percentile 40
Bradford
987.3
Percentile 35
Nuggetty
987.3
Percentile 35
Guildford (Vic.) (part)
986.2
Percentile 34
Castlemaine
985.5
Percentile 34
Data table
Variation within Mount Alexander (S) table
Download the underlying SEIFA scores and percentiles shown in the current view.
| Area | Score | Percentile |
|---|---|---|
| Ravenswood South | 1098.5 | 96 |
| McKenzie Hill | 1058 | 78 |
| Barkers Creek | 1055.9 | 77 |
| Muckleford | 1046.7 | 70 |
| Barfold | 1045.3 | 69 |
| Langley | 1045.3 | 69 |
| Metcalfe | 1045.3 | 69 |
| Metcalfe East | 1045.3 | 69 |
| Fryerstown | 1043 | 68 |
| Glenluce | 1043 | 68 |
| Irishtown (Vic.) | 1043 | 68 |
| Vaughan | 1043 | 68 |
| Werona (part) | 1041 | 67 |
| Green Gully (Vic.) | 1040.1 | 66 |
| Joyces Creek (part) | 1040.1 | 66 |
| Muckleford South | 1039.3 | 66 |
| Yapeen | 1039.3 | 66 |
| Sandon (Vic.) | 1038.1 | 65 |
| Strathlea (part) | 1038.1 | 65 |
| Yandoit Hills | 1038.1 | 65 |
| Chewton Bushlands | 1038 | 65 |
| Golden Point (Mount Alexander - Vic.) | 1038 | 65 |
| Moonlight Flat (Mount Alexander - Vic.) | 1038 | 65 |
| Strangways (part) | 1036.9 | 64 |
| Campbelltown (Vic.) (part) | 1036.4 | 64 |
| Tarilta (part) | 1034.2 | 62 |
| Baringhup | 1034 | 62 |
| Baringhup West | 1034 | 62 |
| Neereman | 1034 | 62 |
| Tarrengower | 1034 | 62 |
| Faraday | 1033.7 | 62 |
| Taradale (Vic.) (part) | 1033.6 | 62 |
| Elphinstone (Vic.) | 1027.5 | 58 |
| Sutton Grange | 1022.2 | 55 |
| Gower | 1015.4 | 51 |
| Welshmans Reef | 1015.4 | 51 |
| Walmer (Vic.) | 1015.3 | 51 |
| Campbells Creek | 1012.8 | 49 |
| Chewton | 1007.7 | 46 |
| Harcourt | 997.2 | 41 |
| Newstead (Vic.) | 997 | 40 |
| Maldon (Vic.) | 995.8 | 40 |
| Bradford | 987.3 | 35 |
| Nuggetty | 987.3 | 35 |
| Guildford (Vic.) (part) | 986.2 | 34 |
| Castlemaine | 985.5 | 34 |