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, Townsville (C)'s Index of Relative Socio-economic Disadvantage (IRSD) score was 989.6, placing it in the 59th percentile nationally. Within Townsville (C), scores ranged from Garbutt to Mount Stuart (Qld).
View
989.6
Townsville (C) IRSD score
59th percentile nationally
1126
Highest local score
Mount Stuart (Qld)
836.7
Lowest local score
Garbutt
Chart view
SEIFA – disadvantage across Queensland LGAs
Compare the selected index across Queensland LGAs with the current municipality highlighted.
Weipa (T)
1058.1
Brisbane (C)
1045.2
Noosa (S)
1029.5
Redland (C)
1023.9
Sunshine Coast (R)
1021.7
Gold Coast (C)
1018.6
McKinlay (S)
1014
Isaac (R)
1012
Richmond (S)
1009.2
Livingstone (S)
1004.8
Longreach (R)
1002.7
Barcaldine (R)
1002.1
Mackay (R)
999.3
Quilpie (S)
997.9
Central Highlands (R) (Qld)
995.7
Maranoa (R)
995.2
Winton (S)
993.3
Moreton Bay (R)
991.8
Banana (S)
991.6
Townsville (C)
989.6
Bulloo (S)
989.6
Barcoo (S)
987.9
Scenic Rim (R)
985.8
Etheridge (S)
982.4
Cairns (R)
981.1
Toowoomba (R)
979.4
Douglas (S)
978.9
Mount Isa (C)
971.9
Flinders (S) (Qld)
970.1
Whitsunday (R)
969.4
Burdekin (S)
965.8
Cloncurry (S)
965.1
Goondiwindi (R)
965
Blackall-Tambo (R)
961.1
Ipswich (C)
957.9
Tablelands (R)
955.3
Gladstone (R)
954.1
Hinchinbrook (S)
953.7
Diamantina (S)
951.8
Rockhampton (R)
948.8
Murweh (S)
948.4
Lockyer Valley (R)
948
Western Downs (R)
946
Logan (C)
944
Somerset (R)
943.9
Balonne (S)
943.5
Burke (S)
941.3
Southern Downs (R)
938.9
Mareeba (S)
937.4
Charters Towers (R)
933.3
Gympie (R)
930.5
Cassowary Coast (R)
929.4
Bundaberg (R)
924.5
Fraser Coast (R)
914.8
Cook (S)
913
South Burnett (R)
907
Torres (S)
904.3
North Burnett (R)
902.5
Boulia (S)
877.5
Croydon (S)
875.5
Paroo (S)
865.7
Carpentaria (S)
850.8
Northern Peninsula Area (R)
702.1
Torres Strait Island (R)
649.5
Hope Vale (S)
630.8
Napranum (S)
623.2
Lockhart River (S)
621.6
Mornington (S)
609
Palm Island (S)
566.9
Mapoon (S)
566.8
Pormpuraaw (S)
547.2
Doomadgee (S)
533.8
Kowanyama (S)
528.1
Yarrabah (S)
512.5
Wujal Wujal (S)
510.3
Aurukun (S)
501.5
Cherbourg (S)
498.1
Woorabinda (S)
492.5
Data table
SEIFA – disadvantage across Queensland LGAs table
Download the underlying SEIFA scores and percentiles shown in the current view.
| Area | Score | Percentile |
|---|---|---|
| Weipa (T) | 1058.1 | 92 |
| Brisbane (C) | 1045.2 | 89 |
| Noosa (S) | 1029.5 | 83 |
| Redland (C) | 1023.9 | 80 |
| Sunshine Coast (R) | 1021.7 | 78 |
| Gold Coast (C) | 1018.6 | 77 |
| McKinlay (S) | 1014 | 75 |
| Isaac (R) | 1012 | 74 |
| Richmond (S) | 1009.2 | 73 |
| Livingstone (S) | 1004.8 | 70 |
| Longreach (R) | 1002.7 | 69 |
| Barcaldine (R) | 1002.1 | 68 |
| Mackay (R) | 999.3 | 67 |
| Quilpie (S) | 997.9 | 66 |
| Central Highlands (R) (Qld) | 995.7 | 64 |
| Maranoa (R) | 995.2 | 64 |
| Winton (S) | 993.3 | 62 |
| Moreton Bay (R) | 991.8 | 61 |
| Banana (S) | 991.6 | 61 |
| Townsville (C) | 989.6 | 59 |
| Bulloo (S) | 989.6 | 59 |
| Barcoo (S) | 987.9 | 57 |
| Scenic Rim (R) | 985.8 | 55 |
| Etheridge (S) | 982.4 | 53 |
| Cairns (R) | 981.1 | 52 |
| Toowoomba (R) | 979.4 | 51 |
| Douglas (S) | 978.9 | 51 |
| Mount Isa (C) | 971.9 | 45 |
| Flinders (S) (Qld) | 970.1 | 44 |
| Whitsunday (R) | 969.4 | 44 |
| Burdekin (S) | 965.8 | 42 |
| Cloncurry (S) | 965.1 | 41 |
| Goondiwindi (R) | 965 | 40 |
| Blackall-Tambo (R) | 961.1 | 38 |
| Ipswich (C) | 957.9 | 35 |
| Tablelands (R) | 955.3 | 34 |
| Gladstone (R) | 954.1 | 33 |
| Hinchinbrook (S) | 953.7 | 33 |
| Diamantina (S) | 951.8 | 31 |
| Rockhampton (R) | 948.8 | 30 |
| Murweh (S) | 948.4 | 29 |
| Lockyer Valley (R) | 948 | 29 |
| Western Downs (R) | 946 | 28 |
| Logan (C) | 944 | 27 |
| Somerset (R) | 943.9 | 27 |
| Balonne (S) | 943.5 | 26 |
| Burke (S) | 941.3 | 25 |
| Southern Downs (R) | 938.9 | 23 |
| Mareeba (S) | 937.4 | 23 |
| Charters Towers (R) | 933.3 | 22 |
| Gympie (R) | 930.5 | 21 |
| Cassowary Coast (R) | 929.4 | 21 |
| Bundaberg (R) | 924.5 | 19 |
| Fraser Coast (R) | 914.8 | 17 |
| Cook (S) | 913 | 16 |
| South Burnett (R) | 907 | 14 |
| Torres (S) | 904.3 | 13 |
| North Burnett (R) | 902.5 | 13 |
| Boulia (S) | 877.5 | 10 |
| Croydon (S) | 875.5 | 10 |
| Paroo (S) | 865.7 | 9 |
| Carpentaria (S) | 850.8 | 8 |
| Northern Peninsula Area (R) | 702.1 | 6 |
| Torres Strait Island (R) | 649.5 | 6 |
| Hope Vale (S) | 630.8 | 5 |
| Napranum (S) | 623.2 | 5 |
| Lockhart River (S) | 621.6 | 5 |
| Mornington (S) | 609 | 5 |
| Palm Island (S) | 566.9 | 4 |
| Mapoon (S) | 566.8 | 4 |
| Pormpuraaw (S) | 547.2 | 4 |
| Doomadgee (S) | 533.8 | 3 |
| Kowanyama (S) | 528.1 | 3 |
| Yarrabah (S) | 512.5 | 2 |
| Wujal Wujal (S) | 510.3 | 2 |
| Aurukun (S) | 501.5 | 2 |
| Cherbourg (S) | 498.1 | 2 |
| Woorabinda (S) | 492.5 | 1 |
Chart view
Variation within Townsville (C)
See the spread of scores across smaller areas within the municipality.
Mount Stuart (Qld)
1126
Percentile 100
Castle Hill (Qld)
1120.8
Percentile 100
West Point
1120.6
Percentile 100
Idalia
1088.9
Percentile 93
Gumlow
1085.6
Percentile 92
Bohle Plains
1082.4
Percentile 91
Pallarenda
1078.7
Percentile 89
Rangewood
1076.9
Percentile 88
Brookhill
1076.4
Percentile 88
Julago
1076.4
Percentile 88
Toonpan
1076.4
Percentile 88
Alice River
1067.6
Percentile 84
Alligator Creek (Townsville - Qld)
1067.5
Percentile 84
Townsville City
1063.6
Percentile 81
Burdell
1062
Percentile 80
Douglas (Townsville - Qld)
1061.5
Percentile 80
Annandale (Qld)
1054.8
Percentile 76
Bushland Beach
1048.8
Percentile 72
Shaw
1044
Percentile 69
Mount Low
1041.8
Percentile 67
Jensen
1039.8
Percentile 66
Pinnacles
1028.5
Percentile 59
Mount Louisa
1028.3
Percentile 59
Rowes Bay
1022.9
Percentile 55
Belgian Gardens
1022
Percentile 55
Mysterton
1021.9
Percentile 55
Oak Valley (Qld)
1021.4
Percentile 54
Black River (Qld)
1019.3
Percentile 53
Bluewater Park
1015.3
Percentile 51
Cape Cleveland
1014.1
Percentile 50
North Ward
1011.9
Percentile 49
Majors Creek (Qld) (part)
1010.1
Percentile 48
Barringha
1007.6
Percentile 46
Calcium
1007.6
Percentile 46
Granite Vale
1007.6
Percentile 46
Woodstock (Qld)
1007.6
Percentile 46
Nome
1005.3
Percentile 45
Bohle
1000.5
Percentile 42
Cosgrove (Qld)
1000.5
Percentile 42
Mount St John
1000.5
Percentile 42
Arcadia (Qld)
999.8
Percentile 42
Bluewater
995.3
Percentile 40
South Townsville
993
Percentile 38
Railway Estate
991.9
Percentile 37
Reid River (part)
991.1
Percentile 37
Mundingburra
983.1
Percentile 33
Nelly Bay
982.9
Percentile 32
Clemant
981.2
Percentile 32
Lynam
981.2
Percentile 32
Thuringowa Central
980.8
Percentile 32
Oonoonba
979.9
Percentile 31
Rosslea
979.3
Percentile 31
Horseshoe Bay
978
Percentile 30
Cluden
977.2
Percentile 30
Toomulla
977.1
Percentile 30
Cungulla
974.9
Percentile 29
Kirwan
972.1
Percentile 28
Paluma (part)
967.4
Percentile 26
West End (Townsville - Qld)
966.4
Percentile 25
Wulguru
958.8
Percentile 22
Cranbrook (Qld)
949.5
Percentile 19
Currajong
948
Percentile 19
Hermit Park
945.3
Percentile 18
Picnic Bay
945.1
Percentile 18
Gulliver
944.9
Percentile 18
Hyde Park (Qld)
942.5
Percentile 17
Toolakea
940.5
Percentile 17
Saunders Beach
940.2
Percentile 17
Kelso (Qld)
937.2
Percentile 16
Deeragun
934.7
Percentile 16
Yabulu
934.4
Percentile 15
Condon
927.4
Percentile 14
Crystal Creek (Qld)
920.5
Percentile 12
Mutarnee
920.5
Percentile 12
Rollingstone
920.5
Percentile 12
Beach Holm
919.3
Percentile 12
Aitkenvale
915.7
Percentile 11
Balgal Beach
898.7
Percentile 9
Roseneath
898.6
Percentile 9
Rasmussen
896.4
Percentile 9
Pimlico (Qld)
893.8
Percentile 8
Heatley
892
Percentile 8
Stuart (Qld)
890.5
Percentile 8
Vincent
862.6
Percentile 5
Garbutt
836.7
Percentile 4
Data table
Variation within Townsville (C) table
Download the underlying SEIFA scores and percentiles shown in the current view.
| Area | Score | Percentile |
|---|---|---|
| Mount Stuart (Qld) | 1126 | 100 |
| Castle Hill (Qld) | 1120.8 | 100 |
| West Point | 1120.6 | 100 |
| Idalia | 1088.9 | 93 |
| Gumlow | 1085.6 | 92 |
| Bohle Plains | 1082.4 | 91 |
| Pallarenda | 1078.7 | 89 |
| Rangewood | 1076.9 | 88 |
| Brookhill | 1076.4 | 88 |
| Julago | 1076.4 | 88 |
| Toonpan | 1076.4 | 88 |
| Alice River | 1067.6 | 84 |
| Alligator Creek (Townsville - Qld) | 1067.5 | 84 |
| Townsville City | 1063.6 | 81 |
| Burdell | 1062 | 80 |
| Douglas (Townsville - Qld) | 1061.5 | 80 |
| Annandale (Qld) | 1054.8 | 76 |
| Bushland Beach | 1048.8 | 72 |
| Shaw | 1044 | 69 |
| Mount Low | 1041.8 | 67 |
| Jensen | 1039.8 | 66 |
| Pinnacles | 1028.5 | 59 |
| Mount Louisa | 1028.3 | 59 |
| Rowes Bay | 1022.9 | 55 |
| Belgian Gardens | 1022 | 55 |
| Mysterton | 1021.9 | 55 |
| Oak Valley (Qld) | 1021.4 | 54 |
| Black River (Qld) | 1019.3 | 53 |
| Bluewater Park | 1015.3 | 51 |
| Cape Cleveland | 1014.1 | 50 |
| North Ward | 1011.9 | 49 |
| Majors Creek (Qld) (part) | 1010.1 | 48 |
| Barringha | 1007.6 | 46 |
| Calcium | 1007.6 | 46 |
| Granite Vale | 1007.6 | 46 |
| Woodstock (Qld) | 1007.6 | 46 |
| Nome | 1005.3 | 45 |
| Bohle | 1000.5 | 42 |
| Cosgrove (Qld) | 1000.5 | 42 |
| Mount St John | 1000.5 | 42 |
| Arcadia (Qld) | 999.8 | 42 |
| Bluewater | 995.3 | 40 |
| South Townsville | 993 | 38 |
| Railway Estate | 991.9 | 37 |
| Reid River (part) | 991.1 | 37 |
| Mundingburra | 983.1 | 33 |
| Nelly Bay | 982.9 | 32 |
| Clemant | 981.2 | 32 |
| Lynam | 981.2 | 32 |
| Thuringowa Central | 980.8 | 32 |
| Oonoonba | 979.9 | 31 |
| Rosslea | 979.3 | 31 |
| Horseshoe Bay | 978 | 30 |
| Cluden | 977.2 | 30 |
| Toomulla | 977.1 | 30 |
| Cungulla | 974.9 | 29 |
| Kirwan | 972.1 | 28 |
| Paluma (part) | 967.4 | 26 |
| West End (Townsville - Qld) | 966.4 | 25 |
| Wulguru | 958.8 | 22 |
| Cranbrook (Qld) | 949.5 | 19 |
| Currajong | 948 | 19 |
| Hermit Park | 945.3 | 18 |
| Picnic Bay | 945.1 | 18 |
| Gulliver | 944.9 | 18 |
| Hyde Park (Qld) | 942.5 | 17 |
| Toolakea | 940.5 | 17 |
| Saunders Beach | 940.2 | 17 |
| Kelso (Qld) | 937.2 | 16 |
| Deeragun | 934.7 | 16 |
| Yabulu | 934.4 | 15 |
| Condon | 927.4 | 14 |
| Crystal Creek (Qld) | 920.5 | 12 |
| Mutarnee | 920.5 | 12 |
| Rollingstone | 920.5 | 12 |
| Beach Holm | 919.3 | 12 |
| Aitkenvale | 915.7 | 11 |
| Balgal Beach | 898.7 | 9 |
| Roseneath | 898.6 | 9 |
| Rasmussen | 896.4 | 9 |
| Pimlico (Qld) | 893.8 | 8 |
| Heatley | 892 | 8 |
| Stuart (Qld) | 890.5 | 8 |
| Vincent | 862.6 | 5 |
| Garbutt | 836.7 | 4 |