Blue Mountains · Council (LGA)
How well-off the area is, how fast its population is growing, and the businesses and new homes here.
A typical score of 1,042 puts Blue Mountains in a much more advantaged position than about 87% of similar areas. This is a highly resourceful region where residents generally have a high level of education and professional skills. While it is wealthy, the population has remained relatively stable recently.
All council (lga) areas, 2021. The marker is Blue Mountains — higher than 86% of areas.
SEIFA indexes ranking relative advantage and disadvantage.
The area is very advantaged, scoring 9 out of 10 for both access to resources and job skills. This puts it ahead of about 90% of similar areas across the country.
9
Higher than 86% of council (lga) areas.
ABS Index of Relative Socio-economic Advantage and Disadvantage, 2021, as a national decile: 1 = among the 10% most disadvantaged areas in Australia, 10 = among the 10% most advantaged. IRSAD summarises both advantage and disadvantage, so a high score reflects relatively many high-income, well-educated households and few low-income, low-skill ones.
9
Higher than 86% of council (lga) areas.
ABS Index of Relative Socio-economic Disadvantage, 2021, as a national decile: 1 = among the 10% most disadvantaged areas in Australia, 10 = among the least disadvantaged. IRSD focuses on disadvantage alone (low income, low education, unemployment, unskilled occupations), so a higher decile means relatively less disadvantage.
9
Higher than 86% of council (lga) areas.
ABS Index of Economic Resources, 2021, as a national decile: 1 = among the 10% lowest areas for economic resources in Australia, 10 = among the highest. IER reflects the income, housing costs, dwelling size and assets of households, so a higher decile means relatively greater economic resources.
9
Higher than 86% of council (lga) areas.
ABS Index of Education and Occupation, 2021, as a national decile: 1 = among the 10% lowest areas for education and occupation in Australia, 10 = among the highest. IEO reflects residents' qualifications and the skill level of their jobs, so a higher decile means a more highly educated and skilled workforce.
1,042
Higher than 87% of council (lga) areas.
ABS Index of Relative Socio-economic Advantage and Disadvantage, 2021, as a raw index score (standardised so the Australian average is about 1000). Higher scores indicate relatively greater advantage; lower scores greater disadvantage.
Annual population estimates and change since the census.
The population reached 79,236 people, but growth since 2021 has been just 1.1%. This is much lower than most areas and well below the New South Wales rate of 6.1%.
79,236
Higher than 79% of council (lga) areas.
Estimated resident population (ABS), 2025.
1.1%
Lower than 76% of council (lga) areas.
Population growth since the 2021 Census, from ABS annual estimates.
Operating businesses and dwellings approved.
There are 5,689 businesses operating here, which is more than about 78% of similar areas. There were also 115 new dwellings approved, a figure higher than about 61% of similar areas.
5,689
Higher than 75% of council (lga) areas.
Operating businesses (ABS Counts of Australian Businesses), June 2025.
115
Higher than 61% of council (lga) areas.
Dwelling units approved in 2024-25 (ABS Building Approvals).
Australian Bureau of Statistics. (2021). Economy & Advantage in Blue Mountains [Census of Population and Housing]. CensusAtlas, used under CC BY 4.0. https://censusatlas.au/region/lga/LGA10900/blue-mountains/topic/economy-advantage
