Inverell · Council (LGA)
How well-off the area is, how fast its population is growing, and the businesses and new homes here.
A modest 1.3% population increase since 2021 shows that Inverell is growing much slower than the rest of the state. While the area supports 1,760 businesses, it generally faces more social and economic challenges than most similar regions.
All council (lga) areas, 2021. The marker is Inverell — lower than 86% of areas.
SEIFA indexes ranking relative advantage and disadvantage.
Inverell scores low for overall advantage and job skills, with the typical resident having less access to money and resources than about 80% of people in similar areas.
2
Lower 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.
2
Lower 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.
3
Lower than 71% 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.
2
Lower 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.
906
Lower than 81% 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 has grown to 18,152, though the recent growth rate is well below the New South Wales figure of 6.1%.
18,152
Higher than 56% of council (lga) areas.
Estimated resident population (ABS), 2025.
1.3%
Lower than 74% of council (lga) areas.
Population growth since the 2021 Census, from ABS annual estimates.
Operating businesses and dwellings approved.
There are 1,760 businesses operating in the area, but only 23 new dwellings were approved, which is a smaller number than about 62% of similar places.
1,760
Higher than 56% of council (lga) areas.
Operating businesses (ABS Counts of Australian Businesses), June 2025.
23
Lower than 63% of council (lga) areas.
Dwelling units approved in 2024-25 (ABS Building Approvals).
Australian Bureau of Statistics. (2021). Economy & Advantage in Inverell [Census of Population and Housing]. CensusAtlas, used under CC BY 4.0. https://censusatlas.au/region/lga/LGA14220/inverell/topic/economy-advantage
