Richmond Valley · Council (LGA)
How well-off the area is, how fast its population is growing, and the businesses and new homes here.
A low overall advantage score of 892 marks Richmond Valley as an area facing significant socio-economic challenges. The region struggles with limited access to money and resources, making it less advantaged than the vast majority of Australian areas.
All council (lga) areas, 2021. The marker is Richmond Valley — lower than 86% of areas.
SEIFA indexes ranking relative advantage and disadvantage.
The area ranks very low for education and job skills, scoring just 1 out of 10. This contributes to an overall advantage score that is smaller than about 86% of other 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.
4
Lower than 64% 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.
1
Lower than 99% 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.
892
Lower than 86% 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.
Population growth since 2021 has been 1.9%, which is lower than most areas and well below the New South Wales figure of 6.1%.
24,044
Higher than 60% of council (lga) areas.
Estimated resident population (ABS), 2025.
1.9%
Lower than 68% of council (lga) areas.
Population growth since the 2021 Census, from ABS annual estimates.
Operating businesses and dwellings approved.
There are 1,945 businesses in the region, a count that is larger than about 58% of similar areas. Recent building activity is also steady, with 61 dwellings approved.
1,945
Higher than 58% of council (lga) areas.
Operating businesses (ABS Counts of Australian Businesses), June 2025.
61
Higher than 52% of council (lga) areas.
Dwelling units approved in 2024-25 (ABS Building Approvals).
Australian Bureau of Statistics. (2021). Economy & Advantage in Richmond Valley [Census of Population and Housing]. CensusAtlas, used under CC BY 4.0. https://censusatlas.au/region/lga/LGA16610/richmond-valley/topic/economy-advantage
