Snowy Valleys · Council (LGA)
How well-off the area is, how fast its population is growing, and the businesses and new homes here.
A significant gap exists between Snowy Valleys and the rest of the state, as population growth has remained well below the New South Wales average. With a population of 15,058, the area faces challenges in overall advantage and job skills compared to most other regions.
All council (lga) areas, 2021. The marker is Snowy Valleys — lower than 71% of areas.
SEIFA indexes ranking relative advantage and disadvantage.
The area has a low overall advantage score of 923, which is smaller than about 72% of similar areas. This is reflected in education and job skills, which rank lower than about 70% of other regions.
3
Lower than 71% 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.
4
Lower than 64% 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.
5
Lower than 57% 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.
3
Lower than 71% 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.
923
Lower than 72% 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 has been slow, rising by just 1.1% since 2021. This is much lower than most areas and well below the New South Wales figure of 6.1%.
15,058
Higher than 51% of council (lga) areas.
Estimated resident population (ABS), 2025.
1.1%
Lower than 77% of council (lga) areas.
Population growth since the 2021 Census, from ABS annual estimates.
Operating businesses and dwellings approved.
There are 1,663 businesses operating in the region. However, the number of approved dwellings is low, with only 26 approved, a figure smaller than about 61% of similar areas.
1,663
Higher than 54% of council (lga) areas.
Operating businesses (ABS Counts of Australian Businesses), June 2025.
26
Lower than 61% of council (lga) areas.
Dwelling units approved in 2024-25 (ABS Building Approvals).
Australian Bureau of Statistics. (2021). Economy & Advantage in Snowy Valleys [Census of Population and Housing]. CensusAtlas, used under CC BY 4.0. https://censusatlas.au/region/lga/LGA17080/snowy-valleys/topic/economy-advantage
