Tenterfield · Council (LGA)
How well-off the area is, how fast its population is growing, and the businesses and new homes here.
A score of 903 for overall advantage puts Tenterfield well below the national average. The area faces significant hurdles with access to money and resources, though its population has grown by 5.7% since the last census.
All council (lga) areas, 2021. The marker is Tenterfield — lower than 86% of areas.
SEIFA indexes ranking relative advantage and disadvantage.
Residents have limited access to money and job skills, with an overall advantage score that is smaller than about 82% of other areas. This reflects a high level of disadvantage compared to the rest of the country.
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.
2
Lower 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.
4
Lower than 64% 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.
903
Lower than 82% 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.
Tenterfield has seen a population increase of 5.7%, which is higher than most similar areas and about the same as the New South Wales figure of 6.1%.
7,188
Lower than 63% of council (lga) areas.
Estimated resident population (ABS), 2025.
5.7%
Higher than 68% of council (lga) areas.
Population growth since the 2021 Census, from ABS annual estimates.
Operating businesses and dwellings approved.
There are 1,014 businesses operating in the area. Recent growth is modest, with 31 new dwellings approved, a figure smaller than about 57% of similar areas.
1,014
Lower than 57% of council (lga) areas.
Operating businesses (ABS Counts of Australian Businesses), June 2025.
31
Lower than 58% of council (lga) areas.
Dwelling units approved in 2024-25 (ABS Building Approvals).
Australian Bureau of Statistics. (2021). Economy & Advantage in Tenterfield [Census of Population and Housing]. CensusAtlas, used under CC BY 4.0. https://censusatlas.au/region/lga/LGA17400/tenterfield/topic/economy-advantage
