Upper Hunter Shire · Council (LGA)
How well-off the area is, how fast its population is growing, and the businesses and new homes here.
A typical advantage score of 943 means Upper Hunter Shire sits just below the national average for wealth and opportunity. While half of all Australian areas are less advantaged, the region faces a gap in education and job skills. This mix creates a local economy where access to money is relatively common, but formal qualifications are less so.
All council (lga) areas, 2021. The marker is Upper Hunter Shire — lower than 57% of areas.
SEIFA indexes ranking relative advantage and disadvantage.
Residents have a fair amount of money and resources, scoring 7 out of 10, which is higher than about 70% of similar areas. However, education and job skills are much lower, with a score of 3 that is smaller than about 70% of areas at this level.
5
Lower than 57% 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.
5
Lower than 57% 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.
7
Higher 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.
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.
943
Lower than 59% 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 by 1.2% since 2021, which is lower than most areas. This increase is well below the New South Wales figure of 6.1%.
14,425
Higher than 50% of council (lga) areas.
Estimated resident population (ABS), 2025.
1.2%
Lower than 76% of council (lga) areas.
Population growth since the 2021 Census, from ABS annual estimates.
Operating businesses and dwellings approved.
There are 1,928 businesses operating across the shire. Local development continues with 45 new dwellings approved, a figure that is larger than about 50% of similar areas.
1,928
Higher than 58% of council (lga) areas.
Operating businesses (ABS Counts of Australian Businesses), June 2025.
45
Lower than 53% of council (lga) areas.
Dwelling units approved in 2024-25 (ABS Building Approvals).
Australian Bureau of Statistics. (2021). Economy & Advantage in Upper Hunter Shire [Census of Population and Housing]. CensusAtlas, used under CC BY 4.0. https://censusatlas.au/region/lga/LGA17620/upper-hunter-shire/topic/economy-advantage
