Benalla · Council (LGA)
How well-off the area is, how fast its population is growing, and the businesses and new homes here.
A growth rate of just 1% puts Benalla well behind the Victorian average of 8%. While the area maintains a steady business presence, its overall advantage score of 938 is lower than the national figure.
All council (lga) areas, 2021. The marker is Benalla — lower than 64% of areas.
SEIFA indexes ranking relative advantage and disadvantage.
The area's overall advantage score is lower than about 62% of similar places. While education and job skills are higher than 60% of comparable areas, access to money and resources is closer to the middle of the pack.
4
Lower than 64% 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.
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.
6
Higher than 57% 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.
938
Lower than 62% 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 only 1.0% since 2021, which is much lower than most areas and well below the Victorian rate.
14,581
Higher than 51% of council (lga) areas.
Estimated resident population (ABS), 2025.
1.0%
Lower than 77% of council (lga) areas.
Population growth since the 2021 Census, from ABS annual estimates.
Operating businesses and dwellings approved.
Benalla has 1,590 businesses and 122 approved dwellings, both of which are higher than about 60% of similar areas.
1,590
Higher than 53% of council (lga) areas.
Operating businesses (ABS Counts of Australian Businesses), June 2025.
122
Higher than 62% of council (lga) areas.
Dwelling units approved in 2024-25 (ABS Building Approvals).
Australian Bureau of Statistics. (2021). Economy & Advantage in Benalla [Census of Population and Housing]. CensusAtlas, used under CC BY 4.0. https://censusatlas.au/region/lga/LGA21010/benalla/topic/economy-advantage
