Greater Bendigo · 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 4.4% is well below the Victorian average of 8.0% in Greater Bendigo. While the area is larger than most similar regions in terms of population and business, its overall advantage score of 959 sits slightly below the national average.
All council (lga) areas, 2021. The marker is Greater Bendigo — higher than 57% of areas.
SEIFA indexes ranking relative advantage and disadvantage.
The area scores a 7 for education and job skills, which is higher than about 70% of similar regions. Its overall advantage and access to resources both sit at 6, placing it above about 60% of comparable areas.
6
Higher 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.
6
Higher 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.
6
Higher 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.
7
Higher 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.
959
Higher than 55% 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.
With 126,568 people, Greater Bendigo is larger than about 87% of areas at its level. However, its recent population growth of 4.4% is well below the Victorian figure of 8.0%.
126,568
Higher than 86% of council (lga) areas.
Estimated resident population (ABS), 2025.
4.4%
Higher than 57% of council (lga) areas.
Population growth since the 2021 Census, from ABS annual estimates.
Operating businesses and dwellings approved.
Business activity is high here, with 9,171 businesses and 900 approved dwellings, both of which are higher than about 84% to 90% of similar areas.
9,171
Higher than 82% of council (lga) areas.
Operating businesses (ABS Counts of Australian Businesses), June 2025.
900
Higher than 86% of council (lga) areas.
Dwelling units approved in 2024-25 (ABS Building Approvals).
Australian Bureau of Statistics. (2021). Economy & Advantage in Greater Bendigo [Census of Population and Housing]. CensusAtlas, used under CC BY 4.0. https://censusatlas.au/region/lga/LGA22620/greater-bendigo/topic/economy-advantage
