Northern Grampians · Council (LGA)
How well-off the area is, how fast its population is growing, and the businesses and new homes here.
Daily life in Northern Grampians is shaped by a struggle for resources, with an overall advantage score of 921. This is smaller than about 74% of similar areas, reflecting a region where many residents face a lack of financial and educational opportunities.
All council (lga) areas, 2021. The marker is Northern Grampians — lower than 71% of areas.
SEIFA indexes ranking relative advantage and disadvantage.
Residents often struggle with a lack of money and job skills, both scoring 3 out of 10. These figures are smaller than about 70% of similar areas, which is consistent with the region's overall disadvantage score of 4.
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.
3
Lower than 71% 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.
921
Lower than 73% 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 shrunk by 0.7% since 2021. This is much lower than most areas and well below the Victorian growth rate of 8.0%.
11,804
Lower than 53% of council (lga) areas.
Estimated resident population (ABS), 2025.
-0.7%
Lower than 89% of council (lga) areas.
Population growth since the 2021 Census, from ABS annual estimates.
Operating businesses and dwellings approved.
There are 1,197 businesses in the area, which is smaller than about 53% of similar regions. This slow commercial activity is mirrored in building trends, with only 39 new dwellings approved.
1,197
Lower than 54% of council (lga) areas.
Operating businesses (ABS Counts of Australian Businesses), June 2025.
39
Lower than 55% of council (lga) areas.
Dwelling units approved in 2024-25 (ABS Building Approvals).
Australian Bureau of Statistics. (2021). Economy & Advantage in Northern Grampians [Census of Population and Housing]. CensusAtlas, used under CC BY 4.0. https://censusatlas.au/region/lga/LGA25810/northern-grampians/topic/economy-advantage
