Swan Hill · Council (LGA)
How well-off the area is, how fast its population is growing, and the businesses and new homes here.
More than 2,600 businesses operate in Swan Hill, making it a significant commercial hub for its region. While the area has a solid business base, overall financial advantage is lower than the national figure.
All council (lga) areas, 2021. The marker is Swan Hill — lower than 64% of areas.
SEIFA indexes ranking relative advantage and disadvantage.
The area has a typical advantage score of 927, which is lower than about 69% of similar areas. This is reflected in lower scores for both job skills and access to money and resources compared to most of the country.
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.
3
Lower than 71% 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.
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.
927
Lower than 70% 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.
A population of 20,962 lives here, but the area has seen a 2.0% drop since 2021. This decline is among the lowest for similar areas and sits well below the 8.0% growth seen across Victoria.
20,962
Higher than 58% of council (lga) areas.
Estimated resident population (ABS), 2025.
-2.0%
Lower than 95% of council (lga) areas.
Population growth since the 2021 Census, from ABS annual estimates.
Operating businesses and dwellings approved.
Business activity is relatively strong with 2,638 companies, which is more than about 64% of similar areas. There were also 61 new dwellings approved, a figure larger than about 55% of comparable regions.
2,638
Higher than 62% of council (lga) areas.
Operating businesses (ABS Counts of Australian Businesses), June 2025.
61
Higher than 52% of council (lga) areas.
Dwelling units approved in 2024-25 (ABS Building Approvals).
Australian Bureau of Statistics. (2021). Economy & Advantage in Swan Hill [Census of Population and Housing]. CensusAtlas, used under CC BY 4.0. https://censusatlas.au/region/lga/LGA26610/swan-hill/topic/economy-advantage
