Somerset · Council (LGA)
How well-off the area is, how fast its population is growing, and the businesses and new homes here.
A gap in overall advantage marks Somerset, where the typical score of 913 is lower than about 78% of similar areas. While residents have relatively good access to money and resources, this is offset by a significant lack of formal education and job skills.
All council (lga) areas, 2021. The marker is Somerset — lower than 71% of areas.
SEIFA indexes ranking relative advantage and disadvantage.
Education and job skills are a major challenge here, scoring only 2 out of 10, which is lower than about 80% of similar areas. This contributes to an overall advantage score that is lower than most of the country.
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.
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.
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.
2
Lower than 86% 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.
913
Lower than 77% 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 6.1% since 2021, a rate higher than most areas, though it remains a little below the Queensland figure of 8.7%.
26,936
Higher than 62% of council (lga) areas.
Estimated resident population (ABS), 2025.
6.1%
Higher than 71% of council (lga) areas.
Population growth since the 2021 Census, from ABS annual estimates.
Operating businesses and dwellings approved.
There are 2,382 businesses operating in the region, a count larger than about 62% of similar areas. This activity is mirrored in the building sector, with 144 approved dwellings, which is larger than about 66% of similar areas.
2,382
Higher than 60% of council (lga) areas.
Operating businesses (ABS Counts of Australian Businesses), June 2025.
144
Higher than 64% of council (lga) areas.
Dwelling units approved in 2024-25 (ABS Building Approvals).
Australian Bureau of Statistics. (2021). Economy & Advantage in Somerset [Census of Population and Housing]. CensusAtlas, used under CC BY 4.0. https://censusatlas.au/region/lga/LGA36580/somerset/topic/economy-advantage
