Victor Harbor · Council (LGA)
How well-off the area is, how fast its population is growing, and the businesses and new homes here.
Over 17,000 people now call Victor Harbor home, with the population growing faster than most similar areas. While the region has seen a surge in new building approvals, it generally faces more challenges with money and education than the majority of Australian regions.
All council (lga) areas, 2021. The marker is Victor Harbor — lower than 71% of areas.
SEIFA indexes ranking relative advantage and disadvantage.
The area has lower overall advantage than about 70% of other areas, with a typical score of 927. This is reflected in access to money and job skills, both of which are smaller than about 60% of similar regions.
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.
4
Lower 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.
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.
Population has grown by 6.3% since 2021, a rate higher than most areas and slightly above the South Australian figure of 5.6%.
17,457
Higher than 55% of council (lga) areas.
Estimated resident population (ABS), 2025.
6.3%
Higher than 72% of council (lga) areas.
Population growth since the 2021 Census, from ABS annual estimates.
Operating businesses and dwellings approved.
There are 1,156 businesses operating here. At the same time, the area is seeing significant expansion with 351 new dwellings approved, a figure larger than about 79% of similar areas.
1,156
Lower than 54% of council (lga) areas.
Operating businesses (ABS Counts of Australian Businesses), June 2025.
351
Higher than 76% of council (lga) areas.
Dwelling units approved in 2024-25 (ABS Building Approvals).
Australian Bureau of Statistics. (2021). Economy & Advantage in Victor Harbor [Census of Population and Housing]. CensusAtlas, used under CC BY 4.0. https://censusatlas.au/region/lga/LGA48050/victor-harbor/topic/economy-advantage
