Melville · Council (LGA)
How well-off the area is, how fast its population is growing, and the businesses and new homes here.
A top-tier score of 10 for overall advantage puts Melville among the most prosperous areas in the country. This high standing is driven by a combination of excellent job skills and strong access to money and resources. The area's wealth is matched by steady expansion and a large business presence.
All council (lga) areas, 2021. The marker is Melville — higher than 99% of areas.
SEIFA indexes ranking relative advantage and disadvantage.
Residents here enjoy a very high level of advantage, with scores for education, job skills, and financial resources all hitting the maximum level of 10. The typical advantage score of 1,081 is among the largest at this level and sits above the national average.
10
Higher than 99% 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.
10
Higher than 99% 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.
10
Higher than 99% 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.
10
Higher than 99% 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.
1,081
Higher than 91% 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 8.5% since 2021, which is much higher than most similar areas. This growth is a little below the Western Australian figure of 10.7%, bringing the total population to 115,945.
115,945
Higher than 86% of council (lga) areas.
Estimated resident population (ABS), 2025.
8.5%
Higher than 84% of council (lga) areas.
Population growth since the 2021 Census, from ABS annual estimates.
Operating businesses and dwellings approved.
Economic activity is strong with 10,852 businesses, a count that is larger than about 86% of similar areas. This commercial scale is supported by ongoing development, as the 376 approved dwellings are more than most other areas at this level.
10,852
Higher than 86% of council (lga) areas.
Operating businesses (ABS Counts of Australian Businesses), June 2025.
376
Higher than 77% of council (lga) areas.
Dwelling units approved in 2024-25 (ABS Building Approvals).
Australian Bureau of Statistics. (2021). Economy & Advantage in Melville [Census of Population and Housing]. CensusAtlas, used under CC BY 4.0. https://censusatlas.au/region/lga/LGA55320/melville/topic/economy-advantage
