Merredin · Council (LGA)
How well-off the area is, how fast its population is growing, and the businesses and new homes here.
A modest overall advantage score of 937 puts Merredin below the national average. The area faces some challenges with access to money and job skills, though it has maintained steady population growth recently.
All council (lga) areas, 2021. The marker is Merredin — lower than 64% of areas.
SEIFA indexes ranking relative advantage and disadvantage.
The typical resident has less access to money and education than most people across the country. With a score of 4 for both overall advantage and resource access, it is smaller than about 60% of similar areas.
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.
5
Lower than 57% 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.
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.
937
Lower than 63% 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 grew by 4.5% since 2021, which is around the middle for its level. However, this is well below the Western Australian growth rate of 10.7%.
3,365
Lower than 74% of council (lga) areas.
Estimated resident population (ABS), 2025.
4.5%
Higher than 58% of council (lga) areas.
Population growth since the 2021 Census, from ABS annual estimates.
Operating businesses and dwellings approved.
There are 334 businesses operating in the area, which is smaller than about 74% of similar places. Building activity is very low, with only 2 new dwellings approved.
334
Lower than 75% of council (lga) areas.
Operating businesses (ABS Counts of Australian Businesses), June 2025.
2
Lower than 86% of council (lga) areas.
Dwelling units approved in 2024-25 (ABS Building Approvals).
Australian Bureau of Statistics. (2021). Economy & Advantage in Merredin [Census of Population and Housing]. CensusAtlas, used under CC BY 4.0. https://censusatlas.au/region/lga/LGA55460/merredin/topic/economy-advantage
