Northam · Council (LGA)
How well-off the area is, how fast its population is growing, and the businesses and new homes here.
Fewer residents in Northam have a high level of overall advantage compared to most similar areas. While the community has seen steady growth, a typical score of 914 places it below the national average. This reflects a local economy where access to resources is moderate, but formal qualifications and job skills remain low.
All council (lga) areas, 2021. The marker is Northam — lower than 71% of areas.
SEIFA indexes ranking relative advantage and disadvantage.
Education and job skills are a particular challenge here, with a score of 2 that is lower than about 80% of similar areas. This contributes to an overall advantage score that is smaller than about 77% of other places.
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.
5
Lower than 57% 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.
914
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 grew by 8.1% since the last census, which is much higher than most similar areas. This growth is a little below the Western Australian figure of 10.7%.
12,758
Lower than 52% of council (lga) areas.
Estimated resident population (ABS), 2025.
8.1%
Higher than 82% of council (lga) areas.
Population growth since the 2021 Census, from ABS annual estimates.
Operating businesses and dwellings approved.
There are 812 businesses operating in the area, which is smaller than about 61% of similar places. Despite this, 84 new dwellings were approved, a figure larger than about 58% of similar areas.
812
Lower than 61% of council (lga) areas.
Operating businesses (ABS Counts of Australian Businesses), June 2025.
84
Higher than 58% of council (lga) areas.
Dwelling units approved in 2024-25 (ABS Building Approvals).
Australian Bureau of Statistics. (2021). Economy & Advantage in Northam [Census of Population and Housing]. CensusAtlas, used under CC BY 4.0. https://censusatlas.au/region/lga/LGA56730/northam/topic/economy-advantage
