Dorset · Council (LGA)
How well-off the area is, how fast its population is growing, and the businesses and new homes here.
A low overall advantage score of 2 defines the daily experience in Dorset, where residents face more challenges accessing money and resources than most people in the country. The area is characterized by a small population of 7,059 people and a limited number of local businesses.
All council (lga) areas, 2021. The marker is Dorset — lower than 86% of areas.
SEIFA indexes ranking relative advantage and disadvantage.
Dorset has an overall advantage score of 900, which is smaller than about 83% of similar areas. Residents generally have less access to education and job skills, with a score of 2 that is smaller than about 80% of other areas.
2
Lower than 86% 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.
3
Lower than 71% 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.
900
Lower than 84% 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 1.1% since 2021, which is much lower than most areas. This growth rate is about the same as the Tasmanian figure of 1.6%.
7,059
Lower than 63% of council (lga) areas.
Estimated resident population (ABS), 2025.
1.1%
Lower than 76% of council (lga) areas.
Population growth since the 2021 Census, from ABS annual estimates.
Operating businesses and dwellings approved.
There are 887 businesses operating in the area, a count that is smaller than about 60% of similar places. Recent growth is also slow, with only 28 new dwellings approved.
887
Lower than 59% of council (lga) areas.
Operating businesses (ABS Counts of Australian Businesses), June 2025.
28
Lower than 60% of council (lga) areas.
Dwelling units approved in 2024-25 (ABS Building Approvals).
Australian Bureau of Statistics. (2021). Economy & Advantage in Dorset [Census of Population and Housing]. CensusAtlas, used under CC BY 4.0. https://censusatlas.au/region/lga/LGA61810/dorset/topic/economy-advantage
