Meander Valley · Council (LGA)
How well-off the area is, how fast its population is growing, and the businesses and new homes here.
Meander Valley sits in the middle of the pack compared to similar areas, with a population of 21,739. While the region has a fair amount of business activity, it generally ranks lower than most other areas for overall socio-economic advantage.
All council (lga) areas, 2021. The marker is Meander Valley — lower than 64% of areas.
SEIFA indexes ranking relative advantage and disadvantage.
The typical advantage score is 940, which is smaller than about 60% of similar areas. While residents have better access to money and resources than 60% of similar areas, education and job skills are lower than about 60% of those 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.
6
Higher 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.
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.
940
Lower than 61% 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 2.8% since 2021, a figure that sits around the middle for its level. This growth is a little above the Tasmanian figure of 1.6%.
21,739
Higher than 59% of council (lga) areas.
Estimated resident population (ABS), 2025.
2.8%
Lower than 58% of council (lga) areas.
Population growth since the 2021 Census, from ABS annual estimates.
Operating businesses and dwellings approved.
There are 1,827 businesses here, which is larger than about 57% of similar areas. The region is also seeing a fair amount of development, with 133 approved dwellings, more than about 64% of similar areas.
1,827
Higher than 57% of council (lga) areas.
Operating businesses (ABS Counts of Australian Businesses), June 2025.
133
Higher than 63% of council (lga) areas.
Dwelling units approved in 2024-25 (ABS Building Approvals).
Australian Bureau of Statistics. (2021). Economy & Advantage in Meander Valley [Census of Population and Housing]. CensusAtlas, used under CC BY 4.0. https://censusatlas.au/region/lga/LGA64210/meander-valley/topic/economy-advantage
