Grafton · Statistical Area 2 (SA2)
How well-off the area is, how fast its population is growing, and the businesses and new homes here.
A score of 884 for overall advantage means Grafton is among the least advantaged areas in the country. The town faces significant challenges with limited access to money, resources, and job skills compared to most other regions. While the population has grown to 19,905 people, this growth is much slower than the rest of the state.
All statistical area 2 (sa2) areas, 2021. The marker is Grafton — lower than 99% of areas.
| Grafton | 1 |
|---|---|
| 2460, NSW | 2 |
SEIFA indexes ranking relative advantage and disadvantage.
Grafton ranks very low for overall advantage, with a score that is among the smallest at its level. This is reflected in its education and job skills score, which is lower than about 90% of similar areas.
1
Lower than 99% of statistical area 2 (sa2) 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.
2
Lower than 86% of statistical area 2 (sa2) 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.
2
Lower than 86% of statistical area 2 (sa2) 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.
1
Lower than 99% of statistical area 2 (sa2) 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.
884
Lower than 90% of statistical area 2 (sa2) 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 2.9% since 2021, but this is well below the New South Wales figure of 6.1%. Despite the slow pace, the total population of 19,905 is still larger than about 87% of similar areas.
19,905
Higher than 86% of statistical area 2 (sa2) areas.
Estimated resident population (ABS), 2025.
2.9%
Lower than 64% of statistical area 2 (sa2) areas.
Population growth since the 2021 Census, from ABS annual estimates.
Operating businesses and dwellings approved.
There are 1,219 businesses operating in the area, which is more than about 67% of similar locations.
1,219
Higher than 66% of statistical area 2 (sa2) areas.
Operating businesses (ABS Counts of Australian Businesses), June 2025.
Australian Bureau of Statistics. (2021). Economy & Advantage in Grafton [Census of Population and Housing]. CensusAtlas, used under CC BY 4.0. https://censusatlas.au/region/sa2/104011080/grafton/topic/economy-advantage
