Cessnock · Statistical Area 2 (SA2)
How well-off the area is, how fast its population is growing, and the businesses and new homes here.
Limited access to money and job skills shapes daily life for many in Cessnock, where the overall advantage score is 869. This is among the smallest scores for areas of this size, reflecting a community that faces significantly more hardship than the national average.
All statistical area 2 (sa2) areas, 2021. The marker is Cessnock — lower than 99% of areas.
| Cessnock | 1 |
|---|---|
| 2325, NSW | 1 |
SEIFA indexes ranking relative advantage and disadvantage.
Cessnock ranks among the lowest 10% of areas for overall advantage, education, and job skills. Its score for access to money and resources is also smaller than about 80% of similar places.
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.
1
Lower than 99% 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.
869
Lower than 93% 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 has reached 24,745 people, making it one of the largest areas at this level. Since 2021, the population grew by 4.2%, which is a little below the New South Wales figure of 6.1%.
24,745
Higher than 90% of statistical area 2 (sa2) areas.
Estimated resident population (ABS), 2025.
4.2%
Lower than 53% of statistical area 2 (sa2) areas.
Population growth since the 2021 Census, from ABS annual estimates.
Operating businesses and dwellings approved.
There are 983 businesses operating in the area, a total that is larger than about 55% of similar places.
983
Higher than 55% of statistical area 2 (sa2) areas.
Operating businesses (ABS Counts of Australian Businesses), June 2025.
Australian Bureau of Statistics. (2021). Economy & Advantage in Cessnock [Census of Population and Housing]. CensusAtlas, used under CC BY 4.0. https://censusatlas.au/region/sa2/106011108/cessnock/topic/economy-advantage
