Newcastle - Cooks Hill · Statistical Area 2 (SA2)
How well-off the area is, how fast its population is growing, and the businesses and new homes here.
A high overall advantage score of 1,080 marks Newcastle - Cooks Hill as a prosperous area. While it ranks among the most advantaged places in the country, it has a surprising gap in access to money and resources. This creates a unique profile where high levels of education and professional skills define the local economy.
All statistical area 2 (sa2) areas, 2021. The marker is Newcastle - Cooks Hill — higher than 86% of areas.
| Newcastle - Cooks Hill | 9 |
|---|---|
| 2300, NSW | 9 |
SEIFA indexes ranking relative advantage and disadvantage.
The area is very advantaged overall, with a score that is larger than about 82% of similar places. This is driven by a highly skilled workforce, as education and job skills are higher than about 90% of other areas.
9
Higher than 86% 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.
8
Higher than 71% 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.
3
Lower than 71% 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.
9
Higher than 86% 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.
1,080
Higher than 81% 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.
Population growth has been rapid, rising by 13.9% since 2021. This increase is well above the New South Wales figure of 6.1%.
14,632
Higher than 70% of statistical area 2 (sa2) areas.
Estimated resident population (ABS), 2025.
13.9%
Higher than 87% of statistical area 2 (sa2) areas.
Population growth since the 2021 Census, from ABS annual estimates.
Operating businesses and dwellings approved.
The area is a major commercial hub with 3,130 businesses, which is among the largest counts for areas of this type.
3,130
Higher than 86% of statistical area 2 (sa2) areas.
Operating businesses (ABS Counts of Australian Businesses), June 2025.
Australian Bureau of Statistics. (2021). Economy & Advantage in Newcastle - Cooks Hill [Census of Population and Housing]. CensusAtlas, used under CC BY 4.0. https://censusatlas.au/region/sa2/111031229/newcastle-cooks-hill/topic/economy-advantage
