Byron Bay · Statistical Area 2 (SA2)
How well-off the area is, how fast its population is growing, and the businesses and new homes here.
A higher-than-average overall advantage score of 1,047 marks Byron Bay as a relatively prosperous area. Most residents here have better access to education and job skills than people in 80% of similar areas. This creates a strong economic profile that sits well above the national typical experience.
All statistical area 2 (sa2) areas, 2021. The marker is Byron Bay — higher than 64% of areas.
| Byron Bay | 7 |
|---|---|
| 2481, NSW | 8 |
SEIFA indexes ranking relative advantage and disadvantage.
The area is more advantaged than about 70% of other places, which is partly driven by high education and skill levels. While overall advantage is high, access to money and resources is more modest, sitting right in the middle compared to similar areas.
7
Higher than 64% 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.
6
Higher than 57% 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.
5
Lower than 57% 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.
8
Higher than 71% 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.
1,047
Higher than 70% 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 grown by 4.8% since 2021, which is a little below the New South Wales figure of 6.1%. The total population now stands at 11,482 people.
11,482
Higher than 55% of statistical area 2 (sa2) areas.
Estimated resident population (ABS), 2025.
4.8%
Higher than 53% of statistical area 2 (sa2) areas.
Population growth since the 2021 Census, from ABS annual estimates.
Operating businesses and dwellings approved.
With 2,329 businesses, the area has one of the largest concentrations of enterprises for its level.
2,329
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 Byron Bay [Census of Population and Housing]. CensusAtlas, used under CC BY 4.0. https://censusatlas.au/region/sa2/112011240/byron-bay/topic/economy-advantage
