Rutherglen · Statistical Area 2 (SA2)
How well-off the area is, how fast its population is growing, and the businesses and new homes here.
A modest population growth of 2.5% since 2021 marks Rutherglen as a slow-growing area compared to the rest of the state. While the town has a steady presence of 465 businesses, it generally faces more challenges with access to money and job skills than most similar areas.
All statistical area 2 (sa2) areas, 2021. The marker is Rutherglen — lower than 64% of areas.
| Rutherglen | 4 |
|---|---|
| 3685, VIC | 4 |
SEIFA indexes ranking relative advantage and disadvantage.
Rutherglen has a typical advantage score of 954, which is smaller than about 68% of similar areas. This is reflected in its education and job skills rating, which is lower than 60% of areas at that level.
4
Lower 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.
4
Lower than 64% 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.
4
Lower than 64% 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.
954
Lower than 68% 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 2.5% since 2021, a figure that is well below Victoria's 8.0% increase. With 4,120 residents, it is smaller than about 85% of similar areas.
4,120
Lower than 85% of statistical area 2 (sa2) areas.
Estimated resident population (ABS), 2025.
2.5%
Lower than 68% of statistical area 2 (sa2) areas.
Population growth since the 2021 Census, from ABS annual estimates.
Operating businesses and dwellings approved.
There are 465 businesses operating in the area, which is a smaller number than about 77% of similar locations.
465
Lower than 77% of statistical area 2 (sa2) areas.
Operating businesses (ABS Counts of Australian Businesses), June 2025.
Australian Bureau of Statistics. (2021). Economy & Advantage in Rutherglen [Census of Population and Housing]. CensusAtlas, used under CC BY 4.0. https://censusatlas.au/region/sa2/204021065/rutherglen/topic/economy-advantage
