Carlton · Statistical Area 2 (SA2)
How well-off the area is, how fast its population is growing, and the businesses and new homes here.
Highly educated professionals and a booming population shape the daily life of Carlton. The area is more advantaged than about 80% of all other regions, though this wealth is not spread evenly. While the typical resident is well-off, some people still struggle with a lack of basic resources.
All statistical area 2 (sa2) areas, 2021. The marker is Carlton — higher than 71% of areas.
| Carlton | 8 |
|---|---|
| 3053, VIC | 9 |
SEIFA indexes ranking relative advantage and disadvantage.
Residents are among the most skilled in the country, scoring a 10 for education and job skills. This helps explain why the area is generally advantaged, though a small group remains very poor, with access to money and resources scoring 1.
8
Higher than 71% 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.
3
Lower 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.
1
Lower than 99% 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.
10
Higher 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.
1,050
Higher than 71% 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.
Carlton's population has surged by 48.1% since 2021. This growth is far above the Victorian figure of 8.0%, making it one of the fastest-growing areas of its type.
25,267
Higher than 90% of statistical area 2 (sa2) areas.
Estimated resident population (ABS), 2025.
48.1%
Higher than 99% 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 2,806 businesses operating across its small footprint.
2,806
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 Carlton [Census of Population and Housing]. CensusAtlas, used under CC BY 4.0. https://censusatlas.au/region/sa2/206041117/carlton/topic/economy-advantage
