Thomastown · Statistical Area 2 (SA2)
How well-off the area is, how fast its population is growing, and the businesses and new homes here.
Fewer resources and lower typical incomes mark Thomastown as one of the most disadvantaged areas compared to similar places. With an overall advantage score of 900, it sits well below the national average of 1000. This gap is reflected in limited access to money and job skills across the community.
All statistical area 2 (sa2) areas, 2021. The marker is Thomastown — lower than 86% of areas.
| Thomastown | 2 |
|---|---|
| 3074, VIC | 2 |
SEIFA indexes ranking relative advantage and disadvantage.
The area scores a 2 out of 10 for overall advantage, which is smaller than about 88% of similar areas. This is consistent with low scores for both education and access to financial resources.
2
Lower 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.
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.
2
Lower 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.
900
Lower than 87% 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.
Thomastown has a population of 20,595 people, making it larger than about 89% of areas at this level. However, recent growth of 2.0% is well below the Victorian figure of 8.0%.
20,595
Higher than 87% of statistical area 2 (sa2) areas.
Estimated resident population (ABS), 2025.
2.0%
Lower than 73% of statistical area 2 (sa2) areas.
Population growth since the 2021 Census, from ABS annual estimates.
Operating businesses and dwellings approved.
The local economy is supported by 3,358 businesses, which is among the largest number of businesses for an area of this type.
3,358
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 Thomastown [Census of Population and Housing]. CensusAtlas, used under CC BY 4.0. https://censusatlas.au/region/sa2/209041223/thomastown/topic/economy-advantage
