Meadow Heights · Statistical Area 2 (SA2)
How well-off the area is, how fast its population is growing, and the businesses and new homes here.
A score of 1 for overall advantage shows that Meadow Heights is one of the most disadvantaged areas in the country. This reflects a daily reality where residents have much less access to money and educational resources than most other Australians. This struggle is mirrored in a population that has shrunk by 1.5% since 2021.
All statistical area 2 (sa2) areas, 2021. The marker is Meadow Heights — lower than 99% of areas.
| Meadow Heights | 1 |
|---|---|
| 3048, VIC | 1 |
SEIFA indexes ranking relative advantage and disadvantage.
With an overall advantage score of 845, this area is among the smallest at its level. This is driven by low scores for both access to money and education, both of which are smaller than about 80% of similar areas.
1
Lower than 99% 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.
845
Lower than 97% 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 fallen by 1.5% since 2021, a trend that is among the lowest for similar areas and well below the 8.0% growth seen across Victoria.
14,841
Higher than 71% of statistical area 2 (sa2) areas.
Estimated resident population (ABS), 2025.
-1.5%
Lower than 95% of statistical area 2 (sa2) areas.
Population growth since the 2021 Census, from ABS annual estimates.
Operating businesses and dwellings approved.
There are 755 businesses operating in the area, which is a smaller number than about 59% of similar areas.
755
Lower than 59% of statistical area 2 (sa2) areas.
Operating businesses (ABS Counts of Australian Businesses), June 2025.
Australian Bureau of Statistics. (2021). Economy & Advantage in Meadow Heights [Census of Population and Housing]. CensusAtlas, used under CC BY 4.0. https://censusatlas.au/region/sa2/210051247/meadow-heights/topic/economy-advantage
