Cairnlea · 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 968 for overall advantage puts Cairnlea slightly below the national average. While residents generally have better access to money and resources than most, the area faces higher levels of disadvantage compared to 70% of similar places.
All statistical area 2 (sa2) areas, 2021. The marker is Cairnlea — lower than 64% of areas.
| Cairnlea | 4 |
|---|---|
| 3023, VIC | 5 |
SEIFA indexes ranking relative advantage and disadvantage.
People here have a strong advantage in accessing money and resources, scoring 8 out of 10. However, overall advantage is lower, with a score of 4 out of 10 being smaller than about 60% of other areas.
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.
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.
8
Higher than 71% 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.
5
Lower than 57% 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.
968
Lower than 62% 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.
Growth has stalled in Cairnlea, where the population fell by 1.1% since 2021. This is well below the Victoria growth rate of 8.0%.
10,035
Lower than 52% of statistical area 2 (sa2) areas.
Estimated resident population (ABS), 2025.
-1.1%
Lower than 93% of statistical area 2 (sa2) areas.
Population growth since the 2021 Census, from ABS annual estimates.
Operating businesses and dwellings approved.
There are 781 businesses in the area, a total that is smaller than about 58% of similar places.
781
Lower than 58% of statistical area 2 (sa2) areas.
Operating businesses (ABS Counts of Australian Businesses), June 2025.
Australian Bureau of Statistics. (2021). Economy & Advantage in Cairnlea [Census of Population and Housing]. CensusAtlas, used under CC BY 4.0. https://censusatlas.au/region/sa2/213011329/cairnlea/topic/economy-advantage
