Sunshine West · 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 906 for overall advantage places Sunshine West well below the national average. This area faces significant challenges with access to money and job skills, which leaves it among the most disadvantaged areas in the region.
All statistical area 2 (sa2) areas, 2021. The marker is Sunshine West — lower than 86% of areas.
| Sunshine West | 2 |
|---|---|
| 3020, VIC | 2 |
SEIFA indexes ranking relative advantage and disadvantage.
The area is among the most disadvantaged in the country, with a score of 1 for disadvantage. Access to resources is low, as the area ranks lower than about 80% of similar places.
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.
3
Lower than 71% 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.
906
Lower than 86% 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 shrunk by 0.4% since 2021, a trend that is well below Victoria's 8.0% growth rate.
18,693
Higher than 84% of statistical area 2 (sa2) areas.
Estimated resident population (ABS), 2025.
-0.4%
Lower than 90% of statistical area 2 (sa2) areas.
Population growth since the 2021 Census, from ABS annual estimates.
Operating businesses and dwellings approved.
Despite these social challenges, Sunshine West is a significant hub for industry, with 2,052 businesses. This is more than about 89% of similar areas.
2,052
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 Sunshine West [Census of Population and Housing]. CensusAtlas, used under CC BY 4.0. https://censusatlas.au/region/sa2/213011338/sunshine-west/topic/economy-advantage
