Charters Towers · Statistical Area 2 (SA2)
How well-off the area is, how fast its population is growing, and the businesses and new homes here.
A low overall advantage score of 890 means many people in Charters Towers struggle with a lack of money and resources. The area is among the least advantaged in the country, with very few residents having high levels of education or job skills.
All statistical area 2 (sa2) areas, 2021. The marker is Charters Towers — lower than 99% of areas.
| Charters Towers | 1 |
|---|---|
| 4820, QLD | 2 |
SEIFA indexes ranking relative advantage and disadvantage.
Overall advantage is among the lowest across Australia, with a score of 1 out of 10. This is consistent with very low ratings for both job skills and access to money, which are also among the lowest in the country.
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.
2
Lower than 86% 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.
1
Lower 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.
890
Lower than 89% 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 been slow, with the population increasing by only 0.5% since 2021. This is well below the Queensland figure of 8.7%.
8,172
Lower than 62% of statistical area 2 (sa2) areas.
Estimated resident population (ABS), 2025.
0.5%
Lower than 86% of statistical area 2 (sa2) areas.
Population growth since the 2021 Census, from ABS annual estimates.
Operating businesses and dwellings approved.
There are 592 businesses operating in the area, which is fewer than in about 69% of similar places.
592
Lower than 69% of statistical area 2 (sa2) areas.
Operating businesses (ABS Counts of Australian Businesses), June 2025.
Australian Bureau of Statistics. (2021). Economy & Advantage in Charters Towers [Census of Population and Housing]. CensusAtlas, used under CC BY 4.0. https://censusatlas.au/region/sa2/318011462/charters-towers/topic/economy-advantage
