Mount Barker · Statistical Area 2 (SA2)
How well-off the area is, how fast its population is growing, and the businesses and new homes here.
A 20.2% population jump since 2021 has seen Mount Barker grow far faster than the rest of South Australia. This rapid expansion is paired with a steady local economy, where residents generally have better access to money and resources than most of the country.
All statistical area 2 (sa2) areas, 2021. The marker is Mount Barker — higher than 57% of areas.
| Mount Barker | 6 |
|---|---|
| 5251, SA | 6 |
SEIFA indexes ranking relative advantage and disadvantage.
The area is more advantaged than about 60% of similar places, with an overall advantage score of 997. This is supported by a strong level of education and job skills, which ranks higher than around 60% of comparable areas.
6
Higher than 57% 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.
6
Higher than 57% 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.
7
Higher than 64% 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.
6
Higher 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.
997
Higher than 50% 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.
Mount Barker is one of the largest areas of its kind in the region. Its population growth of 20.2% is far above the South Australian figure of 5.6%.
26,939
Higher than 91% of statistical area 2 (sa2) areas.
Estimated resident population (ABS), 2025.
20.2%
Higher than 90% 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 active, with 1,713 businesses. This is larger than about 82% of similar areas.
1,713
Higher than 81% of statistical area 2 (sa2) areas.
Operating businesses (ABS Counts of Australian Businesses), June 2025.
Australian Bureau of Statistics. (2021). Economy & Advantage in Mount Barker [Census of Population and Housing]. CensusAtlas, used under CC BY 4.0. https://censusatlas.au/region/sa2/401021007/mount-barker/topic/economy-advantage
