Hughes · Statistical Area 2 (SA2)
How well-off the area is, how fast its population is growing, and the businesses and new homes here.
A population drop of 1.4% since 2021 marks a recent downturn for Hughes, despite it remaining an incredibly wealthy area. It stands among the most advantaged places in the country, with an overall advantage score of 1,128.
All statistical area 2 (sa2) areas, 2021. The marker is Hughes — higher than 99% of areas.
| Hughes | 10 |
|---|---|
| 2605, ACT | 10 |
SEIFA indexes ranking relative advantage and disadvantage.
Residents here have some of the highest levels of education and job skills in the nation. This helps explain why the area ranks in the top 10% for overall advantage and access to money and resources.
10
Higher 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.
10
Higher 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.
9
Higher 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.
10
Higher 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.
1,128
Higher than 93% 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 1.4% since the last census, a trend that is well below the 7.1% growth seen across the ACT.
3,149
Lower than 89% of statistical area 2 (sa2) areas.
Estimated resident population (ABS), 2025.
-1.4%
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 192 businesses operating in the area, which is fewer than about 91% of similar areas.
192
Lower than 92% of statistical area 2 (sa2) areas.
Operating businesses (ABS Counts of Australian Businesses), June 2025.
Australian Bureau of Statistics. (2021). Economy & Advantage in Hughes [Census of Population and Housing]. CensusAtlas, used under CC BY 4.0. https://censusatlas.au/region/sa2/801091103/hughes/topic/economy-advantage
