Consumption, savings and wealth, Methodology

Research articles · Aug 31, 2023

Worlds Apart: Postcodes with the Highest and Lowest Poverty Rates in Today’s Australia

Rachel Lloyd, Ann Harding, Harry Greenwell

NATSEM, University of Canberra, Canberra, Australia. This article was originally presented to National Social Policy Conference "2001", Sydney, July 2001.

Volume 16(2) Summer 2023

Cite as: R. Lloyd, A. Harding, H. Greenwell; 2023; Worlds Apart: Postcodes with the Highest and Lowest Poverty Rates in Today’s Australia; International Journal of Microsimulation; 16(2); 38–53. doi: 10.34196/ijm.00282

Abstract

NATSEM has recently developed the capacity to estimate poverty at a detailed regional level. This paper describes the techniques and estimates the level of poverty and characteristics of people in poverty in the postcodes with the highest and lowest poverty rates in each state.

This article contains 2 figures and 10 tables.

Figures

Figure 1. Labour force status of household reference person in poor households in Carlton South (and percentage point difference from national average). Data source: 1998-99 HES and Marketinfo/2001 weights.

Figure 2. Selected household characteristics of poor residents of Ferryden Park and all poor Australians. Data source: 1998-99 HES and Marketinfo/2001 weights.

Tables

Table 1. Number of postcodes and number with less than 1000 households, by state

	Total number of postcodes	Number of postcodes with less than 1000 households
New South Wales	589	181
Victoria	625	305
Queensland	392	154
South Australia	321	178
Western Australia	289	171
Tasmania	108	62

Source: 1998-99 HES and Marketinfo/2001 weights.

Table 2. NSW postcodes with highest and lowest poverty rates

	Highest poverty rate	Lowest poverty rate	NSW average	Australian average
Postcode number	2834	2088
Postcode name	Lightning Ridge	Spit Junction
Poverty rates	%	%	%	%
People	25.9	0.7	9.8	10.3
Adults	22.4	0.9	8.8	9.3
Children	39.6	0.2	12.5	12.9

Note: Poverty rates are measured at the household level, which means they are not directly comparable to most other poverty studies. Only includes postcodes with over 1000 households.

Source: 1998-99 HES and Marketinfo/2001 weights.

Using the Henderson half average poverty line

Table 3. Victorian postcodes with highest and lowest poverty rates

	Highest poverty rate	Lowest poverty rate	Victorian average	Australian average
Postcode number	3053	3186
Postcode name	Carlton South	Brighton
Poverty rates	%	%	%	%
People	25.2	1.4	10.1	10.3
Adults	22.4	1.3	9.2	9.3
Children	38.5	1.8	12.8	12.9

Note: Poverty rates are measured at the household level, which means they are not directly comparable to most other poverty studies.

Source: 1998-99 HES and Marketinfo/2001 weights.

Using the Henderson half average poverty line.

Table 4. Queensland postcodes with highest and lowest poverty rates

	Highest poverty rate	Lowest poverty rate	Queensland average	Australian average
Postcode number	4671	4069
Postcode name	Gin Gin	Kenmore
Poverty rates	%	%	%	%
People	21.6	3.4	10.6	10.3
Adults	20.0	2.9	9.6	9.3
Children	25.9	4.6	13.3	12.9

Note: Poverty rates are measured at the household level, which means they are not directly comparable to most other poverty studies.

Source: 1998-99 HES and Marketinfo/2001 weights.

Using the Henderson half average poverty line.

Table 5. South Australian postcodes with highest and lowest poverty rates

	Highest poverty rate	Lowest poverty rate	South Australian average	Australian average
Postcode number	5010	5725
Postcode name	Ferryden Park	Roxby Downs
Poverty rates	%	%	%	%
People	29.8	1.4	12.1	10.3
Adults	27.2	0.9	11.2	9.3
Children	36.9	2.6	14.6	12.9

Note: Poverty rates are measured at the household level, which means they are not directly comparable to most other poverty studies.

Source: 1998-99 HES and Marketinfo/2001 weights.

Using the Henderson half average poverty line.

Table 6. West Australian postcodes with highest and lowest poverty rates

	Highest poverty rate	Lowest poverty rate	West Australian average	Australian average
Postcode number	6000	6015
Postcode name	Perth City	City Beach
Poverty rates	%	%	%	%
People	19.0	2.8	10.3	10.3
Adults	18.5	2.5	9.4	9.3
Children	23.3	3.5	12.7	12.9

Note: Poverty rates are measured at the household level, which means they are not directly comparable to most other poverty studies.

Source: 1998-99 HES and Marketinfo/2001 weights.

Using the Henderson half average poverty line.

Table 7. Tasmanian postcodes with highest and lowest poverty rates

	Highest poverty rate	Lowest poverty rate	Tasmanian average	Australian average
Postcode number	7215	7053
Postcode name	St. Mary’s	Taroona
Poverty rates	%	%	%	%
People	20.5	6.4	13.0	10.3
Adults	18.5	6.2	12.3	9.3
Children	26.4	7.0	14.9	12.9

Note: Poverty rates are measured at the household level, which means they are not directly comparable to most other poverty studies.

Source: 1998-99 HES and Marketinfo/2001 weights.

Using the Henderson half average poverty line.

Table 8. Characteristics of people in poverty in poorest postcodes and Australia

Postcode	2834	3053	4671	5010	6000	7215	Australia
	% of total in poverty
Age of the household reference person
Less than 25 years	2.1	10.3	0.8	9.5	23.2	4.8	4.6
25-34 years	35.2	24.7	21.6	31.6	28.4	22.9	25.9
35-44 years	22.6	32.5	35.8	22.9	26	32.5	30.7
45-54 years	19.9	22.1	17.9	19.8	14	18.6	17.1
55-64 years	13.7	3.4	15.4	3.9	4.6	13.8	10.7
65 years or more	6.6	7	8.6	12.3	3.9	7.3	11.1
	100	100	100	100	100	100	100
Sex of the reference person
Male	43.3	52.6	43	42.1	51.4	36.9	37.6
Female	56.7	47.4	57	57.9	48.6	63.1	62.4
	100	100	100	100	100	100	100
Labour force status of the reference person
Employee – full-time	1.9	3.9	4.7	3.8	1.2	3.8	5.6
Employee – part-time	17	6.3	16.2	8.5	16.9	15	13.8
Self employed	14.3	7.7	18.9	3.5	4.7	15.6	15
Unemployed	24.5	24.3	16.3	28.7	26.6	12.2	13.8
Not in the labour force	42.3	57.7	43.8	55.6	50.7	53.4	51.7
	100	100	100	100	100	100	100
Principal source of income for the household
Wage and salary	9.9	7.6	17.1	10.6	13.4	13.1	16.3
Self-employed	7	3.5	9.2	0.3	5.1	10	7.6
Other	11.2	28.6	8.7	11.8	19.1	8.7	12.7
Government cash benefits	68.3	60.2	59.6	74.3	56.8	63.6	57.3
Zero or negative income	3.5	0.1	5.4	3	5.5	4.7	6
	100	100	100	100	100	100	100
Occupation of the reference person
NA (ie not working in occupation)	66.9	82	60.2	84.3	77.3	65.6	65.6
Managers and professionals	9	12.6	17.6	2.9	8.7	13.9	13.7
Tradespersons	4.7	0	3.1	1.6	0.1	3.9	3.1
Clerical, sales and service	10.8	0.9	9.8	4.8	6.7	9.8	9.8
Labourers, production and transport workers	8.7	4.5	9.4	6.4	7.2	6.8	7.8
	100	100	100	100	100	100	100
Tenure type
Owner	43.8	13.9	42.4	10.9	18.6	43.2	34.9
Purchaser	15.6	10.1	26.4	7.7	7.3	23.8	22.8
Public housing	2.1	36.9	22.7	78.4	14.6	3.7	10.3
Private renter	28.8	38.4	8.4	2.3	55	21.9	27.1
Other, rent-free	9.7	0.7	0	0.7	4.5	7.4	5
	100	100	100	100	100	100	100
Marital status of the reference person
Never Married	13.1	30.9	6.1	30.1	46.9	8.8	13
Separated/divorced/widowed	26.6	19	16.7	20	14	17.1	23.1
Married	60.3	50.1	77.2	49.9	39	74.1	63.9
	100	100	100	100	100	100	100
Household type
Single person	23.7	21.6	12.3	20.6	47.1	16.1	15.4
Couple only	14.1	7.8	20.4	13.2	9.3	16.2	15.4
Couple with children	42.7	39.2	49.6	32.8	24.2	53.8	40.7
Sole parent	14.5	20.3	10.4	28.3	9.5	9.9	20
Multiple families	5	11.1	7.3	5.1	10	4	8.5
	100	100	100	100	100	100	100
Number of dependents in the household
None	46	39	39.8	37.3	68.2	37.9	38.3
One	6.6	20.2	13	18.7	18	12.7	13.4
Two	15.8	39.7	15.5	31.7	13.5	20.4	22.2
Three	20	0	21.2	1	0.3	21.5	18.6
Four	11.5	1	8.1	11.3	0	7.2	6.4
Five or more	0.1	0	2.4	0	0	0.2	1
	100	100	100	100	100	100	100
Country of birth of the reference person
Australia	81.7	29.4	76.2	41.7	51.4	86.6	65.4
Other	4.4	12.8	5.2	28.4	10.3	2.7	8.2
Europe/former USSR	13	24.6	13.7	18	19.6	10.1	14.6
Asia	0.8	33.2	5	11.9	18.6	0.6	11.7
	100	100	100	100	100	100	100

Source: 1998-99 HES and Marketinfo/2001 weights.

Using the Henderson half average poverty line.

Table 9. Characteristics of the high poverty postcodes

	2834	3053	4671	5010	6000	7215	Aust-ralia
Average total income (annual)	25 164	40 011	28 955	22 480	36 995	27 568	45 574
Average disposable income (annual)	21 999	31 740	25 471	20 600	29 188	23 993	36 581
Age of the household reference person
Less than 25 years	3.5	21.7	1.9	7.5	16.2	3.8	4.2
25-34 years	22.1	28.1	14.1	22.4	27.9	18.3	20.2
35-44 years	22.8	21.5	32.1	26.6	21.4	29.8	29.1
45-54 years	19.8	14.5	23.1	16.3	17.9	19.6	22.9
55-64 years	18	7.3	15.3	11.3	7.3	14.2	11.4
65 years or more	13.9	6.9	13.6	15.9	9.3	14.2	12.2
Sex of the reference person
Male	55.9	55.7	58.2	53.1	64	56.3	63
Female	44.1	44.3	41.8	46.9	36	43.7	37
Labour force status of reference person
Employee – full-time	22.3	41	29.5	26.4	44.8	28	49.6
Employee – part-time	14.8	12.7	12.6	15.9	11	14.6	10.6
Self employed	8.8	2.8	12	1.7	3.5	10.7	7.8
Unemployed	9.3	7	5	9	6.9	3.5	2.4
Not in the labour force	44.8	36.6	40.8	47	33.8	43.1	29.6
Principal source of income for the household
Wage and salary	34.4	50.4	42.1	37.2	54.7	38.9	61.4
Self-employed	6.9	2	10.7	0.6	3.9	10.2	6.8
Other	8.5	12.6	7.4	4.5	15.9	8.3	6.6
Government cash benefits	49.3	35	38.7	56.9	24.5	41.7	24.6
Zero or negative income	0.9	0	1.2	0.9	1.1	1	0.6
Occupation of the reference person
NA (ie not working in occupation)	54.1	43.6	45.9	56	40.7	46.6	32
Managers and professionals	12.3	36.4	18.3	7	35.3	20.7	32.3
Tradespersons	6.3	2.2	6.9	7.3	3.2	10.3	10.1
Clerical, sales and service	12.1	10.6	9.9	6.1	11.2	9.8	13.1
Labourers, production and transport workers	15.2	7.2	19	23.6	9.6	12.6	12.6
Tenure type
Owner	57.8	14.9	45.8	11.2	19.6	45	36.9
Purchaser	10.9	10.6	32.1	12.9	16.7	29.8	33.8
Public housing	1.9	21	17.5	68	4.8	2.8	5
Private renter	22.9	52.1	4.6	7.6	56.5	18.7	22.2
Other, rent-free	6.4	1.3	0	0.4	2.3	3.6	2.2
Marital status of the reference person
Never Married	14.2	36	5	21	38.1	7.8	10.4
Separated/divorced/widowed	24.1	17.4	14.8	22.5	16.1	15.6	16.4
Married	61.7	46.6	80.2	56.5	45.8	76.6	73.2
Household type
Single person	20.6	17	7.5	14.2	33.1	12.2	9.6
Couple only	23.5	14.6	26.7	17.1	22.9	27.6	19.7
Couple with children	32.6	26.1	45.5	34.1	20.5	45.4	45.4
Sole parent	12.1	14	9.1	24.5	7.4	8.9	11.5
Multiple families	11.2	28.3	11.2	10.2	16.1	5.9	13.7
Number of dependents in the household
None	60.3	59.5	46.9	46.1	73	49.1	45.3
One	10.7	17.8	11.6	19.2	19.2	13	16.5
Two	13.6	21.5	19.1	23.3	7.3	20.8	21.7
Three	11.4	0.3	13.4	3	0.4	12.8	11.9
Four	3.8	0.8	6	7.1	0	3.7	3.5
Five or more	0.2	0.2	3	1.3	0	0.6	1.1
Country of birth of the reference person
Australia	75.7	47.6	78	50	55.7	87.4	69.2
Other	4.9	12.3	5.6	13.9	12.2	3.1	7.3
Europe/former USSR	19	17.3	14.2	16.9	16.4	9.2	16.1
Asia	0.3	22.8	2.2	19.2	15.7	0.4	7.3

Source: 1998-99 HES and Marketinfo/2001 weights.

Table 10. Characteristics of the low poverty postcodes

	2088	3186	4069	5725	6015	7053	Australia
Average total income (annual)	97 677	87 880	79 073	87 412	88 544	51 203	45 574
Average disposable income (annual)	67 953	62 773	58 338	63 243	63 901	40 572	36 581
Age of the household reference person
Less than 25 years	4.5	2.4	3	8.4	2.3	2.1	4.2
25-34 years	21.5	10.8	9.7	37.2	7.4	8.3	20.2
35-44 years	24.9	28.1	27.9	34.5	25.3	29.3	29.1
45-54 years	25.5	30.9	33.6	13.9	32.6	32.5	22.9
55-64 years	12	12.6	15.4	4	17.3	13	11.4
65 years or more	11.6	15.3	10.4	1.9	15.2	14.9	12.2
Sex of the reference person
Male	68.7	73.3	75	90.1	80.2	64.2	63
Female	31.3	26.7	25	9.9	19.8	35.8	37
Labour force status of the reference person
Employee – full-time	69	65.4	66.8	85.8	63.4	54.5	49.6
Employee – part-time	7	5	9.3	3.2	6.7	10.3	10.6
Self employed	6.3	6.3	5.9	6.4	8.2	6	7.8
Unemployed	0.4	0.9	0.8	0.3	0.3	1.6	2.4
Not in the labour force	17.2	22.5	17.1	4.3	21.4	27.6	29.6
Principal source of income for the household
Wage and salary	73.3	71.5	75.9	88.3	70.5	64.3	61.4
Self-employed	7.6	7.3	5.8	5.6	9.1	5.4	6.8
Other	10	12.3	9.2	2	14.7	10	6.6
Government cash benefits	9.1	8.9	9.1	4	5.7	19.8	24.6
Zero or negative income	0	0	0.1	0	0.1	0.5	0.6
Occupation of the reference person
NA (ie not working in occupation)	17.6	23.4	17.9	4.6	21.7	29.2	32
Managers and professionals	67.7	67.1	64.5	33.1	66.1	54.5	32.3
Tradespersons	3.7	2	5.1	21.5	2.2	4.5	10.1
Clerical, sales and service	7.6	6.3	9.3	6.1	6.8	9.8	13.1
Labourers, production and transport workers	3.3	1.2	3.2	34.7	3.2	2.1	12.6
Tenure type
Owner	40.7	51.7	46.6	23	58.9	45.1	36.9
Purchaser	21	25.1	38.1	36.7	28.7	39.9	33.8
Public housing	0.9	0.2	0.1	0	10.1	2.2	5
Private renter	35.9	20.9	13.8	38.8	2.3	11.7	22.2
Other, rent-free	1.5	2	1.4	1.5	0	1.2	2.2
Marital status of the reference person
Never Married	17.9	10.1	6.7	5	6.8	7.8	10.4
Separated/divorced/widowed	14.5	15.3	11	7.6	9.3	17.2	16.4
Married	67.6	74.7	82.3	87.5	83.9	75	73.2
Household type
Single person	16.6	11.4	4.3	5	6.3	8.7	9.6
Couple only	25	22.2	18.5	17.9	24.1	20.9	19.7
Couple with children	35	47.1	56.5	64.3	54.8	48.6	45.4
Sole parent	7.5	7.1	9	4.2	6.1	10.8	11.5
Multiple families	15.9	12.3	11.8	8.5	8.7	11	13.7
Number of dependents in the household
None	54.7	48.3	38.4	34.7	42.4	44	45.3
One	15.1	17.3	18.1	12	15.7	15.9	16.5
Two	20.6	21.4	25.1	34	22.2	24.5	21.7
Three	8.3	12.6	13.7	18.5	18.9	11.6	11.9
Four	1.2	0.4	3.7	0.8	0.8	3	3.5
Five or more	0	0	0.9	0	0	1	1.1
Country of birth of the reference person
Australia	57.5	73.5	66.1	82.2	67.2	71.7	69.2
Other	12.1	7.8	6.8	7.9	9.4	5.5	7.3
Europe/former USSR	14.6	13.6	17.8	9.7	18	19	16.1
Asia	15.9	5	9.3	0.2	5.4	3.8	7.3

Source: 1998-99 HES and Marketinfo/2001 weights.