The Australian Bureau of Statistics figures show that the shire’s high level of relative disadvantage puts it among the most disadvantaged 10 per cent of municipalities in the entire country.

At the other end of the scale, Macedon Ranges is the most advantaged of central Victorian LGAs and is placed among the top 20 per cent of Australian municipalities that have higher levels of advantage and less disadvantage.

The ABS defines relative socioeconomic advantage and disadvantage in terms of people's access to material and social resources, as well as their ability to participate in society. 

Central Goldfields Shire’s level of relative advantage and disadvantage has held steady since the 2011 Census.

Maryborough Community House co-ordinator Ruth Bumpstead said there were many factors that contributed to the high level of disadvantage, citing a lack of affordable housing, a downturn in employment and few transport options as among the influences.

But while the shire faced many issues, Mrs Bumpstead said, there was a lot of positive work occurring.

She said groups, partnerships and organisations were working to address the issues contributing to disadvantage, with the Community House running such initiatives as a program helping people budget and save.

“The town is pulling together,” she said.

But Mrs Bumpstead said more funding from governments was needed for such organisations.

Loddon and Gannawarra shires too are of greater disadvantage and a lack of advantage in general, ranked 12 and 13 respectively among Victorian municipalities.

But Loddon Shire’s situation appears to have improved relative to other Victorian municipalities since 2011, when data showed had the fourth-highest level of disadvantage in the state.

Meanwhile, Bendigo’s relative level of advantage and disadvantage falls towards the middle of the spread of Victorian municipalities.

The ABS considers such variables as the percentage of occupied dwellings without internet access, the percentage of people aged over 15 with no educational attainment, and the percentage of people unemployed as markers of disadvantage.

Factors such as the percentage of people classified as professionals, the percentage of people at university or a tertiary education institution, and the percentage of people with a household income of greater than $78,000 are indicators of advantage.