The most recent figures, compiled by the Australian Bureau of Statistics and analysed by Fairfax Regional Media, have provided a unique “health check” on the economic performance of  regional communities. 

While remote communities enjoying the resources boom  have dramatically reshaped the wealth map, the same cannot be said for regional Victoria and Tasmania, where the median household income is still below $1000 a week.

Shires of Moyne, Corangamite, Glenelg and Southern Grampians remain below $1000 a week.

However, in Warrnambool a rise in median household income has helped the city exceed the $1000-a-week income mark for the first time between 2006 and 2011.

Median refers to the halfway point, meaning half the population earns less than that amount and the other half earns more.

Of the eight local government areas in Australia where residents earned a medium weekly income of $2500 or more, seven were in mining areas, making dusty outback towns home to the nation’s biggest pay packets, outstripping ritzy waterfront suburbs in capital cities.

Six out of the top 10 biggest income-earning local government areas are found in remote Western Australia and Queensland, where pay-cheques for workers in isolated mining communities have skyrocketed — in some cases up to 50 per cent over just five years.

. Find out how much your area earns using our interactive map at the direct link: http://ow.ly/gomnd