Income

Individual income quartiles

About this topic

Individual income quartiles group people aged 15 years and over into four evenly sized income ranges so the distribution of personal income can be compared objectively across areas and over time. The quartile method focuses on relative position in the income distribution rather than raw dollar brackets.

This topic is useful because direct income amounts are affected by inflation and wider economic change. Quartiles provide a clearer way to compare whether an area is becoming relatively lower, middle, or higher income over time.

Interpretation notes

  • This is a derived distribution of personal income for people aged 15 years and over, with each quartile representing a quarter of the income distribution.
  • Quartiles show relative position rather than fixed dollar brackets, which makes them more robust for comparisons over time.

Key insight

In 2021, the highest income quartile held the largest share among residents aged 15 and over in Watsonia North, accounting for 27.9%.

Section overview

Individual income quartiles

Watsonia North - Persons aged 15+ (Usual residence)

This table summarises individual income quartiles for Watsonia North in 2021 for persons, with comparison against Banyule (C) and change since 2016.

Individual income quartiles snapshot

2021 distribution by category for Watsonia North, with comparison markers for Banyule (C).

Watsonia North
Banyule (C)

Lowest group

2021 count

737

% of total

24.4%

Change from 2016

+12.4pp

Medium lowest

2021 count

752

% of total

24.9%

Change from 2016

+24.9pp

Medium highest

2021 count

687

% of total

22.8%

Change from 2016

-57.2pp

Highest group

2021 count

840

% of total

27.9%

Change from 2016

+19.9pp

Data table

Individual income quartiles for Watsonia North. Individual income quartiles. 2021 and 2016 counts, percentages, and change compared with Banyule (C).

Individual income quartiles for Watsonia North. Individual income quartiles. 2021 and 2016 counts, percentages, and change compared with Banyule (C).
Individual income quartiles for Watsonia North. Individual income quartiles. 2021 and 2016 counts, percentages, and change compared with Banyule (C).
Category20212016Change
Count%Banyule (C)%Count%Banyule (C)%Countpp
Lowest group73724.4%23.1%312.0%22.9%+734+12.4pp
Medium lowest75224.9%22.8%00.0%22.9%+752+24.9pp
Medium highest68722.8%22.7%2080.0%23.6%+667-57.2pp
Highest group84027.9%31.4%28.0%30.6%+838+19.9pp
Total persons aged 15+3,016100.0%100.0%25100.0%100.0%+2,9910.0pp