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 medium-low income quartile held the largest share among residents aged 15 and over in Greater Bendigo (C), accounting for 30.4%.
Section overview
Individual income quartiles
Greater Bendigo (C) - Persons aged 15+ (Usual residence)
This table summarises individual income quartiles for Greater Bendigo (C) in 2021 for persons, with comparison against Regional Vic. and change since 2016.
Chart view
Individual income quartiles snapshot
2021 distribution by category for Greater Bendigo (C), with comparison markers for Regional Vic..
Lowest group
2021 count
21,245
% of total
23.2%
Change from 2016
+0.7pp
21,245
23.2%
+0.7pp
Medium lowest
2021 count
27,871
% of total
30.4%
Change from 2016
+0.2pp
27,871
30.4%
+0.2pp
Medium highest
2021 count
24,300
% of total
26.5%
Change from 2016
-0.9pp
24,300
26.5%
-0.9pp
Highest group
2021 count
18,179
% of total
19.8%
Change from 2016
-0.1pp
18,179
19.8%
-0.1pp
Individual income quartiles change
Absolute change in category counts between 2016 and 2021.
Lowest group
+3,049
+0.7pp
Medium lowest
+3,502
+0.2pp
Medium highest
+2,184
-0.9pp
Highest group
+2,087
-0.1pp
Data table
Individual income quartiles for Greater Bendigo (C). Individual income quartiles. 2021 and 2016 counts, percentages, and change compared with Regional Vic..
| Category | 2021 | 2016 | Change | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Count | % | Regional Vic.% | Count | % | Regional Vic.% | Count | pp | |
| Lowest group | 21,245 | 23.2% | 24.2% | 18,196 | 22.5% | 23.0% | +3,049 | +0.7pp |
| Medium lowest | 27,871 | 30.4% | 30.9% | 24,369 | 30.2% | 31.6% | +3,502 | +0.2pp |
| Medium highest | 24,300 | 26.5% | 25.6% | 22,116 | 27.4% | 26.2% | +2,184 | -0.9pp |
| Highest group | 18,179 | 19.8% | 19.3% | 16,092 | 19.9% | 19.2% | +2,087 | -0.1pp |
| Total persons aged 15+ | 91,595 | 100.0% | 100.0% | 80,773 | 100.0% | 100.0% | +10,822 | 0.0pp |