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 lowest income quartile held the largest share among residents aged 15 and over in Greater Dandenong (C), accounting for 32.1%.
Section overview
Individual income quartiles
Greater Dandenong (C) - Persons aged 15+ (Usual residence)
This table summarises individual income quartiles for Greater Dandenong (C) in 2021 for persons, with comparison against Greater Melbourne and change since 2016.
Individual income quartiles snapshot
2021 distribution by category for Greater Dandenong (C), with comparison markers for Greater Melbourne.
Lowest group
2021 count
38,967
% of total
32.1%
Change from 2016
-0.3pp
38,967
32.1%
-0.3pp
Medium lowest
2021 count
34,173
% of total
28.2%
Change from 2016
+0.2pp
34,173
28.2%
+0.2pp
Medium highest
2021 count
32,793
% of total
27.0%
Change from 2016
+0.3pp
32,793
27.0%
+0.3pp
Highest group
2021 count
15,400
% of total
12.7%
Change from 2016
-0.2pp
15,400
12.7%
-0.2pp
Chart view
Individual income quartiles change
Absolute change in category counts between 2016 and 2021.
Lowest group
+2,002
-0.3pp
Medium lowest
+2,209
+0.2pp
Medium highest
+2,341
+0.3pp
Highest group
+686
-0.2pp
Data table
Individual income quartiles for Greater Dandenong (C). Individual income quartiles. 2021 and 2016 counts, percentages, and change compared with Greater Melbourne.
| Category | 2021 | 2016 | Change | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Count | % | Greater Melbourne% | Count | % | Greater Melbourne% | Count | pp | |
| Lowest group | 38,967 | 32.1% | 25.2% | 36,965 | 32.4% | 25.7% | +2,002 | -0.3pp |
| Medium lowest | 34,173 | 28.2% | 23.2% | 31,964 | 28.0% | 22.8% | +2,209 | +0.2pp |
| Medium highest | 32,793 | 27.0% | 24.8% | 30,452 | 26.7% | 24.6% | +2,341 | +0.3pp |
| Highest group | 15,400 | 12.7% | 26.8% | 14,714 | 12.9% | 26.8% | +686 | -0.2pp |
| Total persons aged 15+ | 121,333 | 100.0% | 100.0% | 114,095 | 100.0% | 100.0% | +7,238 | 0.0pp |