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 Hume (C), accounting for 31.1%.
Section overview
Individual income quartiles
Hume (C) - Persons aged 15+ (Usual residence)
This table summarises individual income quartiles for Hume (C) in 2021 for persons, with comparison against Greater Melbourne and change since 2016.
Individual income quartiles snapshot
2021 distribution by category for Hume (C), with comparison markers for Greater Melbourne.
Lowest group
2021 count
54,781
% of total
31.1%
Change from 2016
+0.5pp
54,781
31.1%
+0.5pp
Medium lowest
2021 count
45,262
% of total
25.7%
Change from 2016
+0.2pp
45,262
25.7%
+0.2pp
Medium highest
2021 count
44,963
% of total
25.6%
Change from 2016
-0.3pp
44,963
25.6%
-0.3pp
Highest group
2021 count
30,946
% of total
17.6%
Change from 2016
-0.4pp
30,946
17.6%
-0.4pp
Chart view
Individual income quartiles change
Absolute change in category counts between 2016 and 2021.
Lowest group
+11,589
+0.5pp
Medium lowest
+9,330
+0.2pp
Medium highest
+8,505
-0.3pp
Highest group
+5,599
-0.4pp
Data table
Individual income quartiles for Hume (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 | 54,781 | 31.1% | 25.2% | 43,192 | 30.6% | 25.7% | +11,589 | +0.5pp |
| Medium lowest | 45,262 | 25.7% | 23.2% | 35,932 | 25.5% | 22.8% | +9,330 | +0.2pp |
| Medium highest | 44,963 | 25.6% | 24.8% | 36,458 | 25.9% | 24.6% | +8,505 | -0.3pp |
| Highest group | 30,946 | 17.6% | 26.8% | 25,347 | 18.0% | 26.8% | +5,599 | -0.4pp |
| Total persons aged 15+ | 175,952 | 100.0% | 100.0% | 140,929 | 100.0% | 100.0% | +35,023 | 0.0pp |