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 Sheffield, accounting for 40.1%.
Section overview
Individual income quartiles
Sheffield - Persons aged 15+ (Usual residence)
This table summarises individual income quartiles for Sheffield in 2021 for persons, with comparison against Kentish (M) and change since 2016.
Individual income quartiles snapshot
2021 distribution by category for Sheffield, with comparison markers for Kentish (M).
Lowest group
2021 count
357
% of total
28.5%
Change from 2016
+3.7pp
357
28.5%
+3.7pp
Medium lowest
2021 count
502
% of total
40.1%
Change from 2016
-4.6pp
502
40.1%
-4.6pp
Medium highest
2021 count
268
% of total
21.4%
Change from 2016
+1.2pp
268
21.4%
+1.2pp
Highest group
2021 count
125
% of total
10.0%
Change from 2016
-0.4pp
125
10.0%
-0.4pp
Chart view
Individual income quartiles change
Absolute change in category counts between 2016 and 2021.
Lowest group
+63
+3.7pp
Medium lowest
-28
-4.6pp
Medium highest
+28
+1.2pp
Highest group
+2
-0.4pp
Data table
Individual income quartiles for Sheffield. Individual income quartiles. 2021 and 2016 counts, percentages, and change compared with Kentish (M).
| Category | 2021 | 2016 | Change | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Count | % | Kentish (M)% | Count | % | Kentish (M)% | Count | pp | |
| Lowest group | 357 | 28.5% | 28.5% | 294 | 24.8% | 26.4% | +63 | +3.7pp |
| Medium lowest | 502 | 40.1% | 33.4% | 530 | 44.7% | 36.2% | -28 | -4.6pp |
| Medium highest | 268 | 21.4% | 24.8% | 240 | 20.2% | 23.7% | +28 | +1.2pp |
| Highest group | 125 | 10.0% | 13.3% | 123 | 10.4% | 13.8% | +2 | -0.4pp |
| Total persons aged 15+ | 1,252 | 100.0% | 100.0% | 1,187 | 100.0% | 100.0% | +65 | 0.0pp |