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 Upper Ferntree Gully (part), accounting for 27.3%.

Section overview

Individual income quartiles

Upper Ferntree Gully (part) - Persons aged 15+ (Usual residence)

This table summarises individual income quartiles for Upper Ferntree Gully (part) in 2021 for persons, with comparison against Knox (C) and change since 2016.

Individual income quartiles snapshot

2021 distribution by category for Upper Ferntree Gully (part), with comparison markers for Knox (C).

Upper Ferntree Gully (part)
Knox (C)

Lowest group

2021 count

596

% of total

22.2%

Change from 2016

-2.0pp

Medium lowest

2021 count

698

% of total

26.0%

Change from 2016

+2.2pp

Medium highest

2021 count

657

% of total

24.5%

Change from 2016

+1.0pp

Highest group

2021 count

732

% of total

27.3%

Change from 2016

-1.2pp

Data table

Individual income quartiles for Upper Ferntree Gully (part). Individual income quartiles. 2021 and 2016 counts, percentages, and change compared with Knox (C).

Individual income quartiles for Upper Ferntree Gully (part). Individual income quartiles. 2021 and 2016 counts, percentages, and change compared with Knox (C).
Individual income quartiles for Upper Ferntree Gully (part). Individual income quartiles. 2021 and 2016 counts, percentages, and change compared with Knox (C).
Category20212016Change
Count%Knox (C)%Count%Knox (C)%Countpp
Lowest group59622.2%25.7%1,89824.2%24.9%-1,302-2.0pp
Medium lowest69826.0%24.5%1,87123.8%24.0%-1,173+2.2pp
Medium highest65724.5%25.8%1,84723.5%26.5%-1,190+1.0pp
Highest group73227.3%24.0%2,23928.5%24.6%-1,507-1.2pp
Total persons aged 15+2,683100.0%100.0%7,855100.0%100.0%-5,1720.0pp