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 Monash (C), accounting for 28.7%.

Section overview

Individual income quartiles

Monash (C) - Persons aged 15+ (Usual residence)

This table summarises individual income quartiles for Monash (C) in 2021 for persons, with comparison against Greater Melbourne and change since 2016.

Individual income quartiles snapshot

2021 distribution by category for Monash (C), with comparison markers for Greater Melbourne.

Monash (C)
Greater Melbourne

Lowest group

2021 count

43,599

% of total

28.7%

Change from 2016

-2.5pp

Medium lowest

2021 count

35,459

% of total

23.4%

Change from 2016

+1.0pp

Medium highest

2021 count

34,418

% of total

22.7%

Change from 2016

+1.1pp

Highest group

2021 count

38,218

% of total

25.2%

Change from 2016

+0.4pp

Data table

Individual income quartiles for Monash (C). Individual income quartiles. 2021 and 2016 counts, percentages, and change compared with Greater Melbourne.

Individual income quartiles for Monash (C). Individual income quartiles. 2021 and 2016 counts, percentages, and change compared with Greater Melbourne.
Individual income quartiles for Monash (C). Individual income quartiles. 2021 and 2016 counts, percentages, and change compared with Greater Melbourne.
Category20212016Change
Count%Greater Melbourne%Count%Greater Melbourne%Countpp
Lowest group43,59928.7%25.2%44,86231.2%25.7%-1,263-2.5pp
Medium lowest35,45923.4%23.2%32,15722.4%22.8%+3,302+1.0pp
Medium highest34,41822.7%24.8%31,02121.6%24.6%+3,397+1.1pp
Highest group38,21825.2%26.8%35,57924.8%26.8%+2,639+0.4pp
Total persons aged 15+151,694100.0%100.0%143,619100.0%100.0%+8,0750.0pp