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 Port Phillip (C), accounting for 43.8%.
Section overview
Individual income quartiles
Port Phillip (C) - Persons aged 15+ (Usual residence)
This table summarises individual income quartiles for Port Phillip (C) in 2021 for persons, with comparison against Greater Melbourne and change since 2016.
Chart view
Individual income quartiles snapshot
2021 distribution by category for Port Phillip (C), with comparison markers for Greater Melbourne.
Lowest group
2021 count
12,871
% of total
15.5%
Change from 2016
+0.3pp
12,871
15.5%
+0.3pp
Medium lowest
2021 count
14,276
% of total
17.2%
Change from 2016
+0.9pp
14,276
17.2%
+0.9pp
Medium highest
2021 count
19,604
% of total
23.6%
Change from 2016
+0.6pp
19,604
23.6%
+0.6pp
Highest group
2021 count
36,483
% of total
43.8%
Change from 2016
-1.6pp
36,483
43.8%
-1.6pp
Individual income quartiles change
Absolute change in category counts between 2016 and 2021.
Lowest group
+924
+0.3pp
Medium lowest
+1,462
+0.9pp
Medium highest
+1,551
+0.6pp
Highest group
+880
-1.6pp
Data table
Individual income quartiles for Port Phillip (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 | 12,871 | 15.5% | 25.2% | 11,947 | 15.2% | 25.7% | +924 | +0.3pp |
| Medium lowest | 14,276 | 17.2% | 23.2% | 12,814 | 16.3% | 22.8% | +1,462 | +0.9pp |
| Medium highest | 19,604 | 23.6% | 24.8% | 18,053 | 23.0% | 24.6% | +1,551 | +0.6pp |
| Highest group | 36,483 | 43.8% | 26.8% | 35,603 | 45.4% | 26.8% | +880 | -1.6pp |
| Total persons aged 15+ | 83,234 | 100.0% | 100.0% | 78,417 | 100.0% | 100.0% | +4,817 | 0.0pp |