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 Clifton Hill, accounting for 47.3%.

Section overview

Individual income quartiles

Clifton Hill - Persons aged 15+ (Usual residence)

This table summarises individual income quartiles for Clifton Hill in 2021 for persons, with comparison against Yarra (C) and change since 2016.

Individual income quartiles snapshot

2021 distribution by category for Clifton Hill, with comparison markers for Yarra (C).

Clifton Hill
Yarra (C)

Lowest group

2021 count

747

% of total

14.0%

Change from 2016

-0.5pp

Medium lowest

2021 count

871

% of total

16.4%

Change from 2016

+0.4pp

Medium highest

2021 count

1,187

% of total

22.3%

Change from 2016

-0.2pp

Highest group

2021 count

2,519

% of total

47.3%

Change from 2016

+0.4pp

Data table

Individual income quartiles for Clifton Hill. Individual income quartiles. 2021 and 2016 counts, percentages, and change compared with Yarra (C).

Individual income quartiles for Clifton Hill. Individual income quartiles. 2021 and 2016 counts, percentages, and change compared with Yarra (C).
Individual income quartiles for Clifton Hill. Individual income quartiles. 2021 and 2016 counts, percentages, and change compared with Yarra (C).
Category20212016Change
Count%Yarra (C)%Count%Yarra (C)%Countpp
Lowest group74714.0%14.8%69614.5%16.5%+51-0.5pp
Medium lowest87116.4%17.4%77016.0%17.5%+101+0.4pp
Medium highest1,18722.3%23.1%1,08222.5%22.6%+105-0.2pp
Highest group2,51947.3%44.7%2,25246.9%43.4%+267+0.4pp
Total persons aged 15+5,324100.0%100.0%4,800100.0%100.0%+5240.0pp