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 Collingwood (Vic.), accounting for 45.1%.

Section overview

Individual income quartiles

Collingwood (Vic.) - Persons aged 15+ (Usual residence)

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

Individual income quartiles snapshot

2021 distribution by category for Collingwood (Vic.), with comparison markers for Yarra (C).

Collingwood (Vic.)
Yarra (C)

Lowest group

2021 count

1,164

% of total

15.2%

Change from 2016

-2.9pp

Medium lowest

2021 count

1,310

% of total

17.1%

Change from 2016

-1.4pp

Medium highest

2021 count

1,732

% of total

22.6%

Change from 2016

-0.7pp

Highest group

2021 count

3,456

% of total

45.1%

Change from 2016

+5.1pp

Data table

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

Individual income quartiles for Collingwood (Vic.). Individual income quartiles. 2021 and 2016 counts, percentages, and change compared with Yarra (C).
Individual income quartiles for Collingwood (Vic.). Individual income quartiles. 2021 and 2016 counts, percentages, and change compared with Yarra (C).
Category20212016Change
Count%Yarra (C)%Count%Yarra (C)%Countpp
Lowest group1,16415.2%14.8%1,17018.1%16.5%-6-2.9pp
Medium lowest1,31017.1%17.4%1,19518.5%17.5%+115-1.4pp
Medium highest1,73222.6%23.1%1,50423.3%22.6%+228-0.7pp
Highest group3,45645.1%44.7%2,58440.0%43.4%+872+5.1pp
Total persons aged 15+7,662100.0%100.0%6,453100.0%100.0%+1,2090.0pp