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 Princes Hill, accounting for 40.2%.

Section overview

Individual income quartiles

Princes Hill - Persons aged 15+ (Usual residence)

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

Individual income quartiles snapshot

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

Princes Hill
Yarra (C)

Lowest group

2021 count

296

% of total

17.9%

Change from 2016

-0.1pp

Medium lowest

2021 count

336

% of total

20.3%

Change from 2016

-5.8pp

Medium highest

2021 count

356

% of total

21.5%

Change from 2016

-6.2pp

Highest group

2021 count

664

% of total

40.2%

Change from 2016

+12.0pp

Data table

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

Individual income quartiles for Princes Hill. Individual income quartiles. 2021 and 2016 counts, percentages, and change compared with Yarra (C).
Individual income quartiles for Princes Hill. Individual income quartiles. 2021 and 2016 counts, percentages, and change compared with Yarra (C).
Category20212016Change
Count%Yarra (C)%Count%Yarra (C)%Countpp
Lowest group29617.9%14.8%31218.0%16.5%-16-0.1pp
Medium lowest33620.3%17.4%45226.1%17.5%-116-5.8pp
Medium highest35621.5%23.1%48127.7%22.6%-125-6.2pp
Highest group66440.2%44.7%49028.2%43.4%+174+12.0pp
Total persons aged 15+1,652100.0%100.0%1,735100.0%100.0%-830.0pp