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Greater Sydney

Household income quartiles

In Greater Sydney, the 'highest' quartile was the largest group in 2021, comprising 30% of households with income.

Households form the common 'economic unit' in our society. Household Income is one of the most important indicators of socio-economic status. With other data sources, such as Qualifications and Occupation, it helps to reveal Greater Sydney's socio-economic status and economic opportunities. Household income levels are not comparable over time because of the influences of economic change such as wage level fluctuations and inflation. The income quartile method is a powerful and objective way of looking at income data and in particular, how it is changing.

A detailed explanation of how Household Income quartiles are calculated and interpreted is available in specific data notes.

Learn more about the characteristics of low-income households here.

Q:

Derived from the Census question:

'What is the total of all wages/salaries, government benefits, pensions, allowances and other income the person usually receives?'

Household income quartiles
Greater Sydney - Households (Enumerated)20212016Change
Quartile groupNumber%Australia %Number%Australia %2016 to 2021
Lowest group368,49121.325.0308,67821.025.0+59,814
Medium lowest400,23623.125.0328,83422.325.0+71,403
Medium highest445,61125.725.0384,12926.125.0+61,482
Highest group519,59630.025.0450,77330.625.0+68,822
Total Households1,733,935100.0100.01,472,416100.0100.0+261,520
Source: Australian Bureau of Statistics, Census of Population and Housing 2016 and 2021. Compiled and presented by .id (informed decisions).
Please refer to specific data notes for more information
Household income - Quartile group dollar ranges
Calculated from income data for New South WalesWeekly income by Census year
Household income ranges2021201620112006200119961991
Lowest group$0 to $867$0 to $743$0 to $625$0 to $539$0 to $413$0 to $336$0 to $300
Medium lowest$868 to $1,740$744 to $1,431$626 to $1,229$540 to $1,025$414 to $784$337 to $633$301 to $557
Medium highest$1,741 to $2,949$1,432 to $2,433$1,230 to $2,208$1,026 to $1,700$785 to $1,350$634 to $1,074$558 to $923
Highest group$2,950 and over$2,434 and over$2,209 and over$1,701 and over$1,351 and over$1,075 and over$924 and over

Dominant groups

Income quartiles allow us to compare relative income-earning capabilities across time. Analysis of the distribution of households by income quartile in Greater Sydney compared to Australia shows that there was greater proportion of households in the highest income quartile and a lesser proportion in the lowest income quartile.

Emerging groups

The most significant change in Greater Sydney between 2016 and 2021 was in the medium lowest quartile which showed an increase of 71,403 households.

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