9/11/2012
How to use Xylophone Charts
Xylophone charts get their name from the arrangement of the bars, which resemble the percussion
instrument, and are a different way of displaying data about localities. The Xylophones charts
provided on the website provide a comparison between Local Government Areas (LGAs) and the
state average for a given variable / topic based on the 2011 Census data. Each chart shows the
relative position of each LGA in a ranking for each variable. The charts highlight LGAs of a given
characteristic or geography in the chart with an accompanying map. The charts provide an
alternative spatial vision of the 2011 Census data with complex or detailed maps.
So how do Xylophones work? Xylophones have a Y axis on which zero is equivalent to the state
average for each variable. Thus, the columns in each chart show how far above or below the state
average each LGA falls. On each chart, the highlighted columns represent the group of LGAs that the
chart is focused on.
The chart below provides a good example of how to interpret a xylophone chart. The topic of the
chart is the ‘Proportion of Couple with Children Households in Total Households in 2011’.
The map which sits at the right hand side of the chart title shows the all the LGAs of Victoria. The
area of Victoria in which this chart is focused on shows those specific LGAs highlighted in red. In this
case, the map shows the LGAs Grampians in red, as this is the area that the chart is focused on.
If we then shift our attention to the Y axis of the chart we see that ‘zero’ (which is the state average),
is in this case, 31.8%. Therefore, the chart shows the columns (representing the 79 LGAs of Victoria)
ranging both above and below the state average line, depending on their difference to the state
average in their percentage of couple with children households.
LGAs which are not the focus of this chart are shown in grey, and the ones which are the in the
target geographic area (Grampians region – red columns) easily standout for comparison. In this
chart, the eye is first drawn to two red columns sitting above the state average line on the left.
These two columns represent Golden Plains and Moorabool, both of which have a higher proportion
of couple with children households than the state average. The eye is then drawn to the right, where
the other LGAs in this target location sit below the state average line. The other LGAs include
Ballarat, Horsham, West Wimmera, Hindmarsh, Ararat, Pyrenees, Northern Grampians, Yarriamback
and Hepburn. These LGAs had a lower proportion of couple with children households when
compared to the state average.
How to Use Xylophone Charts
Department of Planning and Community Development
9/11/2012
Proportion of couple with children households in total households in
2011
Difference to
state average
30
Vic Gov - Grampians
-23
Hepburn
Hindmarsh
Ararat
Pyrenees
Ballarat
West Wimmera
-15
Horsham
-8
Yarriambiack
(State Average = 31.8%)
0
Northern Grampians
8
Moorabool
15
Golden Plains
23
-30
Department of Planning and Community Development. Census 2011 Analysis.
For further information contact the Spatial Analysis & Research Branch
Tel: 9208 3000 Email: spatialanalysis.research@dpcd.vic.gov.au
Additional xylophone charts can be found in the same location as this document at:
http://cmsdpcd.private.vic.gov.au/home/publications-and-research/urban-and-regionalresearch/census-2011/xylophone-charts
When viewing these charts, keep in mind the example that you were walked through above as a
basis for how to read xylophone charts.
If you have any questions about using or reading xylophone charts, please contact us using the
details provided on the Urban and Regional Research website which can be found at the URL below:
http://www.dpcd.vic.gov.au/home/publications-and-research/urban-and-regional-research/contactus
How to Use Xylophone Charts
Department of Planning and Community Development