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 lowest income quartile held the largest share among residents aged 15 and over in South Ballina, accounting for 50%.
Section overview
Individual income quartiles
South Ballina - Persons aged 15+ (Usual residence)
This table summarises individual income quartiles for South Ballina in 2021 for persons, with comparison against Ballina (A) and change since 2016.
Individual income quartiles snapshot
2021 distribution by category for South Ballina, with comparison markers for Ballina (A).
Lowest group
2021 count
9
% of total
50.0%
Change from 2016
+22.0pp
9
50.0%
+22.0pp
Medium lowest
2021 count
2
% of total
11.1%
Change from 2016
-0.9pp
2
11.1%
-0.9pp
Medium highest
2021 count
7
% of total
38.9%
Change from 2016
+6.9pp
7
38.9%
+6.9pp
Highest group
2021 count
0
% of total
0.0%
Change from 2016
-28.0pp
0
0.0%
-28.0pp
Chart view
Individual income quartiles change
Absolute change in category counts between 2016 and 2021.
Lowest group
+2
+22.0pp
Medium lowest
-1
-0.9pp
Medium highest
-1
+6.9pp
Highest group
-7
-28.0pp
Data table
Individual income quartiles for South Ballina. Individual income quartiles. 2021 and 2016 counts, percentages, and change compared with Ballina (A).
| Category | 2021 | 2016 | Change | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Count | % | Ballina (A)% | Count | % | Ballina (A)% | Count | pp | |
| Lowest group | 9 | 50.0% | 21.3% | 7 | 28.0% | 19.8% | +2 | +22.0pp |
| Medium lowest | 2 | 11.1% | 32.7% | 3 | 12.0% | 33.4% | -1 | -0.9pp |
| Medium highest | 7 | 38.9% | 26.1% | 8 | 32.0% | 27.0% | -1 | +6.9pp |
| Highest group | 0 | 0.0% | 19.9% | 7 | 28.0% | 19.8% | -7 | -28.0pp |
| Total persons aged 15+ | 18 | 100.0% | 100.0% | 25 | 100.0% | 100.0% | -7 | 0.0pp |