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 medium-high income quartile held the largest share among residents aged 15 and over in Tablelands (NT), accounting for 40.4%.

Section overview

Individual income quartiles

Tablelands (NT) - Persons aged 15+ (Usual residence)

This table summarises individual income quartiles for Tablelands (NT) in 2021 for persons, with comparison against Barkly (R) and change since 2016.

Individual income quartiles snapshot

2021 distribution by category for Tablelands (NT), with comparison markers for Barkly (R).

Tablelands (NT)
Barkly (R)

Lowest group

2021 count

23

% of total

15.2%

Change from 2016

-14.4pp

Medium lowest

2021 count

16

% of total

10.6%

Change from 2016

-13.1pp

Medium highest

2021 count

61

% of total

40.4%

Change from 2016

+10.8pp

Highest group

2021 count

51

% of total

33.8%

Change from 2016

+16.8pp

Data table

Individual income quartiles for Tablelands (NT). Individual income quartiles. 2021 and 2016 counts, percentages, and change compared with Barkly (R).

Individual income quartiles for Tablelands (NT). Individual income quartiles. 2021 and 2016 counts, percentages, and change compared with Barkly (R).
Individual income quartiles for Tablelands (NT). Individual income quartiles. 2021 and 2016 counts, percentages, and change compared with Barkly (R).
Category20212016Change
Count%Barkly (R)%Count%Barkly (R)%Countpp
Lowest group2315.2%39.1%4029.6%43.8%-17-14.4pp
Medium lowest1610.6%25.0%3223.7%21.6%-16-13.1pp
Medium highest6140.4%18.8%4029.6%17.5%+21+10.8pp
Highest group5133.8%17.1%2317.0%17.1%+28+16.8pp
Total persons aged 15+151100.0%100.0%135100.0%100.0%+160.0pp