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 Acacia Gardens, accounting for 32.7%.

Section overview

Individual income quartiles

Acacia Gardens - Persons aged 15+ (Usual residence)

This table summarises individual income quartiles for Acacia Gardens in 2021 for persons, with comparison against Blacktown (C) and change since 2016.

Individual income quartiles snapshot

2021 distribution by category for Acacia Gardens, with comparison markers for Blacktown (C).

Acacia Gardens
Blacktown (C)

Lowest group

2021 count

609

% of total

21.7%

Change from 2016

-1.3pp

Medium lowest

2021 count

498

% of total

17.7%

Change from 2016

+2.4pp

Medium highest

2021 count

784

% of total

27.9%

Change from 2016

+2.3pp

Highest group

2021 count

917

% of total

32.7%

Change from 2016

-3.4pp

Data table

Individual income quartiles for Acacia Gardens. Individual income quartiles. 2021 and 2016 counts, percentages, and change compared with Blacktown (C).

Individual income quartiles for Acacia Gardens. Individual income quartiles. 2021 and 2016 counts, percentages, and change compared with Blacktown (C).
Individual income quartiles for Acacia Gardens. Individual income quartiles. 2021 and 2016 counts, percentages, and change compared with Blacktown (C).
Category20212016Change
Count%Blacktown (C)%Count%Blacktown (C)%Countpp
Lowest group60921.7%26.4%63723.0%26.4%-28-1.3pp
Medium lowest49817.7%22.3%42515.3%22.1%+73+2.4pp
Medium highest78427.9%27.2%70825.6%27.4%+76+2.3pp
Highest group91732.7%24.1%1,00136.1%24.1%-84-3.4pp
Total persons aged 15+2,808100.0%100.0%2,771100.0%100.0%+370.0pp