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 Parklea, accounting for 31.9%.

Section overview

Individual income quartiles

Parklea - Persons aged 15+ (Usual residence)

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

Individual income quartiles snapshot

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

Parklea
Blacktown (C)

Lowest group

2021 count

476

% of total

26.7%

Change from 2016

+1.4pp

Medium lowest

2021 count

315

% of total

17.6%

Change from 2016

+1.0pp

Medium highest

2021 count

424

% of total

23.8%

Change from 2016

-1.3pp

Highest group

2021 count

570

% of total

31.9%

Change from 2016

-1.1pp

Data table

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

Individual income quartiles for Parklea. Individual income quartiles. 2021 and 2016 counts, percentages, and change compared with Blacktown (C).
Individual income quartiles for Parklea. Individual income quartiles. 2021 and 2016 counts, percentages, and change compared with Blacktown (C).
Category20212016Change
Count%Blacktown (C)%Count%Blacktown (C)%Countpp
Lowest group47626.7%26.4%44925.3%26.4%+27+1.4pp
Medium lowest31517.6%22.3%29416.6%22.1%+21+1.0pp
Medium highest42423.8%27.2%44625.1%27.4%-22-1.3pp
Highest group57031.9%24.1%58533.0%24.1%-15-1.1pp
Total persons aged 15+1,785100.0%100.0%1,774100.0%100.0%+110.0pp