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 Wakerley, accounting for 41%.

Section overview

Individual income quartiles

Wakerley - Persons aged 15+ (Usual residence)

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

Individual income quartiles snapshot

2021 distribution by category for Wakerley, with comparison markers for Brisbane (C).

Wakerley
Brisbane (C)

Lowest group

2021 count

1,297

% of total

20.7%

Change from 2016

+0.9pp

Medium lowest

2021 count

975

% of total

15.6%

Change from 2016

+0.9pp

Medium highest

2021 count

1,420

% of total

22.7%

Change from 2016

+0.1pp

Highest group

2021 count

2,568

% of total

41.0%

Change from 2016

-1.9pp

Data table

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

Individual income quartiles for Wakerley. Individual income quartiles. 2021 and 2016 counts, percentages, and change compared with Brisbane (C).
Individual income quartiles for Wakerley. Individual income quartiles. 2021 and 2016 counts, percentages, and change compared with Brisbane (C).
Category20212016Change
Count%Brisbane (C)%Count%Brisbane (C)%Countpp
Lowest group1,29720.7%22.0%1,12919.8%22.6%+168+0.9pp
Medium lowest97515.6%22.0%83714.7%21.1%+138+0.9pp
Medium highest1,42022.7%24.5%1,29022.6%24.1%+130+0.1pp
Highest group2,56841.0%31.5%2,44542.9%32.2%+123-1.9pp
Total persons aged 15+6,260100.0%100.0%5,701100.0%100.0%+5590.0pp