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-low income quartile held the largest share among residents aged 15 and over in Burnie, accounting for 35.9%.

Section overview

Individual income quartiles

Burnie - Persons aged 15+ (Usual residence)

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

Individual income quartiles snapshot

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

Burnie
Burnie (C)

Lowest group

2021 count

122

% of total

21.0%

Change from 2016

+1.8pp

Medium lowest

2021 count

208

% of total

35.9%

Change from 2016

+5.8pp

Medium highest

2021 count

131

% of total

22.6%

Change from 2016

-2.7pp

Highest group

2021 count

119

% of total

20.5%

Change from 2016

-4.8pp

Data table

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

Individual income quartiles for Burnie. Individual income quartiles. 2021 and 2016 counts, percentages, and change compared with Burnie (C).
Individual income quartiles for Burnie. Individual income quartiles. 2021 and 2016 counts, percentages, and change compared with Burnie (C).
Category20212016Change
Count%Burnie (C)%Count%Burnie (C)%Countpp
Lowest group12221.0%25.8%9719.2%24.4%+25+1.8pp
Medium lowest20835.9%32.6%15230.1%33.4%+56+5.8pp
Medium highest13122.6%24.5%12825.3%25.3%+3-2.7pp
Highest group11920.5%17.1%12825.3%16.9%-9-4.8pp
Total persons aged 15+580100.0%100.0%505100.0%100.0%+750.0pp