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 Cairns North, accounting for 30.1%.
Section overview
Individual income quartiles
Cairns North - Persons aged 15+ (Usual residence)
This table summarises individual income quartiles for Cairns North in 2021 for persons, with comparison against Cairns (R) and change since 2016.
Individual income quartiles snapshot
2021 distribution by category for Cairns North, with comparison markers for Cairns (R).
Lowest group
2021 count
723
% of total
18.9%
Change from 2016
-1.0pp
723
18.9%
-1.0pp
Medium lowest
2021 count
1,033
% of total
27.0%
Change from 2016
+1.7pp
1,033
27.0%
+1.7pp
Medium highest
2021 count
1,149
% of total
30.1%
Change from 2016
-0.4pp
1,149
30.1%
-0.4pp
Highest group
2021 count
915
% of total
24.0%
Change from 2016
-0.3pp
915
24.0%
-0.3pp
Chart view
Individual income quartiles change
Absolute change in category counts between 2016 and 2021.
Lowest group
-3
-1.0pp
Medium lowest
+107
+1.7pp
Medium highest
+35
-0.4pp
Highest group
+27
-0.3pp
Data table
Individual income quartiles for Cairns North. Individual income quartiles. 2021 and 2016 counts, percentages, and change compared with Cairns (R).
| Category | 2021 | 2016 | Change | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Count | % | Cairns (R)% | Count | % | Cairns (R)% | Count | pp | |
| Lowest group | 723 | 18.9% | 22.5% | 726 | 19.9% | 21.2% | -3 | -1.0pp |
| Medium lowest | 1,033 | 27.0% | 27.2% | 926 | 25.3% | 25.6% | +107 | +1.7pp |
| Medium highest | 1,149 | 30.1% | 27.9% | 1,114 | 30.5% | 29.2% | +35 | -0.4pp |
| Highest group | 915 | 24.0% | 22.4% | 888 | 24.3% | 24.0% | +27 | -0.3pp |
| Total persons aged 15+ | 3,820 | 100.0% | 100.0% | 3,654 | 100.0% | 100.0% | +166 | 0.0pp |