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 lowest income quartile held the largest share among residents aged 15 and over in Ferndale (WA), accounting for 26.8%.
Section overview
Individual income quartiles
Ferndale (WA) - Persons aged 15+ (Usual residence)
This table summarises individual income quartiles for Ferndale (WA) in 2021 for persons, with comparison against Canning (C) and change since 2016.
Individual income quartiles snapshot
2021 distribution by category for Ferndale (WA), with comparison markers for Canning (C).
Lowest group
2021 count
929
% of total
26.8%
Change from 2016
+4.2pp
929
26.8%
+4.2pp
Medium lowest
2021 count
892
% of total
25.8%
Change from 2016
+1.2pp
892
25.8%
+1.2pp
Medium highest
2021 count
828
% of total
23.9%
Change from 2016
-1.8pp
828
23.9%
-1.8pp
Highest group
2021 count
812
% of total
23.5%
Change from 2016
-3.5pp
812
23.5%
-3.5pp
Chart view
Individual income quartiles change
Absolute change in category counts between 2016 and 2021.
Lowest group
+158
+4.2pp
Medium lowest
+54
+1.2pp
Medium highest
-48
-1.8pp
Highest group
-108
-3.5pp
Data table
Individual income quartiles for Ferndale (WA). Individual income quartiles. 2021 and 2016 counts, percentages, and change compared with Canning (C).
| Category | 2021 | 2016 | Change | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Count | % | Canning (C)% | Count | % | Canning (C)% | Count | pp | |
| Lowest group | 929 | 26.8% | 28.1% | 771 | 22.6% | 29.8% | +158 | +4.2pp |
| Medium lowest | 892 | 25.8% | 23.4% | 838 | 24.6% | 21.6% | +54 | +1.2pp |
| Medium highest | 828 | 23.9% | 24.3% | 876 | 25.7% | 22.4% | -48 | -1.8pp |
| Highest group | 812 | 23.5% | 24.2% | 920 | 27.0% | 26.1% | -108 | -3.5pp |
| Total persons aged 15+ | 3,461 | 100.0% | 100.0% | 3,405 | 100.0% | 100.0% | +56 | 0.0pp |