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 Cockburn (C), accounting for 29.9%.
Section overview
Individual income quartiles
Cockburn (C) - Persons aged 15+ (Usual residence)
This table summarises individual income quartiles for Cockburn (C) in 2021 for persons, with comparison against Greater Perth and change since 2016.
Individual income quartiles snapshot
2021 distribution by category for Cockburn (C), with comparison markers for Greater Perth.
Lowest group
2021 count
20,955
% of total
23.4%
Change from 2016
-0.3pp
20,955
23.4%
-0.3pp
Medium lowest
2021 count
19,739
% of total
22.0%
Change from 2016
+1.1pp
19,739
22.0%
+1.1pp
Medium highest
2021 count
22,188
% of total
24.7%
Change from 2016
+1.4pp
22,188
24.7%
+1.4pp
Highest group
2021 count
26,858
% of total
29.9%
Change from 2016
-2.2pp
26,858
29.9%
-2.2pp
Chart view
Individual income quartiles change
Absolute change in category counts between 2016 and 2021.
Lowest group
+2,756
-0.3pp
Medium lowest
+3,733
+1.1pp
Medium highest
+4,344
+1.4pp
Highest group
+2,251
-2.2pp
Data table
Individual income quartiles for Cockburn (C). Individual income quartiles. 2021 and 2016 counts, percentages, and change compared with Greater Perth.
| Category | 2021 | 2016 | Change | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Count | % | Greater Perth% | Count | % | Greater Perth% | Count | pp | |
| Lowest group | 20,955 | 23.4% | 24.6% | 18,199 | 23.7% | 24.5% | +2,756 | -0.3pp |
| Medium lowest | 19,739 | 22.0% | 23.2% | 16,006 | 20.9% | 21.6% | +3,733 | +1.1pp |
| Medium highest | 22,188 | 24.7% | 23.5% | 17,844 | 23.3% | 22.7% | +4,344 | +1.4pp |
| Highest group | 26,858 | 29.9% | 28.7% | 24,607 | 32.1% | 31.2% | +2,251 | -2.2pp |
| Total persons aged 15+ | 89,740 | 100.0% | 100.0% | 76,656 | 100.0% | 100.0% | +13,084 | 0.0pp |