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 Coober Pedy (DC), accounting for 37.6%.

Section overview

Individual income quartiles

Coober Pedy (DC) - Persons aged 15+ (Usual residence)

This table summarises individual income quartiles for Coober Pedy (DC) in 2021 for persons, with comparison against Regional SA and change since 2016.

Individual income quartiles snapshot

2021 distribution by category for Coober Pedy (DC), with comparison markers for Regional SA.

Coober Pedy (DC)
Regional SA

Lowest group

2021 count

306

% of total

28.9%

Change from 2016

+3.1pp

Medium lowest

2021 count

399

% of total

37.6%

Change from 2016

+6.3pp

Medium highest

2021 count

228

% of total

21.5%

Change from 2016

-3.2pp

Highest group

2021 count

127

% of total

12.0%

Change from 2016

-6.3pp

Data table

Individual income quartiles for Coober Pedy (DC). Individual income quartiles. 2021 and 2016 counts, percentages, and change compared with Regional SA.

Individual income quartiles for Coober Pedy (DC). Individual income quartiles. 2021 and 2016 counts, percentages, and change compared with Regional SA.
Individual income quartiles for Coober Pedy (DC). Individual income quartiles. 2021 and 2016 counts, percentages, and change compared with Regional SA.
Category20212016Change
Count%Regional SA%Count%Regional SA%Countpp
Lowest group30628.9%25.7%30325.8%22.8%+3+3.1pp
Medium lowest39937.6%33.6%36831.3%33.6%+31+6.3pp
Medium highest22821.5%24.6%29024.7%25.8%-62-3.2pp
Highest group12712.0%16.2%21518.3%17.8%-88-6.3pp
Total persons aged 15+1,060100.0%100.0%1,176100.0%100.0%-1160.0pp