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 Salmon Gums, accounting for 36.2%.

Section overview

Individual income quartiles

Salmon Gums - Persons aged 15+ (Usual residence)

This table summarises individual income quartiles for Salmon Gums in 2021 for persons, with comparison against Esperance (S) and change since 2016.

Individual income quartiles snapshot

2021 distribution by category for Salmon Gums, with comparison markers for Esperance (S).

Salmon Gums
Esperance (S)

Lowest group

2021 count

38

% of total

36.2%

Change from 2016

+13.2pp

Medium lowest

2021 count

20

% of total

19.0%

Change from 2016

-8.0pp

Medium highest

2021 count

14

% of total

13.3%

Change from 2016

-8.1pp

Highest group

2021 count

33

% of total

31.4%

Change from 2016

+2.8pp

Data table

Individual income quartiles for Salmon Gums. Individual income quartiles. 2021 and 2016 counts, percentages, and change compared with Esperance (S).

Individual income quartiles for Salmon Gums. Individual income quartiles. 2021 and 2016 counts, percentages, and change compared with Esperance (S).
Individual income quartiles for Salmon Gums. Individual income quartiles. 2021 and 2016 counts, percentages, and change compared with Esperance (S).
Category20212016Change
Count%Esperance (S)%Count%Esperance (S)%Countpp
Lowest group3836.2%22.5%2923.0%21.4%+9+13.2pp
Medium lowest2019.0%27.3%3427.0%26.5%-14-8.0pp
Medium highest1413.3%24.4%2721.4%24.6%-13-8.1pp
Highest group3331.4%25.8%3628.6%27.6%-3+2.8pp
Total persons aged 15+105100.0%100.0%126100.0%100.0%-210.0pp