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 Etheridge (S), accounting for 27.3%.

Section overview

Individual income quartiles

Etheridge (S) - Persons aged 15+ (Usual residence)

This table summarises individual income quartiles for Etheridge (S) in 2021 for persons, with comparison against Regional Qld and change since 2016.

Individual income quartiles snapshot

2021 distribution by category for Etheridge (S), with comparison markers for Regional Qld.

Etheridge (S)
Regional Qld

Lowest group

2021 count

123

% of total

25.6%

Change from 2016

+3.0pp

Medium lowest

2021 count

130

% of total

27.1%

Change from 2016

-9.6pp

Medium highest

2021 count

131

% of total

27.3%

Change from 2016

+4.3pp

Highest group

2021 count

96

% of total

20.0%

Change from 2016

+2.3pp

Data table

Individual income quartiles for Etheridge (S). Individual income quartiles. 2021 and 2016 counts, percentages, and change compared with Regional Qld.

Individual income quartiles for Etheridge (S). Individual income quartiles. 2021 and 2016 counts, percentages, and change compared with Regional Qld.
Individual income quartiles for Etheridge (S). Individual income quartiles. 2021 and 2016 counts, percentages, and change compared with Regional Qld.
Category20212016Change
Count%Regional Qld%Count%Regional Qld%Countpp
Lowest group12325.6%24.2%12922.6%22.6%-6+3.0pp
Medium lowest13027.1%28.9%20936.7%28.7%-79-9.6pp
Medium highest13127.3%25.5%13123.0%26.1%0+4.3pp
Highest group9620.0%21.3%10117.7%22.6%-5+2.3pp
Total persons aged 15+480100.0%100.0%570100.0%100.0%-900.0pp