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 Bearbong, accounting for 36.4%.

Section overview

Individual income quartiles

Bearbong - Persons aged 15+ (Usual residence)

This table summarises individual income quartiles for Bearbong in 2021 for persons, with comparison against Gilgandra (A) and change since 2016.

Individual income quartiles snapshot

2021 distribution by category for Bearbong, with comparison markers for Gilgandra (A).

Bearbong
Gilgandra (A)

Lowest group

2021 count

20

% of total

36.4%

Change from 2016

+16.4pp

Medium lowest

2021 count

13

% of total

23.6%

Change from 2016

-16.4pp

Medium highest

2021 count

14

% of total

25.5%

Change from 2016

-11.6pp

Highest group

2021 count

8

% of total

14.5%

Change from 2016

+11.6pp

Data table

Individual income quartiles for Bearbong. Individual income quartiles. 2021 and 2016 counts, percentages, and change compared with Gilgandra (A).

Individual income quartiles for Bearbong. Individual income quartiles. 2021 and 2016 counts, percentages, and change compared with Gilgandra (A).
Individual income quartiles for Bearbong. Individual income quartiles. 2021 and 2016 counts, percentages, and change compared with Gilgandra (A).
Category20212016Change
Count%Gilgandra (A)%Count%Gilgandra (A)%Countpp
Lowest group2036.4%26.3%720.0%22.7%+13+16.4pp
Medium lowest1323.6%34.3%1440.0%35.7%-1-16.4pp
Medium highest1425.5%25.2%1337.1%25.7%+1-11.6pp
Highest group814.5%14.1%12.9%15.9%+7+11.6pp
Total persons aged 15+55100.0%100.0%35100.0%100.0%+200.0pp