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 Beecher, accounting for 33.3%.

Section overview

Individual income quartiles

Beecher - Persons aged 15+ (Usual residence)

This table summarises individual income quartiles for Beecher in 2021 for persons, with comparison against Gladstone (R) and change since 2016.

Individual income quartiles snapshot

2021 distribution by category for Beecher, with comparison markers for Gladstone (R).

Beecher
Gladstone (R)

Lowest group

2021 count

175

% of total

27.0%

Change from 2016

+0.1pp

Medium lowest

2021 count

131

% of total

20.2%

Change from 2016

+2.3pp

Medium highest

2021 count

126

% of total

19.4%

Change from 2016

+1.9pp

Highest group

2021 count

216

% of total

33.3%

Change from 2016

-4.4pp

Data table

Individual income quartiles for Beecher. Individual income quartiles. 2021 and 2016 counts, percentages, and change compared with Gladstone (R).

Individual income quartiles for Beecher. Individual income quartiles. 2021 and 2016 counts, percentages, and change compared with Gladstone (R).
Individual income quartiles for Beecher. Individual income quartiles. 2021 and 2016 counts, percentages, and change compared with Gladstone (R).
Category20212016Change
Count%Gladstone (R)%Count%Gladstone (R)%Countpp
Lowest group17527.0%26.3%16526.9%26.2%+10+0.1pp
Medium lowest13120.2%25.8%11017.9%22.3%+21+2.3pp
Medium highest12619.4%21.0%10717.5%19.5%+19+1.9pp
Highest group21633.3%27.0%23137.7%32.1%-15-4.4pp
Total persons aged 15+648100.0%100.0%613100.0%100.0%+350.0pp