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 Mount Larcom, accounting for 30%.

Section overview

Individual income quartiles

Mount Larcom - Persons aged 15+ (Usual residence)

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

Individual income quartiles change

Absolute change in category counts between 2016 and 2021.

2016
2021

Lowest group

+63

+12.4pp

Medium lowest

+47

-3.7pp

Medium highest

+33

-12.5pp

Highest group

+39

+3.8pp

Data table

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

Individual income quartiles for Mount Larcom. Individual income quartiles. 2021 and 2016 counts, percentages, and change compared with Gladstone (R).
Individual income quartiles for Mount Larcom. Individual income quartiles. 2021 and 2016 counts, percentages, and change compared with Gladstone (R).
Category20212016Change
Count%Gladstone (R)%Count%Gladstone (R)%Countpp
Lowest group7530.0%26.3%1217.6%26.2%+63+12.4pp
Medium lowest6827.2%25.8%2130.9%22.3%+47-3.7pp
Medium highest5722.8%21.0%2435.3%19.5%+33-12.5pp
Highest group5020.0%27.0%1116.2%32.1%+39+3.8pp
Total persons aged 15+250100.0%100.0%68100.0%100.0%+1820.0pp