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 River Ranch, accounting for 31.2%.

Section overview

Individual income quartiles

River Ranch - Persons aged 15+ (Usual residence)

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

Individual income quartiles snapshot

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

River Ranch
Gladstone (R)

Lowest group

2021 count

55

% of total

26.8%

Change from 2016

-6.8pp

Medium lowest

2021 count

59

% of total

28.8%

Change from 2016

-11.5pp

Medium highest

2021 count

27

% of total

13.2%

Change from 2016

-3.6pp

Highest group

2021 count

64

% of total

31.2%

Change from 2016

+22.0pp

Data table

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

Individual income quartiles for River Ranch. Individual income quartiles. 2021 and 2016 counts, percentages, and change compared with Gladstone (R).
Individual income quartiles for River Ranch. Individual income quartiles. 2021 and 2016 counts, percentages, and change compared with Gladstone (R).
Category20212016Change
Count%Gladstone (R)%Count%Gladstone (R)%Countpp
Lowest group5526.8%26.3%16033.6%26.2%-105-6.8pp
Medium lowest5928.8%25.8%19240.3%22.3%-133-11.5pp
Medium highest2713.2%21.0%8016.8%19.5%-53-3.6pp
Highest group6431.2%27.0%449.2%32.1%+20+22.0pp
Total persons aged 15+205100.0%100.0%476100.0%100.0%-2710.0pp