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 Kiewa, accounting for 30%.

Section overview

Individual income quartiles

Kiewa - Persons aged 15+ (Usual residence)

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

Individual income quartiles snapshot

2021 distribution by category for Kiewa, with comparison markers for Indigo (S).

Kiewa
Indigo (S)

Lowest group

2021 count

61

% of total

19.1%

Change from 2016

-0.1pp

Medium lowest

2021 count

81

% of total

25.3%

Change from 2016

-0.4pp

Medium highest

2021 count

82

% of total

25.6%

Change from 2016

-4.3pp

Highest group

2021 count

96

% of total

30.0%

Change from 2016

+4.9pp

Data table

Individual income quartiles for Kiewa. Individual income quartiles. 2021 and 2016 counts, percentages, and change compared with Indigo (S).

Individual income quartiles for Kiewa. Individual income quartiles. 2021 and 2016 counts, percentages, and change compared with Indigo (S).
Individual income quartiles for Kiewa. Individual income quartiles. 2021 and 2016 counts, percentages, and change compared with Indigo (S).
Category20212016Change
Count%Indigo (S)%Count%Indigo (S)%Countpp
Lowest group6119.1%22.0%6419.2%20.6%-3-0.1pp
Medium lowest8125.3%29.4%8625.7%29.6%-5-0.4pp
Medium highest8225.6%27.4%10029.9%27.9%-18-4.3pp
Highest group9630.0%21.1%8425.1%21.8%+12+4.9pp
Total persons aged 15+320100.0%100.0%334100.0%100.0%-140.0pp