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 medium-low income quartile held the largest share among residents aged 15 and over in Rutherglen, accounting for 33.6%.
Section overview
Individual income quartiles
Rutherglen - Persons aged 15+ (Usual residence)
This table summarises individual income quartiles for Rutherglen in 2021 for persons, with comparison against Indigo (S) and change since 2016.
Individual income quartiles snapshot
2021 distribution by category for Rutherglen, with comparison markers for Indigo (S).
Lowest group
2021 count
431
% of total
21.6%
Change from 2016
-5.9pp
431
21.6%
-5.9pp
Medium lowest
2021 count
672
% of total
33.6%
Change from 2016
+1.1pp
672
33.6%
+1.1pp
Medium highest
2021 count
560
% of total
28.0%
Change from 2016
+10.5pp
560
28.0%
+10.5pp
Highest group
2021 count
337
% of total
16.9%
Change from 2016
-5.6pp
337
16.9%
-5.6pp
Chart view
Individual income quartiles change
Absolute change in category counts between 2016 and 2021.
Lowest group
+420
-5.9pp
Medium lowest
+659
+1.1pp
Medium highest
+553
+10.5pp
Highest group
+328
-5.6pp
Data table
Individual income quartiles for Rutherglen. Individual income quartiles. 2021 and 2016 counts, percentages, and change compared with Indigo (S).
| Category | 2021 | 2016 | Change | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Count | % | Indigo (S)% | Count | % | Indigo (S)% | Count | pp | |
| Lowest group | 431 | 21.6% | 22.0% | 11 | 27.5% | 20.6% | +420 | -5.9pp |
| Medium lowest | 672 | 33.6% | 29.4% | 13 | 32.5% | 29.6% | +659 | +1.1pp |
| Medium highest | 560 | 28.0% | 27.4% | 7 | 17.5% | 27.9% | +553 | +10.5pp |
| Highest group | 337 | 16.9% | 21.1% | 9 | 22.5% | 21.8% | +328 | -5.6pp |
| Total persons aged 15+ | 2,000 | 100.0% | 100.0% | 40 | 100.0% | 100.0% | +1,960 | 0.0pp |