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 Inner West (A), accounting for 41.6%.
Section overview
Individual income quartiles
Inner West (A) - Persons aged 15+ (Usual residence)
This table summarises individual income quartiles for Inner West (A) in 2021 for persons, with comparison against Greater Sydney and change since 2016.
Individual income quartiles snapshot
2021 distribution by category for Inner West (A), with comparison markers for Greater Sydney.
Lowest group
2021 count
26,040
% of total
17.7%
Change from 2016
-0.1pp
26,040
17.7%
-0.1pp
Medium lowest
2021 count
27,411
% of total
18.7%
Change from 2016
-0.4pp
27,411
18.7%
-0.4pp
Medium highest
2021 count
32,334
% of total
22.0%
Change from 2016
-0.5pp
32,334
22.0%
-0.5pp
Highest group
2021 count
61,050
% of total
41.6%
Change from 2016
+0.9pp
61,050
41.6%
+0.9pp
Chart view
Individual income quartiles change
Absolute change in category counts between 2016 and 2021.
Lowest group
+1,175
-0.1pp
Medium lowest
+730
-0.4pp
Medium highest
+922
-0.5pp
Highest group
+4,126
+0.9pp
Data table
Individual income quartiles for Inner West (A). Individual income quartiles. 2021 and 2016 counts, percentages, and change compared with Greater Sydney.
| Category | 2021 | 2016 | Change | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Count | % | Greater Sydney% | Count | % | Greater Sydney% | Count | pp | |
| Lowest group | 26,040 | 17.7% | 24.4% | 24,865 | 17.8% | 24.4% | +1,175 | -0.1pp |
| Medium lowest | 27,411 | 18.7% | 22.5% | 26,681 | 19.1% | 21.9% | +730 | -0.4pp |
| Medium highest | 32,334 | 22.0% | 23.8% | 31,412 | 22.5% | 23.8% | +922 | -0.5pp |
| Highest group | 61,050 | 41.6% | 29.3% | 56,924 | 40.7% | 29.9% | +4,126 | +0.9pp |
| Total persons aged 15+ | 146,835 | 100.0% | 100.0% | 139,882 | 100.0% | 100.0% | +6,953 | 0.0pp |