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 Katherine, accounting for 33.2%.

Section overview

Individual income quartiles

Katherine - Persons aged 15+ (Usual residence)

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

Individual income quartiles snapshot

2021 distribution by category for Katherine, with comparison markers for Katherine (T).

Katherine
Katherine (T)

Lowest group

2021 count

157

% of total

17.9%

Change from 2016

+4.8pp

Medium lowest

2021 count

146

% of total

16.7%

Change from 2016

-1.2pp

Medium highest

2021 count

282

% of total

32.2%

Change from 2016

-0.3pp

Highest group

2021 count

291

% of total

33.2%

Change from 2016

-3.2pp

Data table

Individual income quartiles for Katherine. Individual income quartiles. 2021 and 2016 counts, percentages, and change compared with Katherine (T).

Individual income quartiles for Katherine. Individual income quartiles. 2021 and 2016 counts, percentages, and change compared with Katherine (T).
Individual income quartiles for Katherine. Individual income quartiles. 2021 and 2016 counts, percentages, and change compared with Katherine (T).
Category20212016Change
Count%Katherine (T)%Count%Katherine (T)%Countpp
Lowest group15717.9%20.3%12113.1%19.4%+36+4.8pp
Medium lowest14616.7%17.9%16517.9%17.0%-19-1.2pp
Medium highest28232.2%29.0%30032.5%26.7%-18-0.3pp
Highest group29133.2%32.8%33636.4%36.9%-45-3.2pp
Total persons aged 15+876100.0%100.0%922100.0%100.0%-460.0pp