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 Ku-ring-gai (A), accounting for 41%.
Section overview
Individual income quartiles
Ku-ring-gai (A) - Persons aged 15+ (Usual residence)
This table summarises individual income quartiles for Ku-ring-gai (A) in 2021 for persons, with comparison against Greater Sydney and change since 2016.
Individual income quartiles snapshot
2021 distribution by category for Ku-ring-gai (A), with comparison markers for Greater Sydney.
Lowest group
2021 count
24,185
% of total
25.1%
Change from 2016
-0.3pp
24,185
25.1%
-0.3pp
Medium lowest
2021 count
15,446
% of total
16.1%
Change from 2016
+1.5pp
15,446
16.1%
+1.5pp
Medium highest
2021 count
17,105
% of total
17.8%
Change from 2016
0.0pp
17,105
17.8%
0.0pp
Highest group
2021 count
39,475
% of total
41.0%
Change from 2016
-1.3pp
39,475
41.0%
-1.3pp
Chart view
Individual income quartiles change
Absolute change in category counts between 2016 and 2021.
Lowest group
+1,703
-0.3pp
Medium lowest
+2,547
+1.5pp
Medium highest
+1,336
0.0pp
Highest group
+1,995
-1.3pp
Data table
Individual income quartiles for Ku-ring-gai (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 | 24,185 | 25.1% | 24.4% | 22,482 | 25.4% | 24.4% | +1,703 | -0.3pp |
| Medium lowest | 15,446 | 16.1% | 22.5% | 12,899 | 14.6% | 21.9% | +2,547 | +1.5pp |
| Medium highest | 17,105 | 17.8% | 23.8% | 15,769 | 17.8% | 23.8% | +1,336 | 0.0pp |
| Highest group | 39,475 | 41.0% | 29.3% | 37,480 | 42.3% | 29.9% | +1,995 | -1.3pp |
| Total persons aged 15+ | 96,211 | 100.0% | 100.0% | 88,630 | 100.0% | 100.0% | +7,581 | 0.0pp |