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 Nimbin, accounting for 44.9%.

Section overview

Individual income quartiles

Nimbin - Persons aged 15+ (Usual residence)

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

Individual income quartiles snapshot

2021 distribution by category for Nimbin, with comparison markers for Lismore (C).

Nimbin
Lismore (C)

Lowest group

2021 count

317

% of total

29.2%

Change from 2016

-0.6pp

Medium lowest

2021 count

487

% of total

44.9%

Change from 2016

+1.3pp

Medium highest

2021 count

184

% of total

17.0%

Change from 2016

-1.9pp

Highest group

2021 count

96

% of total

8.9%

Change from 2016

+1.2pp

Data table

Individual income quartiles for Nimbin. Individual income quartiles. 2021 and 2016 counts, percentages, and change compared with Lismore (C).

Individual income quartiles for Nimbin. Individual income quartiles. 2021 and 2016 counts, percentages, and change compared with Lismore (C).
Individual income quartiles for Nimbin. Individual income quartiles. 2021 and 2016 counts, percentages, and change compared with Lismore (C).
Category20212016Change
Count%Lismore (C)%Count%Lismore (C)%Countpp
Lowest group31729.2%23.1%30529.8%23.0%+12-0.6pp
Medium lowest48744.9%34.3%44743.6%33.9%+40+1.3pp
Medium highest18417.0%26.9%19418.9%27.5%-10-1.9pp
Highest group968.9%15.7%797.7%15.6%+17+1.2pp
Total persons aged 15+1,084100.0%100.0%1,025100.0%100.0%+590.0pp