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 lowest income quartile held the largest share among residents aged 15 and over in Liverpool (C), accounting for 30.5%.

Section overview

Individual income quartiles

Liverpool (C) - Persons aged 15+ (Usual residence)

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

Individual income quartiles snapshot

2021 distribution by category for Liverpool (C), with comparison markers for Greater Sydney.

Liverpool (C)
Greater Sydney

Lowest group

2021 count

51,300

% of total

30.5%

Change from 2016

+1.7pp

Medium lowest

2021 count

41,608

% of total

24.8%

Change from 2016

+0.6pp

Medium highest

2021 count

42,559

% of total

25.3%

Change from 2016

-0.5pp

Highest group

2021 count

32,561

% of total

19.4%

Change from 2016

-1.8pp

Data table

Individual income quartiles for Liverpool (C). Individual income quartiles. 2021 and 2016 counts, percentages, and change compared with Greater Sydney.

Individual income quartiles for Liverpool (C). Individual income quartiles. 2021 and 2016 counts, percentages, and change compared with Greater Sydney.
Individual income quartiles for Liverpool (C). Individual income quartiles. 2021 and 2016 counts, percentages, and change compared with Greater Sydney.
Category20212016Change
Count%Greater Sydney%Count%Greater Sydney%Countpp
Lowest group51,30030.5%24.4%41,32128.8%24.4%+9,979+1.7pp
Medium lowest41,60824.8%22.5%34,67524.2%21.9%+6,933+0.6pp
Medium highest42,55925.3%23.8%37,05325.8%23.8%+5,506-0.5pp
Highest group32,56119.4%29.3%30,50421.2%29.9%+2,057-1.8pp
Total persons aged 15+168,028100.0%100.0%143,553100.0%100.0%+24,4750.0pp