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 Osborne (NSW), accounting for 47.4%.

Section overview

Individual income quartiles

Osborne (NSW) - Persons aged 15+ (Usual residence)

This table summarises individual income quartiles for Osborne (NSW) in 2021 for persons, with comparison against Lockhart (A) and change since 2016.

Individual income quartiles snapshot

2021 distribution by category for Osborne (NSW), with comparison markers for Lockhart (A).

Osborne (NSW)
Lockhart (A)

Lowest group

2021 count

9

% of total

47.4%

Change from 2016

+22.4pp

Medium lowest

2021 count

4

% of total

21.1%

Change from 2016

+21.1pp

Medium highest

2021 count

3

% of total

15.8%

Change from 2016

-25.9pp

Highest group

2021 count

3

% of total

15.8%

Change from 2016

-17.5pp

Data table

Individual income quartiles for Osborne (NSW). Individual income quartiles. 2021 and 2016 counts, percentages, and change compared with Lockhart (A).

Individual income quartiles for Osborne (NSW). Individual income quartiles. 2021 and 2016 counts, percentages, and change compared with Lockhart (A).
Individual income quartiles for Osborne (NSW). Individual income quartiles. 2021 and 2016 counts, percentages, and change compared with Lockhart (A).
Category20212016Change
Count%Lockhart (A)%Count%Lockhart (A)%Countpp
Lowest group947.4%23.6%325.0%20.9%+6+22.4pp
Medium lowest421.1%35.7%00.0%33.1%+4+21.1pp
Medium highest315.8%23.8%541.7%27.3%-2-25.9pp
Highest group315.8%16.8%433.3%18.7%-1-17.5pp
Total persons aged 15+19100.0%100.0%12100.0%100.0%+70.0pp