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-high income quartile held the largest share among residents aged 15 and over in Mackay, accounting for 28.5%.
Section overview
Individual income quartiles
Mackay - Persons aged 15+ (Usual residence)
This table summarises individual income quartiles for Mackay in 2021 for persons, with comparison against Mackay (R) and change since 2016.
Individual income quartiles snapshot
2021 distribution by category for Mackay, with comparison markers for Mackay (R).
Lowest group
2021 count
610
% of total
21.1%
Change from 2016
-1.8pp
610
21.1%
-1.8pp
Medium lowest
2021 count
785
% of total
27.2%
Change from 2016
-2.6pp
785
27.2%
-2.6pp
Medium highest
2021 count
824
% of total
28.5%
Change from 2016
+3.6pp
824
28.5%
+3.6pp
Highest group
2021 count
671
% of total
23.2%
Change from 2016
+0.8pp
671
23.2%
+0.8pp
Chart view
Individual income quartiles change
Absolute change in category counts between 2016 and 2021.
Lowest group
+8
-1.8pp
Medium lowest
-1
-2.6pp
Medium highest
+167
+3.6pp
Highest group
+82
+0.8pp
Data table
Individual income quartiles for Mackay. Individual income quartiles. 2021 and 2016 counts, percentages, and change compared with Mackay (R).
| Category | 2021 | 2016 | Change | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Count | % | Mackay (R)% | Count | % | Mackay (R)% | Count | pp | |
| Lowest group | 610 | 21.1% | 22.6% | 602 | 22.9% | 23.1% | +8 | -1.8pp |
| Medium lowest | 785 | 27.2% | 24.6% | 786 | 29.8% | 24.0% | -1 | -2.6pp |
| Medium highest | 824 | 28.5% | 24.6% | 657 | 24.9% | 24.2% | +167 | +3.6pp |
| Highest group | 671 | 23.2% | 28.2% | 589 | 22.4% | 28.7% | +82 | +0.8pp |
| Total persons aged 15+ | 2,890 | 100.0% | 100.0% | 2,634 | 100.0% | 100.0% | +256 | 0.0pp |