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 Sturt (SA), accounting for 32.3%.

Section overview

Individual income quartiles

Sturt (SA) - Persons aged 15+ (Usual residence)

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

Individual income quartiles snapshot

2021 distribution by category for Sturt (SA), with comparison markers for Marion (C).

Sturt (SA)
Marion (C)

Lowest group

2021 count

585

% of total

26.1%

Change from 2016

+26.1pp

Medium lowest

2021 count

725

% of total

32.3%

Change from 2016

+16.5pp

Medium highest

2021 count

569

% of total

25.4%

Change from 2016

-53.5pp

Highest group

2021 count

363

% of total

16.2%

Change from 2016

+10.9pp

Data table

Individual income quartiles for Sturt (SA). Individual income quartiles. 2021 and 2016 counts, percentages, and change compared with Marion (C).

Individual income quartiles for Sturt (SA). Individual income quartiles. 2021 and 2016 counts, percentages, and change compared with Marion (C).
Individual income quartiles for Sturt (SA). Individual income quartiles. 2021 and 2016 counts, percentages, and change compared with Marion (C).
Category20212016Change
Count%Marion (C)%Count%Marion (C)%Countpp
Lowest group58526.1%23.4%00.0%23.5%+585+26.1pp
Medium lowest72532.3%28.0%315.8%27.5%+722+16.5pp
Medium highest56925.4%26.8%1578.9%26.4%+554-53.5pp
Highest group36316.2%21.9%15.3%22.6%+362+10.9pp
Total persons aged 15+2,242100.0%100.0%19100.0%100.0%+2,2230.0pp