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 North Arm Cove, accounting for 30.5%.

Section overview

Individual income quartiles

North Arm Cove - Persons aged 15+ (Usual residence)

This table summarises individual income quartiles for North Arm Cove in 2021 for persons, with comparison against Mid-Coast (A) and change since 2016.

Individual income quartiles snapshot

2021 distribution by category for North Arm Cove, with comparison markers for Mid-Coast (A).

North Arm Cove
Mid-Coast (A)

Lowest group

2021 count

123

% of total

28.2%

Change from 2016

-5.1pp

Medium lowest

2021 count

133

% of total

30.5%

Change from 2016

+3.4pp

Medium highest

2021 count

113

% of total

25.9%

Change from 2016

+0.2pp

Highest group

2021 count

67

% of total

15.4%

Change from 2016

+1.5pp

Data table

Individual income quartiles for North Arm Cove. Individual income quartiles. 2021 and 2016 counts, percentages, and change compared with Mid-Coast (A).

Individual income quartiles for North Arm Cove. Individual income quartiles. 2021 and 2016 counts, percentages, and change compared with Mid-Coast (A).
Individual income quartiles for North Arm Cove. Individual income quartiles. 2021 and 2016 counts, percentages, and change compared with Mid-Coast (A).
Category20212016Change
Count%Mid-Coast (A)%Count%Mid-Coast (A)%Countpp
Lowest group12328.2%28.0%4833.3%24.1%+75-5.1pp
Medium lowest13330.5%38.0%3927.1%40.0%+94+3.4pp
Medium highest11325.9%21.7%3725.7%23.1%+76+0.2pp
Highest group6715.4%12.4%2013.9%12.8%+47+1.5pp
Total persons aged 15+436100.0%100.0%144100.0%100.0%+2920.0pp