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 highest income quartile held the largest share among residents aged 15 and over in Colonel Light Gardens, accounting for 36.2%.

Section overview

Individual income quartiles

Colonel Light Gardens - Persons aged 15+ (Usual residence)

This table summarises individual income quartiles for Colonel Light Gardens in 2021 for persons, with comparison against Mitcham (C) and change since 2016.

Individual income quartiles snapshot

2021 distribution by category for Colonel Light Gardens, with comparison markers for Mitcham (C).

Colonel Light Gardens
Mitcham (C)

Lowest group

2021 count

579

% of total

22.4%

Change from 2016

+5.7pp

Medium lowest

2021 count

522

% of total

20.2%

Change from 2016

-9.0pp

Medium highest

2021 count

549

% of total

21.2%

Change from 2016

-12.1pp

Highest group

2021 count

938

% of total

36.2%

Change from 2016

+15.4pp

Data table

Individual income quartiles for Colonel Light Gardens. Individual income quartiles. 2021 and 2016 counts, percentages, and change compared with Mitcham (C).

Individual income quartiles for Colonel Light Gardens. Individual income quartiles. 2021 and 2016 counts, percentages, and change compared with Mitcham (C).
Individual income quartiles for Colonel Light Gardens. Individual income quartiles. 2021 and 2016 counts, percentages, and change compared with Mitcham (C).
Category20212016Change
Count%Mitcham (C)%Count%Mitcham (C)%Countpp
Lowest group57922.4%23.0%416.7%23.3%+575+5.7pp
Medium lowest52220.2%23.7%729.2%23.1%+515-9.0pp
Medium highest54921.2%23.0%833.3%22.9%+541-12.1pp
Highest group93836.2%30.3%520.8%30.7%+933+15.4pp
Total persons aged 15+2,588100.0%100.0%24100.0%100.0%+2,5640.0pp