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 Colbrook, accounting for 50%.

Section overview

Individual income quartiles

Colbrook - Persons aged 15+ (Usual residence)

This table summarises individual income quartiles for Colbrook in 2021 for persons, with comparison against Moorabool (S) and change since 2016.

Individual income quartiles snapshot

2021 distribution by category for Colbrook, with comparison markers for Moorabool (S).

Colbrook
Moorabool (S)

Lowest group

2021 count

6

% of total

30.0%

Change from 2016

+30.0pp

Medium lowest

2021 count

1

% of total

5.0%

Change from 2016

-11.7pp

Medium highest

2021 count

3

% of total

15.0%

Change from 2016

-18.3pp

Highest group

2021 count

10

% of total

50.0%

Change from 2016

0.0pp

Data table

Individual income quartiles for Colbrook. Individual income quartiles. 2021 and 2016 counts, percentages, and change compared with Moorabool (S).

Individual income quartiles for Colbrook. Individual income quartiles. 2021 and 2016 counts, percentages, and change compared with Moorabool (S).
Individual income quartiles for Colbrook. Individual income quartiles. 2021 and 2016 counts, percentages, and change compared with Moorabool (S).
Category20212016Change
Count%Moorabool (S)%Count%Moorabool (S)%Countpp
Lowest group630.0%23.9%00.0%24.4%+6+30.0pp
Medium lowest15.0%26.2%316.7%26.1%-2-11.7pp
Medium highest315.0%25.7%633.3%25.3%-3-18.3pp
Highest group1050.0%24.3%950.0%24.2%+10.0pp
Total persons aged 15+20100.0%100.0%18100.0%100.0%+20.0pp