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 lowest income quartile held the largest share among residents aged 15 and over in Mount Barker Summit, accounting for 28.4%.

Section overview

Individual income quartiles

Mount Barker Summit - Persons aged 15+ (Usual residence)

This table summarises individual income quartiles for Mount Barker Summit in 2021 for persons, with comparison against Mount Barker (DC) and change since 2016.

Individual income quartiles snapshot

2021 distribution by category for Mount Barker Summit, with comparison markers for Mount Barker (DC).

Mount Barker Summit
Mount Barker (DC)

Lowest group

2021 count

23

% of total

28.4%

Change from 2016

+2.2pp

Medium lowest

2021 count

23

% of total

28.4%

Change from 2016

-7.5pp

Medium highest

2021 count

13

% of total

16.0%

Change from 2016

-9.2pp

Highest group

2021 count

22

% of total

27.2%

Change from 2016

+14.6pp

Data table

Individual income quartiles for Mount Barker Summit. Individual income quartiles. 2021 and 2016 counts, percentages, and change compared with Mount Barker (DC).

Individual income quartiles for Mount Barker Summit. Individual income quartiles. 2021 and 2016 counts, percentages, and change compared with Mount Barker (DC).
Individual income quartiles for Mount Barker Summit. Individual income quartiles. 2021 and 2016 counts, percentages, and change compared with Mount Barker (DC).
Category20212016Change
Count%Mount Barker (DC)%Count%Mount Barker (DC)%Countpp
Lowest group2328.4%22.2%2726.2%21.9%-4+2.2pp
Medium lowest2328.4%26.6%3735.9%26.2%-14-7.5pp
Medium highest1316.0%27.6%2625.2%27.1%-13-9.2pp
Highest group2227.2%23.6%1312.6%24.8%+9+14.6pp
Total persons aged 15+81100.0%100.0%103100.0%100.0%-220.0pp