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 Healy, accounting for 49%.

Section overview

Individual income quartiles

Healy - Persons aged 15+ (Usual residence)

This table summarises individual income quartiles for Healy in 2021 for persons, with comparison against Mount Isa (C) and change since 2016.

Individual income quartiles snapshot

2021 distribution by category for Healy, with comparison markers for Mount Isa (C).

Healy
Mount Isa (C)

Lowest group

2021 count

263

% of total

20.9%

Change from 2016

+2.9pp

Medium lowest

2021 count

164

% of total

13.0%

Change from 2016

-0.3pp

Medium highest

2021 count

214

% of total

17.0%

Change from 2016

-1.2pp

Highest group

2021 count

616

% of total

49.0%

Change from 2016

-1.5pp

Data table

Individual income quartiles for Healy. Individual income quartiles. 2021 and 2016 counts, percentages, and change compared with Mount Isa (C).

Individual income quartiles for Healy. Individual income quartiles. 2021 and 2016 counts, percentages, and change compared with Mount Isa (C).
Individual income quartiles for Healy. Individual income quartiles. 2021 and 2016 counts, percentages, and change compared with Mount Isa (C).
Category20212016Change
Count%Mount Isa (C)%Count%Mount Isa (C)%Countpp
Lowest group26320.9%20.4%22718.0%18.9%+36+2.9pp
Medium lowest16413.0%17.1%16813.3%16.6%-4-0.3pp
Medium highest21417.0%22.8%22918.2%21.6%-15-1.2pp
Highest group61649.0%39.6%63650.5%42.9%-20-1.5pp
Total persons aged 15+1,257100.0%100.0%1,260100.0%100.0%-30.0pp