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 Bowraville, accounting for 42.2%.

Section overview

Individual income quartiles

Bowraville - Persons aged 15+ (Usual residence)

This table summarises individual income quartiles for Bowraville in 2021 for persons, with comparison against Nambucca (A) and change since 2016.

Individual income quartiles snapshot

2021 distribution by category for Bowraville, with comparison markers for Nambucca (A).

Bowraville
Nambucca (A)

Lowest group

2021 count

226

% of total

27.9%

Change from 2016

+3.2pp

Medium lowest

2021 count

341

% of total

42.2%

Change from 2016

-3.3pp

Medium highest

2021 count

175

% of total

21.6%

Change from 2016

-0.8pp

Highest group

2021 count

67

% of total

8.3%

Change from 2016

+0.8pp

Data table

Individual income quartiles for Bowraville. Individual income quartiles. 2021 and 2016 counts, percentages, and change compared with Nambucca (A).

Individual income quartiles for Bowraville. Individual income quartiles. 2021 and 2016 counts, percentages, and change compared with Nambucca (A).
Individual income quartiles for Bowraville. Individual income quartiles. 2021 and 2016 counts, percentages, and change compared with Nambucca (A).
Category20212016Change
Count%Nambucca (A)%Count%Nambucca (A)%Countpp
Lowest group22627.9%29.6%19424.7%24.1%+32+3.2pp
Medium lowest34142.2%38.9%35845.5%41.2%-17-3.3pp
Medium highest17521.6%20.5%17622.4%22.9%-1-0.8pp
Highest group678.3%11.0%597.5%11.8%+8+0.8pp
Total persons aged 15+809100.0%100.0%787100.0%100.0%+220.0pp