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-high income quartile held the largest share among residents aged 15 and over in Oxley Park, accounting for 31.9%.

Section overview

Individual income quartiles

Oxley Park - Persons aged 15+ (Usual residence)

This table summarises individual income quartiles for Oxley Park in 2021 for persons, with comparison against Penrith (C) and change since 2016.

Individual income quartiles snapshot

2021 distribution by category for Oxley Park, with comparison markers for Penrith (C).

Oxley Park
Penrith (C)

Lowest group

2021 count

700

% of total

25.4%

Change from 2016

+0.6pp

Medium lowest

2021 count

689

% of total

25.0%

Change from 2016

-0.8pp

Medium highest

2021 count

881

% of total

31.9%

Change from 2016

+0.2pp

Highest group

2021 count

488

% of total

17.7%

Change from 2016

+0.1pp

Data table

Individual income quartiles for Oxley Park. Individual income quartiles. 2021 and 2016 counts, percentages, and change compared with Penrith (C).

Individual income quartiles for Oxley Park. Individual income quartiles. 2021 and 2016 counts, percentages, and change compared with Penrith (C).
Individual income quartiles for Oxley Park. Individual income quartiles. 2021 and 2016 counts, percentages, and change compared with Penrith (C).
Category20212016Change
Count%Penrith (C)%Count%Penrith (C)%Countpp
Lowest group70025.4%23.3%54224.8%21.9%+158+0.6pp
Medium lowest68925.0%23.7%56525.8%23.2%+124-0.8pp
Medium highest88131.9%28.7%69431.7%28.8%+187+0.2pp
Highest group48817.7%24.3%38617.6%26.1%+102+0.1pp
Total persons aged 15+2,758100.0%100.0%2,187100.0%100.0%+5710.0pp