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 Werrington Downs, accounting for 29.4%.

Section overview

Individual income quartiles

Werrington Downs - Persons aged 15+ (Usual residence)

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

Individual income quartiles snapshot

2021 distribution by category for Werrington Downs, with comparison markers for Penrith (C).

Werrington Downs
Penrith (C)

Lowest group

2021 count

522

% of total

21.8%

Change from 2016

+1.2pp

Medium lowest

2021 count

539

% of total

22.5%

Change from 2016

+1.4pp

Medium highest

2021 count

706

% of total

29.4%

Change from 2016

-0.3pp

Highest group

2021 count

632

% of total

26.3%

Change from 2016

-2.3pp

Data table

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

Individual income quartiles for Werrington Downs. Individual income quartiles. 2021 and 2016 counts, percentages, and change compared with Penrith (C).
Individual income quartiles for Werrington Downs. Individual income quartiles. 2021 and 2016 counts, percentages, and change compared with Penrith (C).
Category20212016Change
Count%Penrith (C)%Count%Penrith (C)%Countpp
Lowest group52221.8%23.3%49920.6%21.9%+23+1.2pp
Medium lowest53922.5%23.7%51121.1%23.2%+28+1.4pp
Medium highest70629.4%28.7%71829.7%28.8%-12-0.3pp
Highest group63226.3%24.3%69128.6%26.1%-59-2.3pp
Total persons aged 15+2,399100.0%100.0%2,419100.0%100.0%-200.0pp