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 Sampson Flat, accounting for 30.2%.

Section overview

Individual income quartiles

Sampson Flat - Persons aged 15+ (Usual residence)

This table summarises individual income quartiles for Sampson Flat in 2021 for persons, with comparison against Playford (C) and change since 2016.

Individual income quartiles snapshot

2021 distribution by category for Sampson Flat, with comparison markers for Playford (C).

Sampson Flat
Playford (C)

Lowest group

2021 count

27

% of total

25.5%

Change from 2016

+5.1pp

Medium lowest

2021 count

18

% of total

17.0%

Change from 2016

-13.6pp

Medium highest

2021 count

29

% of total

27.4%

Change from 2016

+1.5pp

Highest group

2021 count

32

% of total

30.2%

Change from 2016

+7.1pp

Data table

Individual income quartiles for Sampson Flat. Individual income quartiles. 2021 and 2016 counts, percentages, and change compared with Playford (C).

Individual income quartiles for Sampson Flat. Individual income quartiles. 2021 and 2016 counts, percentages, and change compared with Playford (C).
Individual income quartiles for Sampson Flat. Individual income quartiles. 2021 and 2016 counts, percentages, and change compared with Playford (C).
Category20212016Change
Count%Playford (C)%Count%Playford (C)%Countpp
Lowest group2725.5%28.3%2220.4%27.4%+5+5.1pp
Medium lowest1817.0%31.7%3330.6%32.1%-15-13.6pp
Medium highest2927.4%27.7%2825.9%27.2%+1+1.5pp
Highest group3230.2%12.4%2523.1%13.4%+7+7.1pp
Total persons aged 15+106100.0%100.0%108100.0%100.0%-20.0pp