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 Singleton (WA), accounting for 33.4%.

Section overview

Individual income quartiles

Singleton (WA) - Persons aged 15+ (Usual residence)

This table summarises individual income quartiles for Singleton (WA) in 2021 for persons, with comparison against Rockingham (C) and change since 2016.

Individual income quartiles snapshot

2021 distribution by category for Singleton (WA), with comparison markers for Rockingham (C).

Singleton (WA)
Rockingham (C)

Lowest group

2021 count

691

% of total

23.9%

Change from 2016

-4.4pp

Medium lowest

2021 count

650

% of total

22.5%

Change from 2016

+5.2pp

Medium highest

2021 count

582

% of total

20.2%

Change from 2016

+0.4pp

Highest group

2021 count

965

% of total

33.4%

Change from 2016

-1.2pp

Data table

Individual income quartiles for Singleton (WA). Individual income quartiles. 2021 and 2016 counts, percentages, and change compared with Rockingham (C).

Individual income quartiles for Singleton (WA). Individual income quartiles. 2021 and 2016 counts, percentages, and change compared with Rockingham (C).
Individual income quartiles for Singleton (WA). Individual income quartiles. 2021 and 2016 counts, percentages, and change compared with Rockingham (C).
Category20212016Change
Count%Rockingham (C)%Count%Rockingham (C)%Countpp
Lowest group69123.9%25.9%72528.3%25.3%-34-4.4pp
Medium lowest65022.5%24.8%44317.3%22.9%+207+5.2pp
Medium highest58220.2%22.6%50719.8%22.1%+75+0.4pp
Highest group96533.4%26.7%88834.6%29.6%+77-1.2pp
Total persons aged 15+2,888100.0%100.0%2,563100.0%100.0%+3250.0pp