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 Para Vista, accounting for 30.9%.

Section overview

Individual income quartiles

Para Vista - Persons aged 15+ (Usual residence)

This table summarises individual income quartiles for Para Vista in 2021 for persons, with comparison against Salisbury (C) and change since 2016.

Individual income quartiles snapshot

2021 distribution by category for Para Vista, with comparison markers for Salisbury (C).

Para Vista
Salisbury (C)

Lowest group

2021 count

644

% of total

27.3%

Change from 2016

+6.6pp

Medium lowest

2021 count

731

% of total

30.9%

Change from 2016

+2.6pp

Medium highest

2021 count

655

% of total

27.7%

Change from 2016

-10.2pp

Highest group

2021 count

333

% of total

14.1%

Change from 2016

+1.0pp

Data table

Individual income quartiles for Para Vista. Individual income quartiles. 2021 and 2016 counts, percentages, and change compared with Salisbury (C).

Individual income quartiles for Para Vista. Individual income quartiles. 2021 and 2016 counts, percentages, and change compared with Salisbury (C).
Individual income quartiles for Para Vista. Individual income quartiles. 2021 and 2016 counts, percentages, and change compared with Salisbury (C).
Category20212016Change
Count%Salisbury (C)%Count%Salisbury (C)%Countpp
Lowest group64427.3%29.1%3020.7%27.4%+614+6.6pp
Medium lowest73130.9%29.8%4128.3%29.6%+690+2.6pp
Medium highest65527.7%27.9%5537.9%27.9%+600-10.2pp
Highest group33314.1%13.2%1913.1%15.1%+314+1.0pp
Total persons aged 15+2,363100.0%100.0%145100.0%100.0%+2,2180.0pp