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 Wallangarra, accounting for 40.9%.

Section overview

Individual income quartiles

Wallangarra - Persons aged 15+ (Usual residence)

This table summarises individual income quartiles for Wallangarra in 2021 for persons, with comparison against Southern Downs (R) and change since 2016.

Individual income quartiles snapshot

2021 distribution by category for Wallangarra, with comparison markers for Southern Downs (R).

Wallangarra
Southern Downs (R)

Lowest group

2021 count

114

% of total

34.5%

Change from 2016

+3.8pp

Medium lowest

2021 count

135

% of total

40.9%

Change from 2016

-0.4pp

Medium highest

2021 count

61

% of total

18.5%

Change from 2016

-6.0pp

Highest group

2021 count

20

% of total

6.1%

Change from 2016

+2.6pp

Data table

Individual income quartiles for Wallangarra. Individual income quartiles. 2021 and 2016 counts, percentages, and change compared with Southern Downs (R).

Individual income quartiles for Wallangarra. Individual income quartiles. 2021 and 2016 counts, percentages, and change compared with Southern Downs (R).
Individual income quartiles for Wallangarra. Individual income quartiles. 2021 and 2016 counts, percentages, and change compared with Southern Downs (R).
Category20212016Change
Count%Southern Downs (R)%Count%Southern Downs (R)%Countpp
Lowest group11434.5%28.0%10430.7%23.6%+10+3.8pp
Medium lowest13540.9%35.9%14041.3%36.7%-5-0.4pp
Medium highest6118.5%23.9%8324.5%26.5%-22-6.0pp
Highest group206.1%12.3%123.5%13.3%+8+2.6pp
Total persons aged 15+330100.0%100.0%339100.0%100.0%-90.0pp