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 Cumborah, accounting for 46.8%.

Section overview

Individual income quartiles

Cumborah - Persons aged 15+ (Usual residence)

This table summarises individual income quartiles for Cumborah in 2021 for persons, with comparison against Walgett (A) and change since 2016.

Individual income quartiles snapshot

2021 distribution by category for Cumborah, with comparison markers for Walgett (A).

Cumborah
Walgett (A)

Lowest group

2021 count

48

% of total

30.4%

Change from 2016

-2.9pp

Medium lowest

2021 count

74

% of total

46.8%

Change from 2016

-2.4pp

Medium highest

2021 count

20

% of total

12.7%

Change from 2016

+5.1pp

Highest group

2021 count

16

% of total

10.1%

Change from 2016

+0.3pp

Data table

Individual income quartiles for Cumborah. Individual income quartiles. 2021 and 2016 counts, percentages, and change compared with Walgett (A).

Individual income quartiles for Cumborah. Individual income quartiles. 2021 and 2016 counts, percentages, and change compared with Walgett (A).
Individual income quartiles for Cumborah. Individual income quartiles. 2021 and 2016 counts, percentages, and change compared with Walgett (A).
Category20212016Change
Count%Walgett (A)%Count%Walgett (A)%Countpp
Lowest group4830.4%28.6%4433.3%27.5%+4-2.9pp
Medium lowest7446.8%34.3%6549.2%36.5%+9-2.4pp
Medium highest2012.7%21.3%107.6%21.6%+10+5.1pp
Highest group1610.1%15.8%139.8%14.5%+3+0.3pp
Total persons aged 15+158100.0%100.0%132100.0%100.0%+260.0pp