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 lowest income quartile held the largest share among residents aged 15 and over in Girrawheen, accounting for 32.3%.

Section overview

Individual income quartiles

Girrawheen - Persons aged 15+ (Usual residence)

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

Individual income quartiles snapshot

2021 distribution by category for Girrawheen, with comparison markers for Wanneroo (C).

Girrawheen
Wanneroo (C)

Lowest group

2021 count

2,143

% of total

32.3%

Change from 2016

+1.6pp

Medium lowest

2021 count

1,926

% of total

29.1%

Change from 2016

+0.3pp

Medium highest

2021 count

1,738

% of total

26.2%

Change from 2016

-0.5pp

Highest group

2021 count

821

% of total

12.4%

Change from 2016

-1.4pp

Data table

Individual income quartiles for Girrawheen. Individual income quartiles. 2021 and 2016 counts, percentages, and change compared with Wanneroo (C).

Individual income quartiles for Girrawheen. Individual income quartiles. 2021 and 2016 counts, percentages, and change compared with Wanneroo (C).
Individual income quartiles for Girrawheen. Individual income quartiles. 2021 and 2016 counts, percentages, and change compared with Wanneroo (C).
Category20212016Change
Count%Wanneroo (C)%Count%Wanneroo (C)%Countpp
Lowest group2,14332.3%25.7%1,94430.7%25.5%+199+1.6pp
Medium lowest1,92629.1%23.7%1,82228.8%21.3%+104+0.3pp
Medium highest1,73826.2%25.6%1,69426.7%24.7%+44-0.5pp
Highest group82112.4%25.0%87713.8%28.5%-56-1.4pp
Total persons aged 15+6,628100.0%100.0%6,337100.0%100.0%+2910.0pp