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 West Tamar (M), accounting for 29.9%.
Section overview
Individual income quartiles
West Tamar (M) - Persons aged 15+ (Usual residence)
This table summarises individual income quartiles for West Tamar (M) in 2021 for persons, with comparison against Regional Tas. and change since 2016.
Individual income quartiles snapshot
2021 distribution by category for West Tamar (M), with comparison markers for Regional Tas..
Lowest group
2021 count
5,059
% of total
25.7%
Change from 2016
+2.1pp
5,059
25.7%
+2.1pp
Medium lowest
2021 count
5,905
% of total
29.9%
Change from 2016
-1.5pp
5,905
29.9%
-1.5pp
Medium highest
2021 count
4,957
% of total
25.1%
Change from 2016
-0.2pp
4,957
25.1%
-0.2pp
Highest group
2021 count
3,801
% of total
19.3%
Change from 2016
-0.4pp
3,801
19.3%
-0.4pp
Chart view
Individual income quartiles change
Absolute change in category counts between 2016 and 2021.
Lowest group
+976
+2.1pp
Medium lowest
+488
-1.5pp
Medium highest
+583
-0.2pp
Highest group
+401
-0.4pp
Data table
Individual income quartiles for West Tamar (M). Individual income quartiles. 2021 and 2016 counts, percentages, and change compared with Regional Tas..
| Category | 2021 | 2016 | Change | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Count | % | Regional Tas.% | Count | % | Regional Tas.% | Count | pp | |
| Lowest group | 5,059 | 25.7% | 26.0% | 4,083 | 23.6% | 23.8% | +976 | +2.1pp |
| Medium lowest | 5,905 | 29.9% | 33.2% | 5,417 | 31.4% | 34.2% | +488 | -1.5pp |
| Medium highest | 4,957 | 25.1% | 24.7% | 4,374 | 25.3% | 25.3% | +583 | -0.2pp |
| Highest group | 3,801 | 19.3% | 16.1% | 3,400 | 19.7% | 16.7% | +401 | -0.4pp |
| Total persons aged 15+ | 19,722 | 100.0% | 100.0% | 17,274 | 100.0% | 100.0% | +2,448 | 0.0pp |