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-high income quartile held the largest share among residents aged 15 and over in Irvingdale (part), accounting for 34.7%.

Section overview

Individual income quartiles

Irvingdale (part) - Persons aged 15+ (Usual residence)

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

Individual income quartiles snapshot

2021 distribution by category for Irvingdale (part), with comparison markers for Western Downs (R).

Irvingdale (part)
Western Downs (R)

Lowest group

2021 count

19

% of total

19.4%

Change from 2016

-5.1pp

Medium lowest

2021 count

17

% of total

17.3%

Change from 2016

-11.2pp

Medium highest

2021 count

34

% of total

34.7%

Change from 2016

+9.7pp

Highest group

2021 count

28

% of total

28.6%

Change from 2016

+6.5pp

Data table

Individual income quartiles for Irvingdale (part). Individual income quartiles. 2021 and 2016 counts, percentages, and change compared with Western Downs (R).

Individual income quartiles for Irvingdale (part). Individual income quartiles. 2021 and 2016 counts, percentages, and change compared with Western Downs (R).
Individual income quartiles for Irvingdale (part). Individual income quartiles. 2021 and 2016 counts, percentages, and change compared with Western Downs (R).
Category20212016Change
Count%Western Downs (R)%Count%Western Downs (R)%Countpp
Lowest group1919.4%24.4%40624.5%22.7%-387-5.1pp
Medium lowest1717.3%30.3%47128.5%28.7%-454-11.2pp
Medium highest3434.7%25.4%41325.0%26.0%-379+9.7pp
Highest group2828.6%19.9%36522.1%22.6%-337+6.5pp
Total persons aged 15+98100.0%100.0%1,655100.0%100.0%-1,5570.0pp