Households

Household type

About this topic

Household type summarises the mix of household and family structures in an area, such as couples with children, lone person households, and one-parent families. It is one of the clearest indicators of how people live together and the residential role of an area.

This topic is useful for planning services, facilities, and housing because demand is closely tied to household structure. It is best read with households with children, households without children, household size, age structure, and dwelling type.

Interpretation notes

  • This is a derived household-composition view built from relationships within dwellings, so it summarises household structure rather than a single Census question.
  • It is dwelling-based, which means different household types can reflect both family structure and housing arrangements.

Key insight

In 2021, visitor only households was the most common household type among households in Ashburton (S), accounting for 44.5% (1,273 households). This share was higher than Regional WA (14%). Since 2016, the biggest change was in visitor only households, which increased by 440 households and 14.4 percentage points.

Section overview

Household type

Ashburton (S) - Total households (Enumerated)

This table summarises household type for Ashburton (S) in 2021 for persons, with comparison against Regional WA and change since 2016.

Household type snapshot

2021 distribution by category for Ashburton (S), with comparison markers for Regional WA.

Ashburton (S)
Regional WA

Couples with children

2021 count

626

% of total

21.9%

Change from 2016

-6.5pp

Couples without children

2021 count

413

% of total

14.4%

Change from 2016

-2.2pp

One parent families

2021 count

111

% of total

3.9%

Change from 2016

-0.7pp

Other families

2021 count

17

% of total

0.6%

Change from 2016

-0.1pp

Group household

2021 count

32

% of total

1.1%

Change from 2016

-0.4pp

Lone person

2021 count

382

% of total

13.3%

Change from 2016

-4.3pp

Other not classifiable household

2021 count

9

% of total

0.3%

Change from 2016

-0.4pp

Visitor only households

2021 count

1,273

% of total

44.5%

Change from 2016

+14.4pp

Data table

Household type for Ashburton (S). Household type. 2021 and 2016 counts, percentages, and change compared with Regional WA.

Household type for Ashburton (S). Household type. 2021 and 2016 counts, percentages, and change compared with Regional WA.
Household type for Ashburton (S). Household type. 2021 and 2016 counts, percentages, and change compared with Regional WA.
Category20212016Change
Count%Regional WA%Count%Regional WA%Countpp
Couples with children62621.9%23.8%78528.4%25.8%-159-6.5pp
Couples without children41314.4%25.7%45816.6%26.0%-45-2.2pp
One parent families1113.9%8.7%1284.6%8.7%-17-0.7pp
Other families170.6%0.8%180.7%0.8%-1-0.1pp
Group household321.1%2.3%411.5%2.5%-9-0.4pp
Lone person38213.3%23.2%48517.6%22.0%-103-4.3pp
Other not classifiable household90.3%1.4%180.7%1.3%-9-0.4pp
Visitor only households1,27344.5%14.0%83330.1%12.9%+440+14.4pp
Total households2,862100.0%100.0%2,763100.0%100.0%+990.0pp