Households
Household size
About this topic
Household size shows how many people live in each household. It is a basic but important measure of family life, dwelling use, and the way people share housing.
This topic helps indicate demand for different dwelling sizes and can reflect life-cycle patterns, cultural norms, and affordability pressures. It is best read with household type, age structure, and dwelling type, because changes in household size can happen for very different reasons.
Interpretation notes
- This counts the number of people usually resident in the dwelling, so it describes shared living arrangements rather than dwelling size.
- Household size should be read with bedrooms or dwelling structure before drawing conclusions about crowding or housing suitability.
Key insight
In 2021, 4 persons was the most common household size among households in Cairnlea, accounting for 25.1% (704 households). This share was higher than Brimbank (C) (18.2%). Since 2016, the biggest change was in 2 persons, which increased by 158 households and 4.1 percentage points.
Section overview
Household size
Cairnlea - Households (Enumerated)
This table summarises household size for Cairnlea in 2021 for persons, with comparison against Brimbank (C) and change since 2016.
Household size snapshot
2021 distribution by category for Cairnlea, with comparison markers for Brimbank (C).
1 person
2021 count
299
% of total
10.6%
Change from 2016
+2.4pp
299
10.6%
+2.4pp
2 persons
2021 count
609
% of total
21.7%
Change from 2016
+4.1pp
609
21.7%
+4.1pp
3 persons
2021 count
540
% of total
19.2%
Change from 2016
-0.8pp
540
19.2%
-0.8pp
4 persons
2021 count
704
% of total
25.1%
Change from 2016
-2.2pp
704
25.1%
-2.2pp
5 persons
2021 count
372
% of total
13.2%
Change from 2016
-1.5pp
372
13.2%
-1.5pp
6 or more persons
2021 count
288
% of total
10.3%
Change from 2016
-1.7pp
288
10.3%
-1.7pp
Chart view
Household size change
Absolute change in category counts between 2016 and 2021.
1 person
+89
+2.4pp
2 persons
+158
+4.1pp
3 persons
+28
-0.8pp
4 persons
+3
-2.2pp
5 persons
-6
-1.5pp
6 or more persons
-20
-1.7pp
Data table
Household size for Cairnlea. Household size. 2021 and 2016 counts, percentages, and change compared with Brimbank (C).
| Category | 2021 | 2016 | Change | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Count | % | Brimbank (C)% | Count | % | Brimbank (C)% | Count | pp | |
| 1 person | 299 | 10.6% | 20.4% | 210 | 8.2% | 18.4% | +89 | +2.4pp |
| 2 persons | 609 | 21.7% | 28.7% | 451 | 17.6% | 27.6% | +158 | +4.1pp |
| 3 persons | 540 | 19.2% | 18.7% | 512 | 20.0% | 19.1% | +28 | -0.8pp |
| 4 persons | 704 | 25.1% | 18.2% | 701 | 27.3% | 19.1% | +3 | -2.2pp |
| 5 persons | 372 | 13.2% | 8.2% | 378 | 14.7% | 9.2% | -6 | -1.5pp |
| 6 or more persons | 288 | 10.3% | 5.8% | 308 | 12.0% | 6.6% | -20 | -1.7pp |
| Total classifiable households | 2,808 | 100.0% | 100.0% | 2,564 | 100.0% | 100.0% | +244 | 0.0pp |