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, couples with children was the most common household type among households in Sunshine West, accounting for 31.5% (2,056 households). This share was lower than Brimbank (C) (34.7%). Since 2016, the biggest change was in couples with children, which increased by 1,997 households and 13.3 percentage points.
Section overview
Household type
Sunshine West - Total households (Enumerated)
This table summarises household type for Sunshine West in 2021 for persons, with comparison against Brimbank (C) and change since 2016.
Household type snapshot
2021 distribution by category for Sunshine West, with comparison markers for Brimbank (C).
Couples with children
2021 count
2,056
% of total
31.5%
Change from 2016
+13.3pp
2,056
31.5%
+13.3pp
Couples without children
2021 count
1,387
% of total
21.3%
Change from 2016
-15.4pp
1,387
21.3%
-15.4pp
One parent families
2021 count
1,034
% of total
15.9%
Change from 2016
+9.4pp
1,034
15.9%
+9.4pp
Other families
2021 count
121
% of total
1.9%
Change from 2016
+1.9pp
121
1.9%
+1.9pp
Group household
2021 count
279
% of total
4.3%
Change from 2016
+3.4pp
279
4.3%
+3.4pp
Lone person
2021 count
1,337
% of total
20.5%
Change from 2016
-6.0pp
1,337
20.5%
-6.0pp
Other not classifiable household
2021 count
219
% of total
3.4%
Change from 2016
+3.1pp
219
3.4%
+3.1pp
Visitor only households
2021 count
84
% of total
1.3%
Change from 2016
-8.0pp
84
1.3%
-8.0pp
Chart view
Household type change
Absolute change in category counts between 2016 and 2021.
Couples with children
+1,997
+13.3pp
Couples without children
+1,268
-15.4pp
One parent families
+1,013
+9.4pp
Other families
+121
+1.9pp
Group household
+276
+3.4pp
Lone person
+1,251
-6.0pp
Other not classifiable household
+218
+3.1pp
Visitor only households
+54
-8.0pp
Data table
Household type for Sunshine West. Household type. 2021 and 2016 counts, percentages, and change compared with Brimbank (C).
| Category | 2021 | 2016 | Change | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Count | % | Brimbank (C)% | Count | % | Brimbank (C)% | Count | pp | |
| Couples with children | 2,056 | 31.5% | 34.7% | 59 | 18.2% | 37.6% | +1,997 | +13.3pp |
| Couples without children | 1,387 | 21.3% | 20.8% | 119 | 36.7% | 20.2% | +1,268 | -15.4pp |
| One parent families | 1,034 | 15.9% | 14.6% | 21 | 6.5% | 14.6% | +1,013 | +9.4pp |
| Other families | 121 | 1.9% | 1.7% | 0 | 0.0% | 1.8% | +121 | +1.9pp |
| Group household | 279 | 4.3% | 3.5% | 3 | 0.9% | 3.2% | +276 | +3.4pp |
| Lone person | 1,337 | 20.5% | 19.4% | 86 | 26.5% | 17.5% | +1,251 | -6.0pp |
| Other not classifiable household | 219 | 3.4% | 3.7% | 1 | 0.3% | 4.1% | +218 | +3.1pp |
| Visitor only households | 84 | 1.3% | 1.6% | 30 | 9.3% | 1.0% | +54 | -8.0pp |
| Total households | 6,521 | 100.0% | 100.0% | 324 | 100.0% | 100.0% | +6,197 | 0.0pp |