Housing
Dwelling type
About this topic
Dwelling type shows the structure of dwellings, such as separate houses, medium density housing, and higher density housing. It is a core measure of built form and residential density within an area.
This topic helps explain the housing role of an area and the kinds of households it may attract. It is best read with household size, household type, tenure, and age structure, because built form and population characteristics are closely related.
Interpretation notes
- Dwelling structure describes the physical form of dwellings counted on Census night rather than tenure, housing condition, or household makeup.
- It is strongest when read alongside household size and tenure, because structure alone does not show who lives there.
Key insight
In 2021, separate houses was the most common dwelling type among dwellings in Brisbane (C), accounting for 61.8% (297,791 dwellings). This share was lower than Greater Brisbane (72.6%). Since 2016, the biggest change was in high density, which increased by 30,095 dwellings and 4.5 percentage points.
Section overview
Dwelling structure
Brisbane (C) - Dwellings (Enumerated)
This table summarises dwelling type for Brisbane (C) in 2021 for persons, with comparison against Greater Brisbane and change since 2016.
Dwelling structure snapshot
2021 distribution by category for Brisbane (C), with comparison markers for Greater Brisbane.
Separate house
2021 count
297,791
% of total
61.8%
Change from 2016
-4.2pp
297,791
61.8%
-4.2pp
Medium density
2021 count
84,606
% of total
17.6%
Change from 2016
+0.4pp
84,606
17.6%
+0.4pp
High density
2021 count
96,679
% of total
20.1%
Change from 2016
+4.5pp
96,679
20.1%
+4.5pp
Caravans, cabin, houseboat
2021 count
1,405
% of total
0.3%
Change from 2016
-0.1pp
1,405
0.3%
-0.1pp
Other
2021 count
416
% of total
0.1%
Change from 2016
-0.1pp
416
0.1%
-0.1pp
Not stated
2021 count
1,192
% of total
0.2%
Change from 2016
-0.3pp
1,192
0.2%
-0.3pp
Chart view
Dwelling structure change
Absolute change in category counts between 2016 and 2021.
Separate house
+16,046
-4.2pp
Medium density
+11,133
+0.4pp
High density
+30,095
+4.5pp
Caravans, cabin, houseboat
-476
-0.1pp
Other
-452
-0.1pp
Not stated
-900
-0.3pp
Data table
Dwelling type for Brisbane (C). Dwelling structure. 2021 and 2016 counts, percentages, and change compared with Greater Brisbane.
| Category | 2021 | 2016 | Change | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Count | % | Greater Brisbane% | Count | % | Greater Brisbane% | Count | pp | |
| Separate house | 297,791 | 61.8% | 72.6% | 281,745 | 66.0% | 75.4% | +16,046 | -4.2pp |
| Medium density | 84,606 | 17.6% | 15.8% | 73,473 | 17.2% | 14.9% | +11,133 | +0.4pp |
| High density | 96,679 | 20.1% | 10.8% | 66,584 | 15.6% | 8.5% | +30,095 | +4.5pp |
| Caravans, cabin, houseboat | 1,405 | 0.3% | 0.5% | 1,881 | 0.4% | 0.6% | -476 | -0.1pp |
| Other | 416 | 0.1% | 0.1% | 868 | 0.2% | 0.2% | -452 | -0.1pp |
| Not stated | 1,192 | 0.2% | 0.2% | 2,092 | 0.5% | 0.4% | -900 | -0.3pp |
| Total Occupied Private Dwellings | 482,077 | 100.0% | 100.0% | 426,648 | 100.0% | 100.0% | +55,429 | 0.0pp |