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, two-person households was the most common household size among households in Merrylands (part), accounting for 24.3% (2,413 households). This share was lower than Cumberland (A) (24.7%). Since 2016, the biggest change was in two-person households, which increased by 2,360 households, while its share fell by 17.8 percentage points.
Section overview
Household size
Merrylands (part) - Households (Enumerated)
This table summarises household size for Merrylands (part) in 2021 for persons, with comparison against Cumberland (A) and change since 2016.
Household size snapshot
2021 distribution by category for Merrylands (part), with comparison markers for Cumberland (A).
Number Of Persons Usually Resident One
2021 count
2,251
% of total
22.7%
Change from 2016
+14.0pp
2,251
22.7%
+14.0pp
Number Of Persons Usually Resident Two
2021 count
2,413
% of total
24.3%
Change from 2016
-17.8pp
2,413
24.3%
-17.8pp
Number Of Persons Usually Resident Three
2021 count
1,773
% of total
17.9%
Change from 2016
+2.8pp
1,773
17.9%
+2.8pp
Number Of Persons Usually Resident Four
2021 count
1,604
% of total
16.2%
Change from 2016
-0.5pp
1,604
16.2%
-0.5pp
Number Of Persons Usually Resident Five
2021 count
975
% of total
9.8%
Change from 2016
+3.5pp
975
9.8%
+3.5pp
Number Of Persons Usually Resident Six Or More
2021 count
910
% of total
9.2%
Change from 2016
+9.2pp
910
9.2%
+9.2pp
Chart view
Household size change
Absolute change in category counts between 2016 and 2021.
Number Of Persons Usually Resident One
+2,240
+14.0pp
Number Of Persons Usually Resident Two
+2,360
-17.8pp
Number Of Persons Usually Resident Three
+1,754
+2.8pp
Number Of Persons Usually Resident Four
+1,583
-0.5pp
Number Of Persons Usually Resident Five
+967
+3.5pp
Number Of Persons Usually Resident Six Or More
+910
+9.2pp
Data table
Household size for Merrylands (part). Household size. 2021 and 2016 counts, percentages, and change compared with Cumberland (A).
| Category | 2021 | 2016 | Change | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Count | % | Cumberland (A)% | Count | % | Cumberland (A)% | Count | pp | |
| Number Of Persons Usually Resident One | 2,251 | 22.7% | 19.5% | 11 | 8.7% | 18.0% | +2,240 | +14.0pp |
| Number Of Persons Usually Resident Two | 2,413 | 24.3% | 24.7% | 53 | 42.1% | 23.5% | +2,360 | -17.8pp |
| Number Of Persons Usually Resident Three | 1,773 | 17.9% | 19.1% | 19 | 15.1% | 18.8% | +1,754 | +2.8pp |
| Number Of Persons Usually Resident Four | 1,604 | 16.2% | 18.8% | 21 | 16.7% | 19.2% | +1,583 | -0.5pp |
| Number Of Persons Usually Resident Five | 975 | 9.8% | 9.4% | 8 | 6.3% | 10.7% | +967 | +3.5pp |
| Number Of Persons Usually Resident Six Or More | 910 | 9.2% | 8.4% | 0 | 0.0% | 9.7% | +910 | +9.2pp |
| Total | 9,926 | 100.0% | 100.0% | 126 | 100.0% | 100.0% | +9,800 | 0.0pp |