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, lone-person households was the most common household type among households in Darebin (C), accounting for 29.4% (18,201 households). This share was higher than Greater Melbourne (23.7%). Since 2016, the biggest change was in lone-person households, which increased by 2,871 households and 3.2 percentage points.

Section overview

Household type

Darebin (C) - Total households (Enumerated)

This table summarises household type for Darebin (C) in 2021 for persons, with comparison against Greater Melbourne and change since 2016.

Household type snapshot

2021 distribution by category for Darebin (C), with comparison markers for Greater Melbourne.

Darebin (C)
Greater Melbourne

Couples with children

2021 count

16,119

% of total

26.1%

Change from 2016

-1.0pp

Couples without children

2021 count

14,356

% of total

23.2%

Change from 2016

+1.3pp

One parent families

2021 count

5,642

% of total

9.1%

Change from 2016

0.0pp

Other families

2021 count

950

% of total

1.5%

Change from 2016

-0.2pp

Group household

2021 count

4,215

% of total

6.8%

Change from 2016

-0.8pp

Lone person

2021 count

18,201

% of total

29.4%

Change from 2016

+3.2pp

Other not classifiable household

2021 count

652

% of total

1.1%

Change from 2016

-0.2pp

Visitor only households

2021 count

1,677

% of total

2.7%

Change from 2016

-2.3pp

Data table

Household type for Darebin (C). Household type. 2021 and 2016 counts, percentages, and change compared with Greater Melbourne.

Household type for Darebin (C). Household type. 2021 and 2016 counts, percentages, and change compared with Greater Melbourne.
Household type for Darebin (C). Household type. 2021 and 2016 counts, percentages, and change compared with Greater Melbourne.
Category20212016Change
Count%Greater Melbourne%Count%Greater Melbourne%Countpp
Couples with children16,11926.1%33.1%15,84227.1%33.5%+277-1.0pp
Couples without children14,35623.2%23.5%12,80121.9%22.9%+1,555+1.3pp
One parent families5,6429.1%10.2%5,3439.1%10.1%+2990.0pp
Other families9501.5%1.2%1,0031.7%1.4%-53-0.2pp
Group household4,2156.8%4.1%4,4227.6%4.7%-207-0.8pp
Lone person18,20129.4%23.7%15,33026.2%22.0%+2,871+3.2pp
Other not classifiable household6521.1%1.9%7591.3%1.9%-107-0.2pp
Visitor only households1,6772.7%2.3%2,9125.0%3.5%-1,235-2.3pp
Total households61,810100.0%100.0%58,412100.0%100.0%+3,3980.0pp