Households
Households with children
About this topic
Households with children groups households according to whether children are present and the life stage of those children. In this topic, life stage is based on the ages of the children in the household rather than the age of the parents.
This topic is useful for understanding likely demand for childcare, schools, youth services, and family housing. It should be read with household size, age structure, and dwelling type to build a fuller picture of family life in an area.
Interpretation notes
- This is a derived subset of households that classifies households by whether children are present and by the ages of those children.
- The life-stage labels describe the ages of children in the household, not the ages of parents or carers.
Key insight
In 2021, households with children was the most common household life-stage group among households in Dorset (M), accounting for 28.1% (838 households). This share was lower than Regional Tas. (33.2%). Since 2016, the biggest change was in single parents with children, which increased by 27 households and 0.5 percentage points.
Section overview
Households with children by life stage
Dorset (M) - Households (Enumerated)
This table summarises households with children for Dorset (M) in 2021 for persons, with comparison against Regional Tas. and change since 2016.
Households with children by life stage snapshot
2021 distribution by category for Dorset (M), with comparison markers for Regional Tas..
Couples with children
2021 count
581
% of total
19.5%
Change from 2016
-1.9pp
581
19.5%
-1.9pp
Couples with young children
2021 count
299
% of total
10.0%
Change from 2016
-1.2pp
299
10.0%
-1.2pp
Couples with mixed-age children
2021 count
101
% of total
3.4%
Change from 2016
-0.1pp
101
3.4%
-0.1pp
Couples with older children
2021 count
184
% of total
6.2%
Change from 2016
-0.6pp
184
6.2%
-0.6pp
Single parents with children
2021 count
257
% of total
8.6%
Change from 2016
+0.5pp
257
8.6%
+0.5pp
Single parents with young children
2021 count
101
% of total
3.4%
Change from 2016
-0.5pp
101
3.4%
-0.5pp
Single parents with mixed-age children
2021 count
31
% of total
1.0%
Change from 2016
+0.3pp
31
1.0%
+0.3pp
Single parents with older children
2021 count
122
% of total
4.1%
Change from 2016
+0.5pp
122
4.1%
+0.5pp
Total households with children
2021 count
838
% of total
28.1%
Change from 2016
-1.4pp
838
28.1%
-1.4pp
Chart view
Households with children by life stage change
Absolute change in category counts between 2016 and 2021.
Couples with children
-25
-1.9pp
Couples with young children
-19
-1.2pp
Couples with mixed-age children
+1
-0.1pp
Couples with older children
-9
-0.6pp
Single parents with children
+27
+0.5pp
Single parents with young children
-9
-0.5pp
Single parents with mixed-age children
+10
+0.3pp
Single parents with older children
+19
+0.5pp
Total households with children
+2
-1.4pp
Data table
Households with children for Dorset (M). Households with children by life stage. 2021 and 2016 counts, percentages, and change compared with Regional Tas..
| Category | 2021 | 2016 | Change | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Count | % | Regional Tas.% | Count | % | Regional Tas.% | Count | pp | |
| Couples with children | 581 | 19.5% | 22.6% | 606 | 21.4% | 23.5% | -25 | -1.9pp |
| Couples with young children | 299 | 10.0% | 12.1% | 318 | 11.2% | 12.5% | -19 | -1.2pp |
| Couples with mixed-age children | 101 | 3.4% | 3.4% | 100 | 3.5% | 3.7% | +1 | -0.1pp |
| Couples with older children | 184 | 6.2% | 7.3% | 193 | 6.8% | 7.4% | -9 | -0.6pp |
| Single parents with children | 257 | 8.6% | 10.5% | 230 | 8.1% | 10.2% | +27 | +0.5pp |
| Single parents with young children | 101 | 3.4% | 4.4% | 110 | 3.9% | 4.5% | -9 | -0.5pp |
| Single parents with mixed-age children | 31 | 1.0% | 1.3% | 21 | 0.7% | 1.3% | +10 | +0.3pp |
| Single parents with older children | 122 | 4.1% | 5.0% | 103 | 3.6% | 4.7% | +19 | +0.5pp |
| Total households with children | 838 | 28.1% | 33.2% | 836 | 29.5% | 33.7% | +2 | -1.4pp |
| Total households | 2,985 | 100.0% | 100.0% | 2,834 | 100.0% | 100.0% | +151 | 0.0pp |