Households
Households without children
About this topic
Households without children includes couple-only households and lone person households, grouped by life stage. In this topic, life stage is based on the age of the household reference person rather than on the ages of all people in the dwelling.
This topic is useful for understanding the mix of younger adult, mid-life, and older households and the different housing and service needs they may have. It works best alongside household size, age structure, and dwelling type.
Interpretation notes
- This is a derived subset of couple-only and lone-person households, not a summary of all household types.
- The life-stage labels are based on the age of the household reference person, so they simplify the ages of everyone else in the household.
Key insight
In 2021, couples without children was the most common household life-stage group among households in Dorset (M), accounting for 25.6% (957 households). This share was higher than Regional Tas. (24.9%). Since 2016, the biggest change was in older couples without children, which increased by 82 households and 1.3 percentage points.
Section overview
Households without children by life stage
Dorset (M) - Households (Enumerated)
This table summarises households without children for Dorset (M) in 2021 for persons, with comparison against Regional Tas. and change since 2016.
Households without children by life stage snapshot
2021 distribution by category for Dorset (M), with comparison markers for Regional Tas..
Couples without children
2021 count
957
% of total
25.6%
Change from 2016
+0.9pp
957
25.6%
+0.9pp
Young couples without children
2021 count
93
% of total
2.5%
Change from 2016
-0.3pp
93
2.5%
-0.3pp
Middle-aged couples without children
2021 count
94
% of total
2.5%
Change from 2016
-0.1pp
94
2.5%
-0.1pp
Older couples without children
2021 count
770
% of total
20.6%
Change from 2016
+1.3pp
770
20.6%
+1.3pp
Lone person households
2021 count
874
% of total
23.4%
Change from 2016
-1.0pp
874
23.4%
-1.0pp
Young lone persons
2021 count
133
% of total
3.6%
Change from 2016
-0.4pp
133
3.6%
-0.4pp
Middle-aged lone persons
2021 count
279
% of total
7.5%
Change from 2016
-1.2pp
279
7.5%
-1.2pp
Older lone persons
2021 count
469
% of total
12.5%
Change from 2016
+0.5pp
469
12.5%
+0.5pp
Group households
2021 count
72
% of total
1.9%
Change from 2016
+0.3pp
72
1.9%
+0.3pp
Chart view
Households without children by life stage change
Absolute change in category counts between 2016 and 2021.
Couples without children
+77
+0.9pp
Young couples without children
-6
-0.3pp
Middle-aged couples without children
+1
-0.1pp
Older couples without children
+82
+1.3pp
Lone person households
+7
-1.0pp
Young lone persons
-9
-0.4pp
Middle-aged lone persons
-29
-1.2pp
Older lone persons
+43
+0.5pp
Group households
+16
+0.3pp
Data table
Households without children for Dorset (M). Households without 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 without children | 957 | 25.6% | 24.9% | 880 | 24.7% | 24.6% | +77 | +0.9pp |
| Young couples without children | 93 | 2.5% | 3.2% | 99 | 2.8% | 3.4% | -6 | -0.3pp |
| Middle-aged couples without children | 94 | 2.5% | 2.9% | 93 | 2.6% | 2.9% | +1 | -0.1pp |
| Older couples without children | 770 | 20.6% | 18.8% | 688 | 19.3% | 18.2% | +82 | +1.3pp |
| Lone person households | 874 | 23.4% | 24.0% | 867 | 24.4% | 24.3% | +7 | -1.0pp |
| Young lone persons | 133 | 3.6% | 4.3% | 142 | 4.0% | 4.9% | -9 | -0.4pp |
| Middle-aged lone persons | 279 | 7.5% | 8.2% | 308 | 8.7% | 9.0% | -29 | -1.2pp |
| Older lone persons | 469 | 12.5% | 11.5% | 426 | 12.0% | 10.5% | +43 | +0.5pp |
| Group households | 72 | 1.9% | 2.2% | 56 | 1.6% | 2.3% | +16 | +0.3pp |
| Total households | 3,741 | 100.0% | 100.0% | 3,559 | 100.0% | 100.0% | +182 | 0.0pp |