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, 2 persons was the most common household size among households in Smithfield (NSW) (part), accounting for 23.4% (942 households). This share was lower than Fairfield (C) (24.5%). Since 2016, the biggest change was in 4 persons, which increased by 88 households and 0.9 percentage points.

Section overview

Household size

Smithfield (NSW) (part) - Households (Enumerated)

This table summarises household size for Smithfield (NSW) (part) in 2021 for persons, with comparison against Fairfield (C) and change since 2016.

Household size snapshot

2021 distribution by category for Smithfield (NSW) (part), with comparison markers for Fairfield (C).

Smithfield (NSW) (part)
Fairfield (C)

1 person

2021 count

926

% of total

23.0%

Change from 2016

+0.2pp

2 persons

2021 count

942

% of total

23.4%

Change from 2016

-0.4pp

3 persons

2021 count

627

% of total

15.5%

Change from 2016

-0.8pp

4 persons

2021 count

684

% of total

17.0%

Change from 2016

+0.9pp

5 persons

2021 count

453

% of total

11.2%

Change from 2016

0.0pp

6 or more persons

2021 count

397

% of total

9.8%

Change from 2016

0.0pp

Data table

Household size for Smithfield (NSW) (part). Household size. 2021 and 2016 counts, percentages, and change compared with Fairfield (C).

Household size for Smithfield (NSW) (part). Household size. 2021 and 2016 counts, percentages, and change compared with Fairfield (C).
Household size for Smithfield (NSW) (part). Household size. 2021 and 2016 counts, percentages, and change compared with Fairfield (C).
Category20212016Change
Count%Fairfield (C)%Count%Fairfield (C)%Countpp
1 person92623.0%17.5%84522.8%15.7%+81+0.2pp
2 persons94223.4%24.5%88123.8%23.4%+61-0.4pp
3 persons62715.5%17.9%60216.3%18.4%+25-0.8pp
4 persons68417.0%18.2%59616.1%19.5%+88+0.9pp
5 persons45311.2%11.3%41411.2%11.9%+390.0pp
6 or more persons3979.8%10.5%3619.8%11.0%+360.0pp
Total classifiable households4,034100.0%100.0%3,702100.0%100.0%+3320.0pp