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 Balmain East (part), accounting for 38% (302 households). This share was higher than Inner West (A) (34.8%). Since 2016, the biggest change was in 1 person, which increased by 17 households and 1.8 percentage points.

Section overview

Household size

Balmain East (part) - Households (Enumerated)

This table summarises household size for Balmain East (part) in 2021 for persons, with comparison against Inner West (A) and change since 2016.

Household size snapshot

2021 distribution by category for Balmain East (part), with comparison markers for Inner West (A).

Balmain East (part)
Inner West (A)

1 person

2021 count

263

% of total

33.1%

Change from 2016

+1.8pp

2 persons

2021 count

302

% of total

38.0%

Change from 2016

+0.6pp

3 persons

2021 count

95

% of total

11.9%

Change from 2016

-0.8pp

4 persons

2021 count

102

% of total

12.8%

Change from 2016

-0.2pp

5 persons

2021 count

27

% of total

3.4%

Change from 2016

-1.3pp

6 or more persons

2021 count

12

% of total

1.5%

Change from 2016

+0.2pp

Data table

Household size for Balmain East (part). Household size. 2021 and 2016 counts, percentages, and change compared with Inner West (A).

Household size for Balmain East (part). Household size. 2021 and 2016 counts, percentages, and change compared with Inner West (A).
Household size for Balmain East (part). Household size. 2021 and 2016 counts, percentages, and change compared with Inner West (A).
Category20212016Change
Count%Inner West (A)%Count%Inner West (A)%Countpp
1 person26333.1%30.3%24631.3%27.5%+17+1.8pp
2 persons30238.0%34.8%29437.4%34.1%+8+0.6pp
3 persons9511.9%16.2%10012.7%17.6%-5-0.8pp
4 persons10212.8%13.6%10213.0%14.6%0-0.2pp
5 persons273.4%3.7%374.7%4.4%-10-1.3pp
6 or more persons121.5%1.4%101.3%1.8%+2+0.2pp
Total classifiable households795100.0%100.0%787100.0%100.0%+80.0pp