Housing
Dwellings
Dwelling type shows the structure of dwellings, such as separate houses, medium density housing, and higher density housing. It is a core measure of built form and residential density within an area.
About this topic
Dwelling type shows the structure of dwellings, such as separate houses, medium density housing, and higher density housing. It is a core measure of built form and residential density within an area.
This topic helps explain the housing role of an area and the kinds of households it may attract. It is best read with household size, household type, tenure, and age structure, because built form and population characteristics are closely related.
Interpretation notes
- Dwelling structure describes the physical form of dwellings counted on Census night rather than tenure, housing condition, or household makeup.
- It is strongest when read alongside household size and tenure, because structure alone does not show who lives there.
Key insight
In 2021, medium density was the most common dwelling type among dwellings in Inner West (A), accounting for 40.7% (31,301 dwellings). This share was higher than Greater Sydney (18.5%). Since 2016, the biggest change was in separate houses, which increased by 3,800 dwellings and 4.1 percentage points.
Section overview
Dwelling structure
Inner West (A) - Dwellings (Enumerated)
This table summarises dwellings for Inner West (A) in 2021 for persons, with comparison against Greater Sydney and change since 2016.
Chart view
Dwelling structure snapshot
2021 distribution by category for Inner West (A), with comparison markers for Greater Sydney.
Separate house
Medium density
High density
Caravans, cabin, houseboat
Other
Not stated
Dwelling structure change
Absolute change in category counts between 2016 and 2021.
Separate house
+3,800
+4.1pp
Medium density
-3,372
-6.0pp
High density
+2,759
+2.7pp
Caravans, cabin, houseboat
+1
0.0pp
Other
-63
-0.2pp
Not stated
-444
-0.6pp
Data table
Dwellings for Inner West (A). Dwelling structure. 2021 and 2016 counts, percentages, and change compared with Greater Sydney.
| Category | 2021 | 2016 | Change | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Count | % | Greater Sydney% | Count | % | Greater Sydney% | Count | pp | |
| Separate house | 21,840 | 28.4% | 55.2% | 18,040 | 24.3% | 55.7% | +3,800 | +4.1pp |
| Medium density | 31,301 | 40.7% | 18.5% | 34,673 | 46.7% | 20.1% | -3,372 | -6.0pp |
| High density | 22,451 | 29.2% | 25.5% | 19,692 | 26.5% | 23.1% | +2,759 | +2.7pp |
| Caravans, cabin, houseboat | 15 | 0.0% | 0.1% | 14 | 0.0% | 0.2% | +1 | 0.0pp |
| Other | 1,183 | 1.5% | 0.4% | 1,246 | 1.7% | 0.5% | -63 | -0.2pp |
| Not stated | 173 | 0.2% | 0.2% | 617 | 0.8% | 0.4% | -444 | -0.6pp |
| Total Occupied Private Dwellings | 76,964 | 100.0% | 100.0% | 74,288 | 100.0% | 100.0% | +2,676 | 0.0pp |