Households

Family blending

About this topic

Family blending classifies couple families with children according to whether the children are shared by both partners, from a previous relationship, or a mix of both. It applies only to couple families with children, not to all family types or all households.

This topic can help show patterns of repartnering and family complexity within an area. It should be interpreted with household type and households with children, because it is a specialised family-structure measure rather than a summary of all families.

Interpretation notes

  • This derived family view applies only to couple families with children, not all families or all households.
  • It classifies whether children are shared, step, or blended within the couple family, so it should not be compared directly with headline household totals.

Key insight

In 2021, intact families was the most common family type among couple families with children in Lithgow (C), accounting for 79.7% (1,507 families). This share was lower than Regional NSW (83.2%). Since 2016, the biggest change was in intact families, which decreased by 137 families and 5.2 percentage points.

Section overview

Family blending

Lithgow (C) - Total couples with children (Enumerated)

This table summarises family blending for Lithgow (C) in 2021 for persons, with comparison against Regional NSW and change since 2016.

Family blending change

Absolute change in category counts between 2016 and 2021.

2016
2021

Intact Family

-137

-5.2pp

Step family

+109

+6.0pp

Blended family

-5

-0.1pp

Other couple family

-4

-0.2pp

Data table

Family blending for Lithgow (C). Family blending. 2021 and 2016 counts, percentages, and change compared with Regional NSW.

Family blending for Lithgow (C). Family blending. 2021 and 2016 counts, percentages, and change compared with Regional NSW.
Family blending for Lithgow (C). Family blending. 2021 and 2016 counts, percentages, and change compared with Regional NSW.
Category20212016Change
Count%Regional NSW%Count%Regional NSW%Countpp
Intact Family1,50779.7%83.2%1,64484.9%86.8%-137-5.2pp
Step family24513.0%11.1%1367.0%7.4%+109+6.0pp
Blended family1176.2%4.8%1226.3%4.9%-5-0.1pp
Other couple family271.4%0.9%311.6%0.9%-4-0.2pp
Total couples with children1,890100.0%100.0%1,936100.0%100.0%-460.0pp