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 Thornton (NSW), accounting for 34.6% (1,280 households). This share was higher than Maitland (C) (33.3%). Since 2016, the biggest change was in 2 persons, which increased by 387 households and 1.6 percentage points.
Section overview
Household size
Thornton (NSW) - Households (Enumerated)
This table summarises household size for Thornton (NSW) in 2021 for persons, with comparison against Maitland (C) and change since 2016.
Household size snapshot
2021 distribution by category for Thornton (NSW), with comparison markers for Maitland (C).
1 person
2021 count
556
% of total
15.0%
Change from 2016
+1.6pp
556
15.0%
+1.6pp
2 persons
2021 count
1,280
% of total
34.6%
Change from 2016
+1.6pp
1,280
34.6%
+1.6pp
3 persons
2021 count
715
% of total
19.3%
Change from 2016
-0.2pp
715
19.3%
-0.2pp
4 persons
2021 count
753
% of total
20.4%
Change from 2016
-1.0pp
753
20.4%
-1.0pp
5 persons
2021 count
255
% of total
6.9%
Change from 2016
-2.1pp
255
6.9%
-2.1pp
6 or more persons
2021 count
133
% of total
3.6%
Change from 2016
0.0pp
133
3.6%
0.0pp
Chart view
Household size change
Absolute change in category counts between 2016 and 2021.
1 person
+194
+1.6pp
2 persons
+387
+1.6pp
3 persons
+189
-0.2pp
4 persons
+174
-1.0pp
5 persons
+13
-2.1pp
6 or more persons
+35
0.0pp
Data table
Household size for Thornton (NSW). Household size. 2021 and 2016 counts, percentages, and change compared with Maitland (C).
| Category | 2021 | 2016 | Change | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Count | % | Maitland (C)% | Count | % | Maitland (C)% | Count | pp | |
| 1 person | 556 | 15.0% | 22.2% | 362 | 13.4% | 21.7% | +194 | +1.6pp |
| 2 persons | 1,280 | 34.6% | 33.3% | 893 | 33.0% | 33.8% | +387 | +1.6pp |
| 3 persons | 715 | 19.3% | 17.1% | 526 | 19.5% | 16.8% | +189 | -0.2pp |
| 4 persons | 753 | 20.4% | 16.8% | 579 | 21.4% | 16.9% | +174 | -1.0pp |
| 5 persons | 255 | 6.9% | 7.3% | 242 | 9.0% | 7.4% | +13 | -2.1pp |
| 6 or more persons | 133 | 3.6% | 3.3% | 98 | 3.6% | 3.4% | +35 | 0.0pp |
| Total classifiable households | 3,699 | 100.0% | 100.0% | 2,703 | 100.0% | 100.0% | +996 | 0.0pp |