Housing
Number of bedrooms per dwelling
About this topic
Number of bedrooms per dwelling records the bedroom count of occupied private dwellings. It is a simple but useful indicator of dwelling size and housing capacity.
This topic is most informative when read with dwelling type, household size, and household type. Together, these measures can help identify whether housing stock is suited to local household needs and can signal issues such as crowding or affordability pressure.
Interpretation notes
- The count refers to bedrooms in occupied private dwellings, not the total number of rooms.
- Bedroom count can suggest dwelling capacity, but it should be read with household size before drawing conclusions about crowding.
Related topics
Key insight
In 2021, 2-bedroom dwellings was the most common bedroom count among occupied private dwellings in Melbourne (C), accounting for 51.2% (36,258 dwellings). This share was higher than Greater Melbourne (20.4%). Since 2016, the biggest change was in 2-bedroom dwellings, which increased by 8,823 dwellings and 3.1 percentage points.
Section overview
Number of bedrooms per dwelling
Melbourne (C) - Households (Enumerated)
This table summarises number of bedrooms per dwelling for Melbourne (C) in 2021 for persons, with comparison against Greater Melbourne and change since 2016.
Number of bedrooms per dwelling snapshot
2021 distribution by category for Melbourne (C), with comparison markers for Greater Melbourne.
0 or 1 bedrooms
2021 count
21,872
% of total
30.9%
Change from 2016
+0.1pp
21,872
30.9%
+0.1pp
2 bedrooms
2021 count
36,258
% of total
51.2%
Change from 2016
+3.1pp
36,258
51.2%
+3.1pp
3 bedrooms
2021 count
9,587
% of total
13.5%
Change from 2016
-1.2pp
9,587
13.5%
-1.2pp
4 bedrooms
2021 count
1,721
% of total
2.4%
Change from 2016
-0.3pp
1,721
2.4%
-0.3pp
5 bedrooms or more
2021 count
481
% of total
0.7%
Change from 2016
-0.2pp
481
0.7%
-0.2pp
Not stated
2021 count
839
% of total
1.2%
Change from 2016
-1.5pp
839
1.2%
-1.5pp
Chart view
Number of bedrooms per dwelling change
Absolute change in category counts between 2016 and 2021.
0 or 1 bedrooms
+4,301
+0.1pp
2 bedrooms
+8,823
+3.1pp
3 bedrooms
+1,178
-1.2pp
4 bedrooms
+168
-0.3pp
5 bedrooms or more
-5
-0.2pp
Not stated
-712
-1.5pp
Data table
Number of bedrooms per dwelling for Melbourne (C). Number of bedrooms per dwelling. 2021 and 2016 counts, percentages, and change compared with Greater Melbourne.
| Category | 2021 | 2016 | Change | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Count | % | Greater Melbourne% | Count | % | Greater Melbourne% | Count | pp | |
| 0 or 1 bedrooms | 21,872 | 30.9% | 6.2% | 17,571 | 30.8% | 6.1% | +4,301 | +0.1pp |
| 2 bedrooms | 36,258 | 51.2% | 20.4% | 27,435 | 48.1% | 20.3% | +8,823 | +3.1pp |
| 3 bedrooms | 9,587 | 13.5% | 39.4% | 8,409 | 14.7% | 42.1% | +1,178 | -1.2pp |
| 4 bedrooms | 1,721 | 2.4% | 27.0% | 1,553 | 2.7% | 24.2% | +168 | -0.3pp |
| 5 bedrooms or more | 481 | 0.7% | 5.8% | 486 | 0.9% | 5.0% | -5 | -0.2pp |
| Not stated | 839 | 1.2% | 1.2% | 1,551 | 2.7% | 2.3% | -712 | -1.5pp |
| Total households | 70,760 | 100.0% | 100.0% | 57,012 | 100.0% | 100.0% | +13,748 | 0.0pp |