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, high density was the most common dwelling type among dwellings in Melbourne (part), accounting for 98% (29,721 dwellings). This share was higher than Melbourne (C) (83.6%). Since 2016, the biggest change was in high density, which increased by 6,062 dwellings and 1.7 percentage points.
Section overview
Dwelling structure
Melbourne (part) - Dwellings (Enumerated)
This table summarises dwellings for Melbourne (part) in 2021 for persons, with comparison against Melbourne (C) and change since 2016.
This area boundary has changed from 2016 to 2021. As a result, 2016 values are mapped onto 2021 suburb boundaries using ABS concordance.
Dwelling structure snapshot
2021 distribution by category for Melbourne (part), with comparison markers for Melbourne (C).
Separate house
Medium density
High density
Caravans, cabin, houseboat
Other
Not stated
Chart view
Dwelling structure change
Absolute change in category counts between 2016 and 2021.
Separate house
-47
-0.2pp
Medium density
-34
-0.3pp
High density
+6,062
+1.7pp
Caravans, cabin, houseboat
0
0.0pp
Other
-189
-0.8pp
Not stated
-29
-0.3pp
Data table
Dwellings for Melbourne (part). Dwelling structure. 2021 and 2016 counts, percentages, and change compared with Melbourne (C).
| Category | 2021 | 2016 | Change | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Count | % | Melbourne (C)% | Count | % | Melbourne (C)% | Count | pp | |
| Separate house | 13 | 0.0% | 2.1% | 60 | 0.2% | 2.8% | -47 | -0.2pp |
| Medium density | 262 | 0.9% | 13.5% | 296 | 1.2% | 14.8% | -34 | -0.3pp |
| High density | 29,721 | 98.0% | 83.6% | 23,659 | 96.3% | 80.9% | +6,062 | +1.7pp |
| Caravans, cabin, houseboat | 0 | 0.0% | 0.0% | 0 | 0.0% | 0.0% | 0 | 0.0pp |
| Other | 110 | 0.4% | 0.4% | 299 | 1.2% | 0.7% | -189 | -0.8pp |
| Not stated | 220 | 0.7% | 0.4% | 249 | 1.0% | 0.7% | -29 | -0.3pp |
| Total Occupied Private Dwellings | 30,332 | 100.0% | 100.0% | 24,565 | 100.0% | 100.0% | +5,767 | 0.0pp |