Households

Households without children

About this topic

Households without children includes couple-only households and lone person households, grouped by life stage. In this topic, life stage is based on the age of the household reference person rather than on the ages of all people in the dwelling.

This topic is useful for understanding the mix of younger adult, mid-life, and older households and the different housing and service needs they may have. It works best alongside household size, age structure, and dwelling type.

Interpretation notes

  • This is a derived subset of couple-only and lone-person households, not a summary of all household types.
  • The life-stage labels are based on the age of the household reference person, so they simplify the ages of everyone else in the household.

Key insight

In 2021, total households without children was the most common household life-stage group among households in North Melbourne, accounting for 68% (4,906 households). This share was lower than Melbourne (C) (77.1%). Since 2016, the biggest change was in lone person households, which increased by 542 households and 5.6 percentage points.

Section overview

Households without children by life stage

North Melbourne - Households (Enumerated)

This table summarises households without children for North Melbourne in 2021 for persons, with comparison against Melbourne (C) and change since 2016.

Households without children by life stage snapshot

2021 distribution by category for North Melbourne, with comparison markers for Melbourne (C).

North Melbourne
Melbourne (C)

Couples without children

2021 count

1,508

% of total

20.9%

Change from 2016

+1.2pp

Lone person households

2021 count

2,600

% of total

36.0%

Change from 2016

+5.6pp

Young lone persons

2021 count

1,526

% of total

21.1%

Change from 2016

+3.7pp

Middle-aged lone persons

2021 count

619

% of total

8.6%

Change from 2016

+1.2pp

Older lone persons

2021 count

449

% of total

6.2%

Change from 2016

+0.6pp

Group households

2021 count

798

% of total

11.1%

Change from 2016

-6.2pp

Total households without children

2021 count

4,906

% of total

68.0%

Change from 2016

+0.6pp

Data table

Households without children for North Melbourne. Households without children by life stage. 2021 and 2016 counts, percentages, and change compared with Melbourne (C).

Households without children for North Melbourne. Households without children by life stage. 2021 and 2016 counts, percentages, and change compared with Melbourne (C).
Households without children for North Melbourne. Households without children by life stage. 2021 and 2016 counts, percentages, and change compared with Melbourne (C).
Category20212016Change
Count%Melbourne (C)%Count%Melbourne (C)%Countpp
Couples without children1,50820.9%24.8%1,33219.7%21.9%+176+1.2pp
Lone person households2,60036.0%39.7%2,05830.4%31.4%+542+5.6pp
Young lone persons1,52621.1%28.6%1,17517.4%22.2%+351+3.7pp
Middle-aged lone persons6198.6%7.1%5017.4%5.8%+118+1.2pp
Older lone persons4496.2%4.0%3785.6%3.4%+71+0.6pp
Group households79811.1%12.6%1,16917.3%18.1%-371-6.2pp
Total households without children4,90668.0%77.1%4,55967.4%71.4%+347+0.6pp
Total households7,220100.0%100.0%6,764100.0%100.0%+4560.0pp