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 Muswellbrook (A), accounting for 77.2% (1,324 families). This share was lower than Regional NSW (83.2%). Since 2016, the biggest change was in intact families, which decreased by 162 families and 8.2 percentage points.
Section overview
Family blending
Muswellbrook (A) - Total couples with children (Enumerated)
This table summarises family blending for Muswellbrook (A) in 2021 for persons, with comparison against Regional NSW and change since 2016.
Family blending snapshot
2021 distribution by category for Muswellbrook (A), with comparison markers for Regional NSW.
Intact Family
2021 count
1,324
% of total
77.2%
Change from 2016
-8.2pp
1,324
77.2%
-8.2pp
Step family
2021 count
249
% of total
14.5%
Change from 2016
+7.4pp
249
14.5%
+7.4pp
Blended family
2021 count
132
% of total
7.7%
Change from 2016
+1.5pp
132
7.7%
+1.5pp
Other couple family
2021 count
16
% of total
0.9%
Change from 2016
-0.2pp
16
0.9%
-0.2pp
Chart view
Family blending change
Absolute change in category counts between 2016 and 2021.
Intact Family
-162
-8.2pp
Step family
+125
+7.4pp
Blended family
+24
+1.5pp
Other couple family
-3
-0.2pp
Data table
Family blending for Muswellbrook (A). Family blending. 2021 and 2016 counts, percentages, and change compared with Regional NSW.
| Category | 2021 | 2016 | Change | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Count | % | Regional NSW% | Count | % | Regional NSW% | Count | pp | |
| Intact Family | 1,324 | 77.2% | 83.2% | 1,486 | 85.4% | 86.8% | -162 | -8.2pp |
| Step family | 249 | 14.5% | 11.1% | 124 | 7.1% | 7.4% | +125 | +7.4pp |
| Blended family | 132 | 7.7% | 4.8% | 108 | 6.2% | 4.9% | +24 | +1.5pp |
| Other couple family | 16 | 0.9% | 0.9% | 19 | 1.1% | 0.9% | -3 | -0.2pp |
| Total couples with children | 1,715 | 100.0% | 100.0% | 1,741 | 100.0% | 100.0% | -26 | 0.0pp |