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, two-person households was the most common household size among households in Newcastle (C), accounting for 34.1% (22,565 households). This share was lower than Regional NSW (36.4%). Since 2016, the biggest change was in two-person households, which increased by 2,301 households and 0.3 percentage points.
Section overview
Household size
Newcastle (C) - Households (Enumerated)
This table summarises household size for Newcastle (C) in 2021 for persons, with comparison against Regional NSW and change since 2016.
Chart view
Household size snapshot
2021 distribution by category for Newcastle (C), with comparison markers for Regional NSW.
Number Of Persons Usually Resident One
2021 count
19,486
% of total
29.5%
Change from 2016
+0.3pp
19,486
29.5%
+0.3pp
Number Of Persons Usually Resident Two
2021 count
22,565
% of total
34.1%
Change from 2016
+0.3pp
22,565
34.1%
+0.3pp
Number Of Persons Usually Resident Three
2021 count
10,459
% of total
15.8%
Change from 2016
0.0pp
10,459
15.8%
0.0pp
Number Of Persons Usually Resident Four
2021 count
8,979
% of total
13.6%
Change from 2016
-0.3pp
8,979
13.6%
-0.3pp
Number Of Persons Usually Resident Five
2021 count
3,379
% of total
5.1%
Change from 2016
-0.2pp
3,379
5.1%
-0.2pp
Number Of Persons Usually Resident Six Or More
2021 count
1,253
% of total
1.9%
Change from 2016
-0.2pp
1,253
1.9%
-0.2pp
Household size change
Absolute change in category counts between 2016 and 2021.
Number Of Persons Usually Resident One
+1,996
+0.3pp
Number Of Persons Usually Resident Two
+2,301
+0.3pp
Number Of Persons Usually Resident Three
+974
0.0pp
Number Of Persons Usually Resident Four
+655
-0.3pp
Number Of Persons Usually Resident Five
+191
-0.2pp
Number Of Persons Usually Resident Six Or More
+23
-0.2pp
Data table
Household size for Newcastle (C). Household size. 2021 and 2016 counts, percentages, and change compared with Regional NSW.
| Category | 2021 | 2016 | Change | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Count | % | Regional NSW% | Count | % | Regional NSW% | Count | pp | |
| Number Of Persons Usually Resident One | 19,486 | 29.5% | 27.9% | 17,490 | 29.2% | 27.5% | +1,996 | +0.3pp |
| Number Of Persons Usually Resident Two | 22,565 | 34.1% | 36.4% | 20,264 | 33.8% | 36.3% | +2,301 | +0.3pp |
| Number Of Persons Usually Resident Three | 10,459 | 15.8% | 14.1% | 9,485 | 15.8% | 14.2% | +974 | 0.0pp |
| Number Of Persons Usually Resident Four | 8,979 | 13.6% | 13.0% | 8,324 | 13.9% | 13.2% | +655 | -0.3pp |
| Number Of Persons Usually Resident Five | 3,379 | 5.1% | 5.8% | 3,188 | 5.3% | 6.0% | +191 | -0.2pp |
| Number Of Persons Usually Resident Six Or More | 1,253 | 1.9% | 2.8% | 1,230 | 2.1% | 2.8% | +23 | -0.2pp |
| Total | 66,129 | 100.0% | 100.0% | 59,974 | 100.0% | 100.0% | +6,155 | 0.0pp |