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, one-person households was the most common household size among households in North Sydney (A), accounting for 38.6% (12,490 households). This share was higher than Greater Sydney (23.2%). Since 2016, the biggest change was in one-person households, which increased by 1,856 households and 3.2 percentage points.
Section overview
Household size
North Sydney (A) - Households (Enumerated)
This table summarises household size for North Sydney (A) in 2021 for persons, with comparison against Greater Sydney and change since 2016.
Household size snapshot
2021 distribution by category for North Sydney (A), with comparison markers for Greater Sydney.
Number Of Persons Usually Resident One
2021 count
12,490
% of total
38.6%
Change from 2016
+3.2pp
12,490
38.6%
+3.2pp
Number Of Persons Usually Resident Two
2021 count
12,175
% of total
37.6%
Change from 2016
-1.5pp
12,175
37.6%
-1.5pp
Number Of Persons Usually Resident Three
2021 count
4,184
% of total
12.9%
Change from 2016
-1.2pp
4,184
12.9%
-1.2pp
Number Of Persons Usually Resident Four
2021 count
2,782
% of total
8.6%
Change from 2016
-0.2pp
2,782
8.6%
-0.2pp
Number Of Persons Usually Resident Five
2021 count
610
% of total
1.9%
Change from 2016
-0.2pp
610
1.9%
-0.2pp
Number Of Persons Usually Resident Six Or More
2021 count
151
% of total
0.5%
Change from 2016
0.0pp
151
0.5%
0.0pp
Chart view
Household size change
Absolute change in category counts between 2016 and 2021.
Number Of Persons Usually Resident One
+1,856
+3.2pp
Number Of Persons Usually Resident Two
+409
-1.5pp
Number Of Persons Usually Resident Three
-55
-1.2pp
Number Of Persons Usually Resident Four
+151
-0.2pp
Number Of Persons Usually Resident Five
-29
-0.2pp
Number Of Persons Usually Resident Six Or More
-8
0.0pp
Data table
Household size for North Sydney (A). Household size. 2021 and 2016 counts, percentages, and change compared with Greater Sydney.
| Category | 2021 | 2016 | Change | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Count | % | Greater Sydney% | Count | % | Greater Sydney% | Count | pp | |
| Number Of Persons Usually Resident One | 12,490 | 38.6% | 23.2% | 10,634 | 35.4% | 21.6% | +1,856 | +3.2pp |
| Number Of Persons Usually Resident Two | 12,175 | 37.6% | 30.7% | 11,766 | 39.1% | 29.9% | +409 | -1.5pp |
| Number Of Persons Usually Resident Three | 4,184 | 12.9% | 17.2% | 4,239 | 14.1% | 17.6% | -55 | -1.2pp |
| Number Of Persons Usually Resident Four | 2,782 | 8.6% | 17.3% | 2,631 | 8.8% | 18.1% | +151 | -0.2pp |
| Number Of Persons Usually Resident Five | 610 | 1.9% | 7.3% | 639 | 2.1% | 8.0% | -29 | -0.2pp |
| Number Of Persons Usually Resident Six Or More | 151 | 0.5% | 4.2% | 159 | 0.5% | 4.7% | -8 | 0.0pp |
| Total | 32,395 | 100.0% | 100.0% | 30,068 | 100.0% | 100.0% | +2,327 | 0.0pp |