Housing
Housing tenure
About this topic
Housing tenure shows whether households own their dwelling outright, are purchasing it, rent privately, rent from a social landlord, or occupy it under another arrangement. It describes how households hold or access housing, not the type of dwelling itself.
This topic is useful for analysing housing markets, affordability, stability, and the mix of owners and renters. It works best alongside dwelling type, household composition, and housing cost topics such as mortgage repayments and rent.
Interpretation notes
- Tenure type describes how the dwelling is occupied, including ownership, mortgage, rental, or other arrangements.
- It applies to occupied private dwellings and should not be confused with dwelling structure or housing cost measures.
Key insight
In 2021, 67.2% of households in Northam (S) were purchasing or had fully paid off their home, while 22% were renting. The mortgage share was higher than Regional WA (27.3%).
Section overview
Housing tenure
Northam (S) - Households (Enumerated)
This table summarises housing tenure for Northam (S) in 2021 for persons, with comparison against Regional WA and change since 2016.
Housing tenure snapshot
2021 distribution by category for Northam (S), with comparison markers for Regional WA.
Fully owned
2021 count
1,488
% of total
33.4%
Change from 2016
+2.0pp
1,488
33.4%
+2.0pp
Mortgage
2021 count
1,508
% of total
33.8%
Change from 2016
+0.2pp
1,508
33.8%
+0.2pp
Renting - Total
2021 count
981
% of total
22.0%
Change from 2016
-2.5pp
981
22.0%
-2.5pp
Renting - Social housing
2021 count
236
% of total
5.3%
Change from 2016
-1.2pp
236
5.3%
-1.2pp
Renting - Private
2021 count
742
% of total
16.7%
Change from 2016
-0.8pp
742
16.7%
-0.8pp
Renting - Not stated
2021 count
6
% of total
0.1%
Change from 2016
-0.4pp
6
0.1%
-0.4pp
Other tenure type
2021 count
71
% of total
1.6%
Change from 2016
+0.9pp
71
1.6%
+0.9pp
Not stated
2021 count
415
% of total
9.3%
Change from 2016
-0.5pp
415
9.3%
-0.5pp
Chart view
Housing tenure change
Absolute change in category counts between 2016 and 2021.
Fully owned
+153
+2.0pp
Mortgage
+79
+0.2pp
Renting - Total
-63
-2.5pp
Renting - Social housing
-42
-1.2pp
Renting - Private
-3
-0.8pp
Renting - Not stated
-15
-0.4pp
Other tenure type
+41
+0.9pp
Not stated
-2
-0.5pp
Data table
Housing tenure for Northam (S). Housing tenure. 2021 and 2016 counts, percentages, and change compared with Regional WA.
| Category | 2021 | 2016 | Change | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Count | % | Regional WA% | Count | % | Regional WA% | Count | pp | |
| Fully owned | 1,488 | 33.4% | 31.0% | 1,335 | 31.4% | 29.4% | +153 | +2.0pp |
| Mortgage | 1,508 | 33.8% | 27.3% | 1,429 | 33.6% | 27.0% | +79 | +0.2pp |
| Renting - Total | 981 | 22.0% | 28.1% | 1,044 | 24.5% | 31.4% | -63 | -2.5pp |
| Renting - Social housing | 236 | 5.3% | 5.9% | 278 | 6.5% | 6.4% | -42 | -1.2pp |
| Renting - Private | 742 | 16.7% | 21.9% | 745 | 17.5% | 23.9% | -3 | -0.8pp |
| Renting - Not stated | 6 | 0.1% | 0.2% | 21 | 0.5% | 1.1% | -15 | -0.4pp |
| Other tenure type | 71 | 1.6% | 3.9% | 30 | 0.7% | 1.1% | +41 | +0.9pp |
| Not stated | 415 | 9.3% | 9.8% | 417 | 9.8% | 11.0% | -2 | -0.5pp |
| Total households | 4,456 | 100.0% | 100.0% | 4,257 | 100.0% | 100.0% | +199 | 0.0pp |