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, 2 persons was the most common household size among households in Northampton, accounting for 40.9% (128 households). This share was lower than Northampton (S) (45.1%). Since 2016, the biggest change was in 2 persons, which decreased by 21 households and 4.7 percentage points.
Section overview
Household size
Northampton - Households (Enumerated)
This table summarises household size for Northampton in 2021 for persons, with comparison against Northampton (S) and change since 2016.
Household size snapshot
2021 distribution by category for Northampton, with comparison markers for Northampton (S).
1 person
2021 count
118
% of total
37.7%
Change from 2016
+4.1pp
118
37.7%
+4.1pp
2 persons
2021 count
128
% of total
40.9%
Change from 2016
-4.7pp
128
40.9%
-4.7pp
3 persons
2021 count
29
% of total
9.3%
Change from 2016
-0.2pp
29
9.3%
-0.2pp
4 persons
2021 count
22
% of total
7.0%
Change from 2016
+1.8pp
22
7.0%
+1.8pp
5 persons
2021 count
11
% of total
3.5%
Change from 2016
-0.5pp
11
3.5%
-0.5pp
6 or more persons
2021 count
9
% of total
2.9%
Change from 2016
+0.5pp
9
2.9%
+0.5pp
Chart view
Household size change
Absolute change in category counts between 2016 and 2021.
1 person
+8
+4.1pp
2 persons
-21
-4.7pp
3 persons
-2
-0.2pp
4 persons
+5
+1.8pp
5 persons
-2
-0.5pp
6 or more persons
+1
+0.5pp
Data table
Household size for Northampton. Household size. 2021 and 2016 counts, percentages, and change compared with Northampton (S).
| Category | 2021 | 2016 | Change | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Count | % | Northampton (S)% | Count | % | Northampton (S)% | Count | pp | |
| 1 person | 118 | 37.7% | 31.2% | 110 | 33.6% | 30.4% | +8 | +4.1pp |
| 2 persons | 128 | 40.9% | 45.1% | 149 | 45.6% | 43.3% | -21 | -4.7pp |
| 3 persons | 29 | 9.3% | 8.8% | 31 | 9.5% | 10.2% | -2 | -0.2pp |
| 4 persons | 22 | 7.0% | 8.1% | 17 | 5.2% | 9.4% | +5 | +1.8pp |
| 5 persons | 11 | 3.5% | 4.4% | 13 | 4.0% | 4.5% | -2 | -0.5pp |
| 6 or more persons | 9 | 2.9% | 2.4% | 8 | 2.4% | 1.7% | +1 | +0.5pp |
| Total classifiable households | 313 | 100.0% | 100.0% | 327 | 100.0% | 100.0% | -14 | 0.0pp |