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 Palmerston (C), accounting for 29.7% (3,661 households). This share was lower than Greater Darwin (31.9%). Since 2016, the biggest change was in one-person households, which increased by 718 households and 3.7 percentage points.
Section overview
Household size
Palmerston (C) - Households (Enumerated)
This table summarises household size for Palmerston (C) in 2021 for persons, with comparison against Greater Darwin and change since 2016.
Household size snapshot
2021 distribution by category for Palmerston (C), with comparison markers for Greater Darwin.
Number Of Persons Usually Resident One
2021 count
2,555
% of total
20.7%
Change from 2016
+3.7pp
2,555
20.7%
+3.7pp
Number Of Persons Usually Resident Two
2021 count
3,661
% of total
29.7%
Change from 2016
-0.9pp
3,661
29.7%
-0.9pp
Number Of Persons Usually Resident Three
2021 count
2,397
% of total
19.5%
Change from 2016
-0.5pp
2,397
19.5%
-0.5pp
Number Of Persons Usually Resident Four
2021 count
2,209
% of total
17.9%
Change from 2016
-1.3pp
2,209
17.9%
-1.3pp
Number Of Persons Usually Resident Five
2021 count
991
% of total
8.0%
Change from 2016
-0.9pp
991
8.0%
-0.9pp
Number Of Persons Usually Resident Six Or More
2021 count
517
% of total
4.2%
Change from 2016
-0.1pp
517
4.2%
-0.1pp
Chart view
Household size change
Absolute change in category counts between 2016 and 2021.
Number Of Persons Usually Resident One
+718
+3.7pp
Number Of Persons Usually Resident Two
+359
-0.9pp
Number Of Persons Usually Resident Three
+243
-0.5pp
Number Of Persons Usually Resident Four
+142
-1.3pp
Number Of Persons Usually Resident Five
+30
-0.9pp
Number Of Persons Usually Resident Six Or More
+50
-0.1pp
Data table
Household size for Palmerston (C). Household size. 2021 and 2016 counts, percentages, and change compared with Greater Darwin.
| Category | 2021 | 2016 | Change | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Count | % | Greater Darwin% | Count | % | Greater Darwin% | Count | pp | |
| Number Of Persons Usually Resident One | 2,555 | 20.7% | 23.4% | 1,837 | 17.0% | 20.8% | +718 | +3.7pp |
| Number Of Persons Usually Resident Two | 3,661 | 29.7% | 31.9% | 3,302 | 30.6% | 32.9% | +359 | -0.9pp |
| Number Of Persons Usually Resident Three | 2,397 | 19.5% | 18.1% | 2,154 | 20.0% | 18.0% | +243 | -0.5pp |
| Number Of Persons Usually Resident Four | 2,209 | 17.9% | 15.9% | 2,067 | 19.2% | 16.6% | +142 | -1.3pp |
| Number Of Persons Usually Resident Five | 991 | 8.0% | 6.8% | 961 | 8.9% | 7.4% | +30 | -0.9pp |
| Number Of Persons Usually Resident Six Or More | 517 | 4.2% | 3.9% | 467 | 4.3% | 4.3% | +50 | -0.1pp |
| Total | 12,318 | 100.0% | 100.0% | 10,781 | 100.0% | 100.0% | +1,537 | 0.0pp |