Housing
Dwelling type
About this topic
Dwelling type shows the structure of dwellings, such as separate houses, medium density housing, and higher density housing. It is a core measure of built form and residential density within an area.
This topic helps explain the housing role of an area and the kinds of households it may attract. It is best read with household size, household type, tenure, and age structure, because built form and population characteristics are closely related.
Interpretation notes
- Dwelling structure describes the physical form of dwellings counted on Census night rather than tenure, housing condition, or household makeup.
- It is strongest when read alongside household size and tenure, because structure alone does not show who lives there.
Key insight
In 2021, separate houses was the most common dwelling type among dwellings in Port Stephens (A), accounting for 80.2% (24,390 dwellings). This share was lower than Regional NSW (81.4%). Since 2016, the biggest change was in separate houses, which increased by 2,897 dwellings and 1.9 percentage points.
Section overview
Dwelling structure
Port Stephens (A) - Dwellings (Enumerated)
This table summarises dwelling type for Port Stephens (A) in 2021 for persons, with comparison against Regional NSW and change since 2016.
Dwelling structure snapshot
2021 distribution by category for Port Stephens (A), with comparison markers for Regional NSW.
Separate house
2021 count
24,390
% of total
80.2%
Change from 2016
+1.9pp
24,390
80.2%
+1.9pp
Medium density
2021 count
4,589
% of total
15.1%
Change from 2016
-0.9pp
4,589
15.1%
-0.9pp
High density
2021 count
701
% of total
2.3%
Change from 2016
+0.2pp
701
2.3%
+0.2pp
Caravans, cabin, houseboat
2021 count
561
% of total
1.8%
Change from 2016
-1.0pp
561
1.8%
-1.0pp
Other
2021 count
64
% of total
0.2%
Change from 2016
0.0pp
64
0.2%
0.0pp
Not stated
2021 count
110
% of total
0.4%
Change from 2016
-0.2pp
110
0.4%
-0.2pp
Chart view
Dwelling structure change
Absolute change in category counts between 2016 and 2021.
Separate house
+2,897
+1.9pp
Medium density
+203
-0.9pp
High density
+133
+0.2pp
Caravans, cabin, houseboat
-216
-1.0pp
Other
-3
0.0pp
Not stated
-53
-0.2pp
Data table
Dwelling type for Port Stephens (A). Dwelling structure. 2021 and 2016 counts, percentages, and change compared with Regional NSW.
| Category | 2021 | 2016 | Change | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Count | % | Regional NSW% | Count | % | Regional NSW% | Count | pp | |
| Separate house | 24,390 | 80.2% | 81.4% | 21,493 | 78.3% | 80.9% | +2,897 | +1.9pp |
| Medium density | 4,589 | 15.1% | 14.0% | 4,386 | 16.0% | 13.8% | +203 | -0.9pp |
| High density | 701 | 2.3% | 2.5% | 568 | 2.1% | 2.2% | +133 | +0.2pp |
| Caravans, cabin, houseboat | 561 | 1.8% | 1.2% | 777 | 2.8% | 1.8% | -216 | -1.0pp |
| Other | 64 | 0.2% | 0.4% | 67 | 0.2% | 0.6% | -3 | 0.0pp |
| Not stated | 110 | 0.4% | 0.4% | 163 | 0.6% | 0.8% | -53 | -0.2pp |
| Total Occupied Private Dwellings | 30,415 | 100.0% | 100.0% | 27,448 | 100.0% | 100.0% | +2,967 | 0.0pp |