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, 71.8% of households in Port Stephens (A) were purchasing or had fully paid off their home, while 24.8% were renting. The mortgage share was lower than Regional NSW (31.2%).

Section overview

Housing tenure

Port Stephens (A) - Households (Enumerated)

This table summarises housing tenure for Port Stephens (A) in 2021 for persons, with comparison against Regional NSW and change since 2016.

Housing tenure snapshot

2021 distribution by category for Port Stephens (A), with comparison markers for Regional NSW.

Port Stephens (A)
Regional NSW

Fully owned

2021 count

11,897

% of total

41.2%

Change from 2016

+2.6pp

Mortgage

2021 count

8,821

% of total

30.6%

Change from 2016

-0.7pp

Renting - Total

2021 count

7,164

% of total

24.8%

Change from 2016

-1.4pp

Renting - Social housing

2021 count

873

% of total

3.0%

Change from 2016

-0.4pp

Renting - Private

2021 count

6,241

% of total

21.6%

Change from 2016

-0.9pp

Renting - Not stated

2021 count

48

% of total

0.2%

Change from 2016

-0.2pp

Other tenure type

2021 count

584

% of total

2.0%

Change from 2016

+1.1pp

Not stated

2021 count

395

% of total

1.4%

Change from 2016

-1.7pp

Data table

Housing tenure for Port Stephens (A). Housing tenure. 2021 and 2016 counts, percentages, and change compared with Regional NSW.

Housing tenure for Port Stephens (A). Housing tenure. 2021 and 2016 counts, percentages, and change compared with Regional NSW.
Housing tenure for Port Stephens (A). Housing tenure. 2021 and 2016 counts, percentages, and change compared with Regional NSW.
Category20212016Change
Count%Regional NSW%Count%Regional NSW%Countpp
Fully owned11,89741.2%38.0%9,81338.6%37.4%+2,084+2.6pp
Mortgage8,82130.6%31.2%7,95731.3%30.6%+864-0.7pp
Renting - Total7,16424.8%26.8%6,66626.2%27.9%+498-1.4pp
Renting - Social housing8733.0%4.0%8553.4%4.5%+18-0.4pp
Renting - Private6,24121.6%22.6%5,71622.5%22.7%+525-0.9pp
Renting - Not stated480.2%0.2%960.4%0.7%-48-0.2pp
Other tenure type5842.0%2.3%2180.9%1.0%+366+1.1pp
Not stated3951.4%1.7%7943.1%3.0%-399-1.7pp
Total households28,868100.0%100.0%25,452100.0%100.0%+3,4160.0pp