Households
Households without children
About this topic
Households without children includes couple-only households and lone person households, grouped by life stage. In this topic, life stage is based on the age of the household reference person rather than on the ages of all people in the dwelling.
This topic is useful for understanding the mix of younger adult, mid-life, and older households and the different housing and service needs they may have. It works best alongside household size, age structure, and dwelling type.
Interpretation notes
- This is a derived subset of couple-only and lone-person households, not a summary of all household types.
- The life-stage labels are based on the age of the household reference person, so they simplify the ages of everyone else in the household.
Key insight
In 2021, couples without children was the most common household life-stage group among households in Shellharbour (C), accounting for 27.5% (7,643 households). This share was higher than Regional NSW (25%). Since 2016, the biggest change was in couples without children, which increased by 1,407 households.
Section overview
Households without children by life stage
Shellharbour (C) - Households (Enumerated)
This table summarises households without children for Shellharbour (C) in 2021 for persons, with comparison against Regional NSW and change since 2016.
Households without children by life stage snapshot
2021 distribution by category for Shellharbour (C), with comparison markers for Regional NSW.
Couples without children
2021 count
7,643
% of total
27.5%
Change from 2016
0.0pp
7,643
27.5%
0.0pp
Young couples without children
2021 count
1,592
% of total
5.7%
Change from 2016
-1.2pp
1,592
5.7%
-1.2pp
Middle-aged couples without children
2021 count
1,686
% of total
6.1%
Change from 2016
-0.9pp
1,686
6.1%
-0.9pp
Older couples without children
2021 count
4,365
% of total
15.7%
Change from 2016
+2.1pp
4,365
15.7%
+2.1pp
Lone person households
2021 count
5,942
% of total
21.4%
Change from 2016
-0.1pp
5,942
21.4%
-0.1pp
Young lone persons
2021 count
1,041
% of total
3.8%
Change from 2016
0.0pp
1,041
3.8%
0.0pp
Middle-aged lone persons
2021 count
1,982
% of total
7.1%
Change from 2016
-0.5pp
1,982
7.1%
-0.5pp
Older lone persons
2021 count
2,917
% of total
10.5%
Change from 2016
+0.5pp
2,917
10.5%
+0.5pp
Group households
2021 count
586
% of total
2.1%
Change from 2016
+0.1pp
586
2.1%
+0.1pp
Chart view
Households without children by life stage change
Absolute change in category counts between 2016 and 2021.
Couples without children
+1,407
0.0pp
Young couples without children
+24
-1.2pp
Middle-aged couples without children
+102
-0.9pp
Older couples without children
+1,281
+2.1pp
Lone person households
+1,083
-0.1pp
Young lone persons
+178
0.0pp
Middle-aged lone persons
+252
-0.5pp
Older lone persons
+649
+0.5pp
Group households
+126
+0.1pp
Data table
Households without children for Shellharbour (C). Households without children by life stage. 2021 and 2016 counts, percentages, and change compared with Regional NSW.
| Category | 2021 | 2016 | Change | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Count | % | Regional NSW% | Count | % | Regional NSW% | Count | pp | |
| Couples without children | 7,643 | 27.5% | 25.0% | 6,236 | 27.5% | 25.0% | +1,407 | 0.0pp |
| Young couples without children | 1,592 | 5.7% | 3.7% | 1,568 | 6.9% | 4.0% | +24 | -1.2pp |
| Middle-aged couples without children | 1,686 | 6.1% | 3.4% | 1,584 | 7.0% | 3.5% | +102 | -0.9pp |
| Older couples without children | 4,365 | 15.7% | 18.0% | 3,084 | 13.6% | 17.5% | +1,281 | +2.1pp |
| Lone person households | 5,942 | 21.4% | 23.6% | 4,859 | 21.5% | 23.6% | +1,083 | -0.1pp |
| Young lone persons | 1,041 | 3.8% | 4.3% | 863 | 3.8% | 4.3% | +178 | 0.0pp |
| Middle-aged lone persons | 1,982 | 7.1% | 7.6% | 1,730 | 7.6% | 8.2% | +252 | -0.5pp |
| Older lone persons | 2,917 | 10.5% | 11.7% | 2,268 | 10.0% | 11.1% | +649 | +0.5pp |
| Group households | 586 | 2.1% | 2.8% | 460 | 2.0% | 2.8% | +126 | +0.1pp |
| Total households | 27,754 | 100.0% | 100.0% | 22,652 | 100.0% | 100.0% | +5,102 | 0.0pp |