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 Shellharbour (C), accounting for 79.4% (22,630 dwellings). This share was lower than Regional NSW (81.4%). Since 2016, the biggest change was in separate houses, which increased by 2,964 dwellings, while its share fell by 0.1 percentage points.
Section overview
Dwelling structure
Shellharbour (C) - Dwellings (Enumerated)
This table summarises dwelling type for Shellharbour (C) in 2021 for persons, with comparison against Regional NSW and change since 2016.
Dwelling structure snapshot
2021 distribution by category for Shellharbour (C), with comparison markers for Regional NSW.
Separate house
2021 count
22,630
% of total
79.4%
Change from 2016
-0.1pp
22,630
79.4%
-0.1pp
Medium density
2021 count
5,257
% of total
18.4%
Change from 2016
+0.2pp
5,257
18.4%
+0.2pp
High density
2021 count
216
% of total
0.8%
Change from 2016
+0.7pp
216
0.8%
+0.7pp
Caravans, cabin, houseboat
2021 count
328
% of total
1.2%
Change from 2016
-0.2pp
328
1.2%
-0.2pp
Other
2021 count
43
% of total
0.2%
Change from 2016
-0.1pp
43
0.2%
-0.1pp
Not stated
2021 count
45
% of total
0.2%
Change from 2016
-0.3pp
45
0.2%
-0.3pp
Chart view
Dwelling structure change
Absolute change in category counts between 2016 and 2021.
Separate house
+2,964
-0.1pp
Medium density
+765
+0.2pp
High density
+201
+0.7pp
Caravans, cabin, houseboat
-21
-0.2pp
Other
-29
-0.1pp
Not stated
-84
-0.3pp
Data table
Dwelling type for Shellharbour (C). 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 | 22,630 | 79.4% | 81.4% | 19,666 | 79.5% | 80.9% | +2,964 | -0.1pp |
| Medium density | 5,257 | 18.4% | 14.0% | 4,492 | 18.2% | 13.8% | +765 | +0.2pp |
| High density | 216 | 0.8% | 2.5% | 15 | 0.1% | 2.2% | +201 | +0.7pp |
| Caravans, cabin, houseboat | 328 | 1.2% | 1.2% | 349 | 1.4% | 1.8% | -21 | -0.2pp |
| Other | 43 | 0.2% | 0.4% | 72 | 0.3% | 0.6% | -29 | -0.1pp |
| Not stated | 45 | 0.2% | 0.4% | 129 | 0.5% | 0.8% | -84 | -0.3pp |
| Total Occupied Private Dwellings | 28,517 | 100.0% | 100.0% | 24,727 | 100.0% | 100.0% | +3,790 | 0.0pp |