Households
Household type
About this topic
Household type summarises the mix of household and family structures in an area, such as couples with children, lone person households, and one-parent families. It is one of the clearest indicators of how people live together and the residential role of an area.
This topic is useful for planning services, facilities, and housing because demand is closely tied to household structure. It is best read with households with children, households without children, household size, age structure, and dwelling type.
Interpretation notes
- This is a derived household-composition view built from relationships within dwellings, so it summarises household structure rather than a single Census question.
- It is dwelling-based, which means different household types can reflect both family structure and housing arrangements.
Key insight
In 2021, couples with children was the most common household type among households in Sutherland Shire (A), accounting for 37.1% (31,746 households). This share was higher than Greater Sydney (34.4%). Since 2016, the biggest change was in couples without children, which increased by 2,885 households and 1.5 percentage points.
Section overview
Household type
Sutherland Shire (A) - Total households (Enumerated)
This table summarises household type for Sutherland Shire (A) in 2021 for persons, with comparison against Greater Sydney and change since 2016.
Household type snapshot
2021 distribution by category for Sutherland Shire (A), with comparison markers for Greater Sydney.
Couples with children
2021 count
31,746
% of total
37.1%
Change from 2016
-1.7pp
31,746
37.1%
-1.7pp
Couples without children
2021 count
22,413
% of total
26.2%
Change from 2016
+1.5pp
22,413
26.2%
+1.5pp
One parent families
2021 count
8,189
% of total
9.6%
Change from 2016
-0.1pp
8,189
9.6%
-0.1pp
Other families
2021 count
654
% of total
0.8%
Change from 2016
-0.1pp
654
0.8%
-0.1pp
Group household
2021 count
1,779
% of total
2.1%
Change from 2016
-0.1pp
1,779
2.1%
-0.1pp
Lone person
2021 count
18,511
% of total
21.6%
Change from 2016
+1.3pp
18,511
21.6%
+1.3pp
Other not classifiable household
2021 count
1,747
% of total
2.0%
Change from 2016
-0.1pp
1,747
2.0%
-0.1pp
Visitor only households
2021 count
516
% of total
0.6%
Change from 2016
-0.8pp
516
0.6%
-0.8pp
Chart view
Household type change
Absolute change in category counts between 2016 and 2021.
Couples with children
+1,054
-1.7pp
Couples without children
+2,885
+1.5pp
One parent families
+542
-0.1pp
Other families
-59
-0.1pp
Group household
+43
-0.1pp
Lone person
+2,472
+1.3pp
Other not classifiable household
+75
-0.1pp
Visitor only households
-627
-0.8pp
Data table
Household type for Sutherland Shire (A). Household type. 2021 and 2016 counts, percentages, and change compared with Greater Sydney.
| Category | 2021 | 2016 | Change | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Count | % | Greater Sydney% | Count | % | Greater Sydney% | Count | pp | |
| Couples with children | 31,746 | 37.1% | 34.4% | 30,692 | 38.8% | 35.3% | +1,054 | -1.7pp |
| Couples without children | 22,413 | 26.2% | 23.3% | 19,528 | 24.7% | 22.4% | +2,885 | +1.5pp |
| One parent families | 8,189 | 9.6% | 10.5% | 7,647 | 9.7% | 10.4% | +542 | -0.1pp |
| Other families | 654 | 0.8% | 1.2% | 713 | 0.9% | 1.3% | -59 | -0.1pp |
| Group household | 1,779 | 2.1% | 4.0% | 1,736 | 2.2% | 4.5% | +43 | -0.1pp |
| Lone person | 18,511 | 21.6% | 22.2% | 16,039 | 20.3% | 20.4% | +2,472 | +1.3pp |
| Other not classifiable household | 1,747 | 2.0% | 2.8% | 1,672 | 2.1% | 3.0% | +75 | -0.1pp |
| Visitor only households | 516 | 0.6% | 1.6% | 1,143 | 1.4% | 2.6% | -627 | -0.8pp |
| Total households | 85,555 | 100.0% | 100.0% | 79,167 | 100.0% | 100.0% | +6,388 | 0.0pp |