Households

Households with children

About this topic

Households with children groups households according to whether children are present and the life stage of those children. In this topic, life stage is based on the ages of the children in the household rather than the age of the parents.

This topic is useful for understanding likely demand for childcare, schools, youth services, and family housing. It should be read with household size, age structure, and dwelling type to build a fuller picture of family life in an area.

Interpretation notes

  • This is a derived subset of households that classifies households by whether children are present and by the ages of those children.
  • The life-stage labels describe the ages of children in the household, not the ages of parents or carers.

Key insight

In 2021, households with children was the most common household life-stage group among households in Townsville (C), accounting for 38.6% (29,058 households). This share was higher than Regional Qld (36.7%). Since 2016, the biggest change was in single parents with children, which increased by 682 households and 0.2 percentage points.

Section overview

Households with children by life stage

Townsville (C) - Households (Enumerated)

This table summarises households with children for Townsville (C) in 2021 for persons, with comparison against Regional Qld and change since 2016.

Households with children by life stage snapshot

2021 distribution by category for Townsville (C), with comparison markers for Regional Qld.

Townsville (C)
Regional Qld

Couples with children

2021 count

19,767

% of total

26.3%

Change from 2016

-1.6pp

Couples with young children

2021 count

11,279

% of total

15.0%

Change from 2016

-1.2pp

Couples with mixed-age children

2021 count

3,003

% of total

4.0%

Change from 2016

-0.2pp

Couples with older children

2021 count

5,481

% of total

7.3%

Change from 2016

-0.3pp

Single parents with children

2021 count

9,291

% of total

12.3%

Change from 2016

+0.2pp

Single parents with young children

2021 count

4,149

% of total

5.5%

Change from 2016

-0.1pp

Single parents with mixed-age children

2021 count

1,282

% of total

1.7%

Change from 2016

+0.1pp

Single parents with older children

2021 count

3,854

% of total

5.1%

Change from 2016

+0.2pp

Total households with children

2021 count

29,058

% of total

38.6%

Change from 2016

-1.4pp

Data table

Households with children for Townsville (C). Households with children by life stage. 2021 and 2016 counts, percentages, and change compared with Regional Qld.

Households with children for Townsville (C). Households with children by life stage. 2021 and 2016 counts, percentages, and change compared with Regional Qld.
Households with children for Townsville (C). Households with children by life stage. 2021 and 2016 counts, percentages, and change compared with Regional Qld.
Category20212016Change
Count%Regional Qld%Count%Regional Qld%Countpp
Couples with children19,76726.3%25.5%19,90027.9%26.3%-133-1.6pp
Couples with young children11,27915.0%14.2%11,51716.2%14.9%-238-1.2pp
Couples with mixed-age children3,0034.0%3.9%2,9714.2%3.9%+32-0.2pp
Couples with older children5,4817.3%7.4%5,4087.6%7.4%+73-0.3pp
Single parents with children9,29112.3%11.2%8,60912.1%11.0%+682+0.2pp
Single parents with young children4,1495.5%4.7%3,9655.6%4.9%+184-0.1pp
Single parents with mixed-age children1,2821.7%1.4%1,1531.6%1.4%+129+0.1pp
Single parents with older children3,8545.1%5.0%3,4904.9%4.7%+364+0.2pp
Total households with children29,05838.6%36.7%28,50940.0%37.2%+549-1.4pp
Total households75,236100.0%100.0%71,282100.0%100.0%+3,9540.0pp