Households

Family blending

About this topic

Family blending classifies couple families with children according to whether the children are shared by both partners, from a previous relationship, or a mix of both. It applies only to couple families with children, not to all family types or all households.

This topic can help show patterns of repartnering and family complexity within an area. It should be interpreted with household type and households with children, because it is a specialised family-structure measure rather than a summary of all families.

Interpretation notes

  • This derived family view applies only to couple families with children, not all families or all households.
  • It classifies whether children are shared, step, or blended within the couple family, so it should not be compared directly with headline household totals.

Key insight

In 2021, intact families was the most common family type among couple families with children in Unley (C), accounting for 92.6% (4,140 families). This share was higher than Greater Adelaide (89.1%). Since 2016, the biggest change was in intact families, which increased by 176 families and 0.3 percentage points.

Section overview

Family blending

Unley (C) - Total couples with children (Enumerated)

This table summarises family blending for Unley (C) in 2021 for persons, with comparison against Greater Adelaide and change since 2016.

Family blending snapshot

2021 distribution by category for Unley (C), with comparison markers for Greater Adelaide.

Unley (C)
Greater Adelaide

Intact Family

2021 count

4,140

% of total

92.6%

Change from 2016

+0.3pp

Step family

2021 count

213

% of total

4.8%

Change from 2016

-0.9pp

Blended family

2021 count

99

% of total

2.2%

Change from 2016

+0.4pp

Other couple family

2021 count

20

% of total

0.4%

Change from 2016

+0.2pp

Data table

Family blending for Unley (C). Family blending. 2021 and 2016 counts, percentages, and change compared with Greater Adelaide.

Family blending for Unley (C). Family blending. 2021 and 2016 counts, percentages, and change compared with Greater Adelaide.
Family blending for Unley (C). Family blending. 2021 and 2016 counts, percentages, and change compared with Greater Adelaide.
Category20212016Change
Count%Greater Adelaide%Count%Greater Adelaide%Countpp
Intact Family4,14092.6%89.1%3,96492.3%88.8%+176+0.3pp
Step family2134.8%7.0%2445.7%7.2%-31-0.9pp
Blended family992.2%3.6%791.8%3.6%+20+0.4pp
Other couple family200.4%0.4%70.2%0.4%+13+0.2pp
Total couples with children4,472100.0%100.0%4,297100.0%100.0%+1750.0pp