Housing

Housing tenure

About this topic

Housing tenure shows whether households own their dwelling outright, are purchasing it, rent privately, rent from a social landlord, or occupy it under another arrangement. It describes how households hold or access housing, not the type of dwelling itself.

This topic is useful for analysing housing markets, affordability, stability, and the mix of owners and renters. It works best alongside dwelling type, household composition, and housing cost topics such as mortgage repayments and rent.

Interpretation notes

  • Tenure type describes how the dwelling is occupied, including ownership, mortgage, rental, or other arrangements.
  • It applies to occupied private dwellings and should not be confused with dwelling structure or housing cost measures.

Key insight

In 2021, 61.4% of households in Western Downs (R) were purchasing or had fully paid off their home, while 32.1% were renting. The mortgage share was lower than Regional Qld (32.8%).

Section overview

Housing tenure

Western Downs (R) - Households (Enumerated)

This table summarises housing tenure for Western Downs (R) in 2021 for persons, with comparison against Regional Qld and change since 2016.

Housing tenure snapshot

2021 distribution by category for Western Downs (R), with comparison markers for Regional Qld.

Western Downs (R)
Regional Qld

Fully owned

2021 count

4,033

% of total

33.9%

Change from 2016

+1.1pp

Mortgage

2021 count

3,273

% of total

27.5%

Change from 2016

+0.5pp

Renting - Total

2021 count

3,815

% of total

32.1%

Change from 2016

-4.3pp

Renting - Social housing

2021 count

290

% of total

2.4%

Change from 2016

-0.3pp

Renting - Private

2021 count

3,487

% of total

29.3%

Change from 2016

-2.7pp

Renting - Not stated

2021 count

30

% of total

0.3%

Change from 2016

-1.4pp

Other tenure type

2021 count

544

% of total

4.6%

Change from 2016

+3.6pp

Not stated

2021 count

234

% of total

2.0%

Change from 2016

-0.9pp

Data table

Housing tenure for Western Downs (R). Housing tenure. 2021 and 2016 counts, percentages, and change compared with Regional Qld.

Housing tenure for Western Downs (R). Housing tenure. 2021 and 2016 counts, percentages, and change compared with Regional Qld.
Housing tenure for Western Downs (R). Housing tenure. 2021 and 2016 counts, percentages, and change compared with Regional Qld.
Category20212016Change
Count%Regional Qld%Count%Regional Qld%Countpp
Fully owned4,03333.9%32.0%3,71832.8%30.3%+315+1.1pp
Mortgage3,27327.5%32.8%3,06927.0%31.9%+204+0.5pp
Renting - Total3,81532.1%31.1%4,12936.4%33.9%-314-4.3pp
Renting - Social housing2902.4%3.3%3062.7%3.7%-16-0.3pp
Renting - Private3,48729.3%27.6%3,63532.0%29.5%-148-2.7pp
Renting - Not stated300.3%0.2%1881.7%0.7%-158-1.4pp
Other tenure type5444.6%2.2%1111.0%1.0%+433+3.6pp
Not stated2342.0%1.8%3252.9%2.9%-91-0.9pp
Total households11,901100.0%100.0%11,350100.0%100.0%+5510.0pp