idc-logo
svg rectangle color
AustraliaCommunity profile

Western Australia

Dwelling type

In Western Australia, 20.7% of the dwellings were medium or high density, compared to 22% in South Australia.

Dwelling Type is an important determinant of Western Australia's residential role and function. A greater concentration of higher density dwellings is likely to attract more young adults and smaller households, often renting. Larger, detached or separate dwellings are more likely to attract families and prospective families. The residential built form often reflects market opportunities or planning policy, such as building denser forms of housing around public transport nodes or employment centres.

Dwelling Type statistics should be viewed in conjunction with Household Size, Household Types, Housing Tenure and Age Structure for a more complete picture of the housing market in Western Australia.

If you're looking at this data to prepare a housing strategy, learn more here.

Q:

Derived from the Census:

'Dwelling Structure is derived from the ABS address register supplemented with information from Census Field Officers.'

Dwelling structure
Western Australia - Dwellings (Enumerated)20212016Change
Dwelling typeNumber%South Australia %Number%South Australia %2016 to 2021
Separate house884,62277.176.8818,76076.576.5+65,862
Medium density182,25115.919.8185,05817.320.3-2,807
High density55,3454.82.342,8934.01.7+12,452
Caravans, cabin, houseboat17,2271.50.615,2241.40.6+2,003
Other4,1420.40.24,8660.50.4-724
Not stated4,2850.40.44,1680.40.4+117
Total Private Dwellings1,147,872100.0100.01,070,969100.0100.0+76,903
Source: Australian Bureau of Statistics, Census of Population and Housing 2016 and 2021. Compiled and presented by .id (informed decisions).
Please refer to specific data notes for more information
Dwelling type
Western Australia20212016Change
Dwelling typeNumber%South Australia %Number%South Australia %2016 to 2021
Occupied private dwellings1,029,76289.589.5938,09287.487.8+91,670
Unoccupied private dwellings118,10910.310.4132,87412.412.0-14,765
Non private dwellings2,3860.20.22,5990.20.2-213
Total dwellings1,150,257100.0100.01,073,682100.0100.0+76,575
Source: Australian Bureau of Statistics, Census of Population and Housing 2016 and 2021. Compiled and presented by .id (informed decisions).
Please refer to specific data notes for more information

Dominant groups

In 2021, there were 884,622 separate houses in the area, 182,251 medium density dwellings, and 55,345 high density dwellings. In addition, there were 17,227 caravans/cabins/houseboats in the area.

Analysis of the types of dwellings in Western Australia in 2021 shows that 77.1% of all dwellings were separate houses; 15.9% were medium density dwellings, and 4.8% were in high density dwellings, compared with 76.8%, 19.8%, and 2.3% in the South Australia respectively.

In 2021, a total of 89.5% of the dwellings in Western Australia were occupied on Census night, compared to 89.5% in South Australia. The proportion of unoccupied dwellings was 10.3%, which is similar compared to that found in South Australia (10.4%).

Emerging groups

The total number of dwellings in Western Australia increased by 76,575 between 2016 and 2021.

The largest changes in the type of dwellings found in Western Australia between 2016 and 2021 were:

  • Separate house (+65,862 dwellings)
  • High density (+12,452 dwellings)
  • Medium density (-2,807 dwellings)
  • Caravans, cabin, houseboat (+2,003 dwellings)

DISCLAIMER: While all due care has been taken to ensure that the content of this website is accurate and current, there may be errors or omissions in it and no legal responsibility is accepted for the information and opinions in this website.

Please view our Privacy Policy, Terms of use and Legal notices.

ABS Data and the copyright in the ABS Data remains the property of the Australian Bureau of Statistics. The copyright in the way .id has modified, transformed or reconfigured the ABS Data as published on this website remains the property of .id. ABS Data can be accessed from the Australian Bureau of Statistics at www.abs.gov.au. ABS data can be used under license - terms published on ABS website. intermediary.management@abs.gov.au if you have any queries or wish to distribute any ABS data.