Canberra
Dwelling type
In Canberra, 38.7% of the dwellings were medium or high density, compared to 35% in Greater Capital Cities.
Dwelling Type is an important determinant of Canberra'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 Canberra.
If you're looking at this data to prepare a housing strategy, learn more here.
Derived from the Census:
'Dwelling Structure is derived from the ABS address register supplemented with information from Census Field Officers.'
Dwellings
Dwelling structure | ||||||||
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Canberra - Dwellings (Enumerated) | 2021 | 2016 | Change | |||||
Dwelling type | Number | % | Greater Capital Cities % | Number | % | Greater Capital Cities % | 2016 to 2021 | |
Separate house | 113,944 | 60.9 | 64.8 | 105,769 | 64.8 | 66.0 | +8,175 | 27001 |
Medium density | 39,925 | 21.4 | 19.4 | 35,667 | 21.8 | 20.5 | +4,258 | 27002 |
High density | 32,445 | 17.4 | 15.1 | 21,236 | 13.0 | 12.6 | +11,209 | 27003 |
Caravans, cabin, houseboat | 301 | 0.2 | 0.2 | 190 | 0.1 | 0.3 | +111 | 27004 |
Other | 72 | 0.0 | 0.3 | 124 | 0.1 | 0.4 | -52 | 27005 |
Not stated | 283 | 0.2 | 0.2 | 312 | 0.2 | 0.3 | -29 | 27006 |
Total Private Dwellings | 186,970 | 100.0 | 100.0 | 163,298 | 100.0 | 100.0 | +23,672 |
Source: Australian Bureau of Statistics, Census of Population and Housing (opens a new window) 2016 and 2021. Compiled and presented by .id (opens a new window)(informed decisions).
(Enumerated data)
Dwelling type | ||||||||
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Canberra | 2021 | 2016 | Change | |||||
Dwelling type | Number | % | Greater Capital Cities % | Number | % | Greater Capital Cities % | 2016 to 2021 | |
Occupied private dwellings | 174,972 | 93.5 | 95.0 | 150,693 | 92.1 | 94.8 | +24,279 | 27500 |
Unoccupied private dwellings | 11,988 | 6.4 | 5.0 | 12,593 | 7.7 | 5.1 | -605 | 27501 |
Non private dwellings | 187 | 0.1 | 0.1 | 250 | 0.2 | 0.1 | -63 | 27502 |
Total dwellings | 187,147 | 100.0 | 100.0 | 163,536 | 100.0 | 100.0 | +23,611 |
Source: Australian Bureau of Statistics, Census of Population and Housing (opens a new window) 2016 and 2021. Compiled and presented by .id (opens a new window)(informed decisions).
(Enumerated data)
Compiled and presented in profile.id by .id (informed decisions).
Compiled and presented in profile.id by .id (informed decisions).
Dominant groups
In 2021, there were 113,944 separate houses in the area, 39,925 medium density dwellings, and 32,445 high density dwellings.
Analysis of the types of dwellings in Canberra in 2021 shows that 60.9% of all dwellings were separate houses; 21.4% were medium density dwellings, and 17.4% were in high density dwellings, compared with 64.8%, 19.4%, and 15.1% in the Greater Capital Cities respectively.
In 2021, a total of 93.5% of the dwellings in Canberra were occupied on Census night, compared to 95.0% in Greater Capital Cities. The proportion of unoccupied dwellings was 6.4%, which is larger compared to that found in Greater Capital Cities (5.0%).
Emerging groups
The total number of dwellings in Canberra increased by 23,611 between 2016 and 2021.
The largest changes in the type of dwellings found in Canberra between 2016 and 2021 were:
- High density (+11,209 dwellings)
- Separate house (+8,175 dwellings)
- Medium density (+4,258 dwellings)
- Caravans, cabin, houseboat (+111 dwellings)