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In Canberra, 38.7% of the dwellings were medium or high density, compared to 19% in Regional NT.

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.

Q:

Derived from the Census:

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

Dwelling structure
Canberra - Dwellings (Enumerated)20212011Change
Dwelling typeNumber%Regional NT %Number%Regional NT %2011 to 2021
Separate house113,94460.962.7102,62570.764.5+11,319
Medium density39,92521.418.128,65019.719.2+11,275
High density32,44517.40.413,4979.30.2+18,948
Caravans, cabin, houseboat3010.212.13250.211.9-24
Other720.02.2800.12.7-8
Not stated2830.24.4470.01.5+236
Total Private Dwellings186,970100.0100.0145,224100.0100.0+41,746
Source: Australian Bureau of Statistics, Census of Population and Housing 2011 and 2021. Compiled and presented by .id (informed decisions).
Please refer to specific data notes for more information
Dwelling type
Canberra20212011Change
Dwelling typeNumber%Regional NT %Number%Regional NT %2011 to 2021
Occupied private dwellings174,97293.584.3134,99992.884.1+39,973
Unoccupied private dwellings11,9886.414.210,2217.014.3+1,767
Non private dwellings1870.11.52710.21.6-84
Total dwellings187,147100.0100.0145,491100.0100.0+41,656
Source: Australian Bureau of Statistics, Census of Population and Housing 2011 and 2021. Compiled and presented by .id (informed decisions).
Please refer to specific data notes for more information

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 62.7%, 18.1%, and 0.4% in the Regional NT respectively.

In 2021, a total of 93.5% of the dwellings in Canberra were occupied on Census night, compared to 84.3% in Regional NT. The proportion of unoccupied dwellings was 6.4%, which is smaller compared to that found in Regional NT (14.2%).

Emerging groups

The total number of dwellings in Canberra increased by 41,656 between 2011 and 2021.

The largest changes in the type of dwellings found in Canberra between 2011 and 2021 were:

  • High density (+18,948 dwellings)
  • Separate house (+11,319 dwellings)
  • Medium density (+11,275 dwellings)

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