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Australian Capital Territory

Dwelling type

In Australian Capital Territory, 38.7% of the dwellings were medium or high density, compared to 22% in South Australia.

Dwelling Type is an important determinant of Australian Capital Territory'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 Australian Capital Territory.

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
Australian Capital Territory - Dwellings (Enumerated)20212001Change
Dwelling typeNumber%South Australia %Number%South Australia %2001 to 2021
Separate house113,94460.976.892,08775.677.5+21,857
Medium density39,92521.419.821,91018.019.6+18,015
High density32,44517.42.36,4285.31.0+26,017
Caravans, cabin, houseboat3010.20.62920.20.8+9
Other720.00.21140.10.5-42
Not stated2830.20.49260.80.7-643
Total Private Dwellings186,970100.0100.0121,757100.0100.0+65,213
Source: Australian Bureau of Statistics, Census of Population and Housing 2001 and 2021. Compiled and presented by .id (informed decisions).
Please refer to specific data notes for more information
Dwelling type
Australian Capital Territory20212001Change
Dwelling typeNumber%South Australia %Number%South Australia %2001 to 2021
Occupied private dwellings174,97293.589.5114,84294.290.2+60,130
Unoccupied private dwellings11,9886.410.46,9085.79.6+5,080
Non private dwellings1870.10.22040.20.3-17
Total dwellings187,147100.0100.0121,954100.0100.0+65,193
Source: Australian Bureau of Statistics, Census of Population and Housing 2001 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 Australian Capital Territory 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 76.8%, 19.8%, and 2.3% in the South Australia respectively.

In 2021, a total of 93.5% of the dwellings in Australian Capital Territory were occupied on Census night, compared to 89.5% in South Australia. The proportion of unoccupied dwellings was 6.4%, which is smaller compared to that found in South Australia (10.4%).

Emerging groups

The total number of dwellings in Australian Capital Territory increased by 65,193 between 2001 and 2021.

The largest changes in the type of dwellings found in Australian Capital Territory between 2001 and 2021 were:

  • High density (+26,017 dwellings)
  • Separate house (+21,857 dwellings)
  • Medium density (+18,015 dwellings)

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