City of Moonee ValleyCommunity profile
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City of Moonee Valley

Household size

In 2016, 26% of households in the City of Moonee Valley contained only one person, compared with 23.2% in Greater Melbourne, with the most dominant household size being 2 persons per household.

The size of households in general follows the life-cycle of families. Households are usually small at the stage of relationship formation (early marriage), and then increase in size with the advent of children. They later reduce in size again as these children reach adulthood and leave home. Household size can also be influenced by a lack (or abundance) of affordable housing. Overseas migrants and indigenous persons often have a tradition of living with extended family members which significantly affects household size.

Household size in Australia has generally declined since the 1970s, but the rate of decline has slowed in recent years.

An increasing household size in an area may indicate a lack of affordable housing opportunities for young people, an increase in the birth rate or an increase in family formation in the area. A declining household size may indicate children leaving the area when they leave home, an increase in retirees settling in the area, or an attraction of young singles and couples to the area.

For greater insight, the City of Moonee Valley's Household Size data should be viewed in conjunction with Household Summary, Age Structure, Dwelling Type, Household Income and Language Spoken at Home.

Derived from the three Census questions:

'Name of each person including visitors who spent the night of Tuesday, 10 August 2021 in this dwelling', and 'Where does the person usually live?', and 'Name of each person who usually lives in this dwelling but was away on Tuesday, 10 August 2021.'

Family, group and lone person households

Household size
City of Moonee Valley - Households (Enumerated)20162006Change
Number of persons usually residentNumber%Greater Melbourne %Number%Greater Melbourne %2006 to 2016
1 person11,48026.423.210,39427.023.7+1,085
2 persons14,05232.331.412,50832.532.1+1,543
3 persons7,11916.417.36,11415.916.6+1,005
4 persons7,28716.717.66,14116.017.2+1,146
5 persons2,7116.27.12,4966.57.3+215
6 or more persons8712.03.58242.13.0+47

Source: Australian Bureau of Statistics, Census of Population and Housing 2006 and 2016. Compiled and presented by .id (informed decisions).

Household size - Summary
City of Moonee Valley - Enumerated20162006Change
DwellingsNumber%Greater Melbourne %Number%Greater Melbourne %2006 to 2016
Occupied private dwellings46,010----40,601----+5,409
Persons in occupied private dwellings113,604----100,100----+13,504
Average household size (persons per dwelling)2.47--2.612.47--2.60--

Source: Australian Bureau of Statistics, Census of Population and Housing 2006 and 2016. Compiled and presented in profile.id by .id (informed decisions).

The 'Dwellings' table is enumerated data.

Household size, 2016
Household size, 2016 6 or more persons, Greater Melbourne: 3.5% 5 persons, Greater Melbourne: 7.1% 4 persons, Greater Melbourne: 17.6% 3 persons, Greater Melbourne: 17.3% 2 persons, Greater Melbourne: 31.4% 1 person, Greater Melbourne: 23.2% 6 or more persons, City of Moonee Valley: 2.0% 5 persons, City of Moonee Valley: 6.2% 4 persons, City of Moonee Valley: 16.7% 3 persons, City of Moonee Valley: 16.4% 2 persons, City of Moonee Valley: 32.3% 1 person, City of Moonee Valley: 26.4%
Source: Australian Bureau of Statistics, Census of Population and Housing, 2016 (Enumerated data)
Compiled and presented in profile.id by .id (informed decisions).
Change in household size, 2006 to 2016
Change in household size, 2006 to 2016 6 or more persons, City of Moonee Valley: +47 5 persons, City of Moonee Valley: +215 4 persons, City of Moonee Valley: +1,146 3 persons, City of Moonee Valley: +1,005 2 persons, City of Moonee Valley: +1,543 1 person, City of Moonee Valley: +1,085
Source: Australian Bureau of Statistics, Census of Population and Housing, 2006 and 2016 (Enumerated data)
Compiled and presented in profile.id by .id (informed decisions).

Dominant groups

Analysis of the number of persons usually resident in a household in the City of Moonee Valley compared with Greater Melbourne shows that there were a higher proportion of lone person households, and a lower proportion of larger households (those with 4 persons or more). Overall there were 26.4% of lone person households, and 25.0% of larger households, compared with 23.2% and 28.1% respectively for Greater Melbourne.

The major differences in the household size for the City of Moonee Valley and Greater Melbourne were:

  • A larger percentage of households with 1 person usually resident (26.4% compared to 23.2%)
  • A smaller percentage of households with 6 or more persons usually resident (2.0% compared to 3.5%)

Emerging groups

The number of households in City of Moonee Valley increased by 5,042 between 2006 and 2016.

The largest changes in the number of persons usually resident in a household in the City of Moonee Valley between 2006 and 2016 were:

  • 2 persons (+1,543 households)
  • 4 persons (+1,146 households)
  • 1 person (+1,085 households)
  • 3 persons (+1,005 households)

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