City of OnkaparingaCommunity profile
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City of Onkaparinga

Household size

In 2021, 26% of households in the City of Onkaparinga contained only one person, compared with 32.7% in Noarlunga Centre - Noarlunga Downs, 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 Onkaparinga'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 Onkaparinga - Households (Enumerated)20211996Change
Number of persons usually residentNumber%Noarlunga Centre - Noarlunga Downs %Number%Noarlunga Centre - Noarlunga Downs %1996 to 2021
1 person17,73826.032.78,98418.125.7+8,753
2 persons24,28835.633.916,52533.229.6+7,762
3 persons10,98016.115.18,96018.018.3+2,019
4 persons10,00214.711.510,20620.516.4-205
5 persons3,7075.44.43,8287.76.9-121
6 or more persons1,4302.12.31,2682.53.2+161

Source: Australian Bureau of Statistics, Census of Population and Housing 1996 and 2021. Compiled and presented by .id (informed decisions).

Household size - Summary
City of Onkaparinga - Enumerated20211996Change
DwellingsNumber%Noarlunga Centre - Noarlunga Downs %Number%Noarlunga Centre - Noarlunga Downs %1996 to 2021
Occupied private dwellings70,520----50,655----+19,865
Persons in occupied private dwellings170,422----138,466----+31,956
Average household size (persons per dwelling)2.42--2.282.73--2.62-0.32

Source: Australian Bureau of Statistics, Census of Population and Housing 1996 and 2021. Compiled and presented in profile.id by .id (informed decisions).

The 'Dwellings' table is enumerated data.

Household size, 2021
Household size, 2021 6 or more persons, Noarlunga Centre - Noarlunga Downs: 2.3% 5 persons, Noarlunga Centre - Noarlunga Downs: 4.4% 4 persons, Noarlunga Centre - Noarlunga Downs: 11.5% 3 persons, Noarlunga Centre - Noarlunga Downs: 15.1% 2 persons, Noarlunga Centre - Noarlunga Downs: 33.9% 1 person, Noarlunga Centre - Noarlunga Downs: 32.7% 6 or more persons, City of Onkaparinga: 2.1% 5 persons, City of Onkaparinga: 5.4% 4 persons, City of Onkaparinga: 14.7% 3 persons, City of Onkaparinga: 16.1% 2 persons, City of Onkaparinga: 35.6% 1 person, City of Onkaparinga: 26.0%
Source: Australian Bureau of Statistics, Census of Population and Housing, 2021 (Enumerated data)
Compiled and presented in profile.id by .id (informed decisions).
Change in household size, 1996 to 2021
Change in household size, 1996 to 2021 6 or more persons, City of Onkaparinga: +161 5 persons, City of Onkaparinga: -121 4 persons, City of Onkaparinga: -205 3 persons, City of Onkaparinga: +2,019 2 persons, City of Onkaparinga: +7,762 1 person, City of Onkaparinga: +8,753
Source: Australian Bureau of Statistics, Census of Population and Housing, 1996 and 2021 (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 Onkaparinga compared with Noarlunga Centre - Noarlunga Downs shows that there were a lower proportion of lone person households, and a higher proportion of larger households (those with 4 persons or more). Overall there were 26.0% of lone person households, and 22.2% of larger households, compared with 32.7% and 18.3% respectively for Noarlunga Centre - Noarlunga Downs.

The major differences in the household size for the City of Onkaparinga and Noarlunga Centre - Noarlunga Downs were:

  • A larger percentage of households with 4 persons usually resident (14.7% compared to 11.5%)
  • A larger percentage of households with 2 persons usually resident (35.6% compared to 33.9%)
  • A larger percentage of households with 5 persons usually resident (5.4% compared to 4.4%)
  • A smaller percentage of households with 1 person usually resident (26.0% compared to 32.7%)

Emerging groups

The number of households in City of Onkaparinga increased by 18,371 between 1996 and 2021.

The largest changes in the number of persons usually resident in a household in the City of Onkaparinga between 1996 and 2021 were:

  • 1 person (+8,753 households)
  • 2 persons (+7,762 households)
  • 3 persons (+2,019 households)
  • 4 persons (-205 households)

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