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West Nowra - South Nowra and Surrounds

Household size

In 2021, 21% of households in West Nowra - South Nowra and Surrounds contained only one person, compared with 29.1% in Vincentia - Erowal Bay and Surrounds, 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, West Nowra - South Nowra and Surrounds'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
West Nowra - South Nowra and Surrounds - Households (Enumerated)20212001Change
Number of persons usually residentNumber%Vincentia - Erowal Bay and Surrounds %Number%Vincentia - Erowal Bay and Surrounds %2001 to 2021
1 person42620.629.111713.821.8+308
2 persons67732.744.127232.142.5+404
3 persons35917.311.515918.814.7+199
4 persons35417.110.315718.512.8+197
5 persons1597.73.49511.25.7+64
6 or more persons964.61.6475.62.6+48

Source: Australian Bureau of Statistics, Census of Population and Housing 2001 and 2021. Compiled and presented by .id (informed decisions).

Household size - Summary
West Nowra - South Nowra and Surrounds - Enumerated20212001Change
DwellingsNumber%Vincentia - Erowal Bay and Surrounds %Number%Vincentia - Erowal Bay and Surrounds %2001 to 2021
Occupied private dwellings2,170----868----+1,302
Persons in occupied private dwellings5,911----2,614----+3,297
Average household size (persons per dwelling)2.72--2.223.01--2.43-0.29

Source: Australian Bureau of Statistics, Census of Population and Housing 2001 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, Vincentia - Erowal Bay and Surrounds: 1.6% 5 persons, Vincentia - Erowal Bay and Surrounds: 3.4% 4 persons, Vincentia - Erowal Bay and Surrounds: 10.3% 3 persons, Vincentia - Erowal Bay and Surrounds: 11.5% 2 persons, Vincentia - Erowal Bay and Surrounds: 44.1% 1 person, Vincentia - Erowal Bay and Surrounds: 29.1% 6 or more persons, West Nowra - South Nowra and Surrounds: 4.6% 5 persons, West Nowra - South Nowra and Surrounds: 7.7% 4 persons, West Nowra - South Nowra and Surrounds: 17.1% 3 persons, West Nowra - South Nowra and Surrounds: 17.3% 2 persons, West Nowra - South Nowra and Surrounds: 32.7% 1 person, West Nowra - South Nowra and Surrounds: 20.6%
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, 2001 to 2021
Change in household size, 2001 to 2021 6 or more persons, West Nowra - South Nowra and Surrounds: +48 5 persons, West Nowra - South Nowra and Surrounds: +64 4 persons, West Nowra - South Nowra and Surrounds: +197 3 persons, West Nowra - South Nowra and Surrounds: +199 2 persons, West Nowra - South Nowra and Surrounds: +404 1 person, West Nowra - South Nowra and Surrounds: +308
Source: Australian Bureau of Statistics, Census of Population and Housing, 2001 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 West Nowra - South Nowra and Surrounds compared with Vincentia - Erowal Bay and Surrounds 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 20.6% of lone person households, and 29.4% of larger households, compared with 29.1% and 15.3% respectively for Vincentia - Erowal Bay and Surrounds.

The major differences in the household size for West Nowra - South Nowra and Surrounds and Vincentia - Erowal Bay and Surrounds were:

  • A larger percentage of households with 4 persons usually resident (17.1% compared to 10.3%)
  • A larger percentage of households with 3 persons usually resident (17.3% compared to 11.5%)
  • A smaller percentage of households with 2 persons usually resident (32.7% compared to 44.1%)
  • A smaller percentage of households with 1 person usually resident (20.6% compared to 29.1%)

Emerging groups

The number of households in West Nowra - South Nowra and Surrounds increased by 1,221 between 2001 and 2021.

The largest changes in the number of persons usually resident in a household in West Nowra - South Nowra and Surrounds between 2001 and 2021 were:

  • 2 persons (+404 households)
  • 1 person (+308 households)
  • 3 persons (+199 households)
  • 4 persons (+197 households)

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