City of IpswichCommunity profile
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City of Ipswich

Household size

In 2021, 22% of households in the City of Ipswich contained only one person, compared with 23.6% in South East Queensland, 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 Ipswich'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 Ipswich - Households (Enumerated)20212016Change
Number of persons usually residentNumber%South East Queensland %Number%South East Queensland %2016 to 2021
1 person17,17122.023.612,88120.222.3+4,290
2 persons24,19831.034.519,93331.334.4+4,265
3 persons13,70017.616.511,50418.116.9+2,196
4 persons13,05216.715.710,87717.116.1+2,175
5 persons5,9337.66.35,0337.96.7+900
6 or more persons4,0055.13.43,4425.43.5+563

Source: Australian Bureau of Statistics, Census of Population and Housing 2016 and 2021. Compiled and presented by .id (informed decisions).

Household size - Summary
City of Ipswich - Enumerated20212016Change
DwellingsNumber%South East Queensland %Number%South East Queensland %2016 to 2021
Occupied private dwellings81,945----67,725----+14,220
Persons in occupied private dwellings224,054----188,869----+35,185
Average household size (persons per dwelling)2.73--2.552.79--2.59-0.05

Source: Australian Bureau of Statistics, Census of Population and Housing 2016 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, South East Queensland: 3.4% 5 persons, South East Queensland: 6.3% 4 persons, South East Queensland: 15.7% 3 persons, South East Queensland: 16.5% 2 persons, South East Queensland: 34.5% 1 person, South East Queensland: 23.6% 6 or more persons, City of Ipswich: 5.1% 5 persons, City of Ipswich: 7.6% 4 persons, City of Ipswich: 16.7% 3 persons, City of Ipswich: 17.6% 2 persons, City of Ipswich: 31.0% 1 person, City of Ipswich: 22.0%
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, 2016 to 2021
Change in household size, 2016 to 2021 6 or more persons, City of Ipswich: +563 5 persons, City of Ipswich: +900 4 persons, City of Ipswich: +2,175 3 persons, City of Ipswich: +2,196 2 persons, City of Ipswich: +4,265 1 person, City of Ipswich: +4,290
Source: Australian Bureau of Statistics, Census of Population and Housing, 2016 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 Ipswich compared with South East Queensland 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 22.0% of lone person households, and 29.5% of larger households, compared with 23.6% and 25.4% respectively for South East Queensland.

The major differences in the household size for the City of Ipswich and South East Queensland were:

  • A larger percentage of households with 6 or more persons usually resident (5.1% compared to 3.4%)
  • A larger percentage of households with 5 persons usually resident (7.6% compared to 6.3%)
  • A smaller percentage of households with 2 persons usually resident (31.0% compared to 34.5%)
  • A smaller percentage of households with 1 person usually resident (22.0% compared to 23.6%)

Emerging groups

The number of households in City of Ipswich increased by 14,389 between 2016 and 2021.

The largest changes in the number of persons usually resident in a household in the City of Ipswich between 2016 and 2021 were:

  • 1 person (+4,290 households)
  • 2 persons (+4,265 households)
  • 3 persons (+2,196 households)
  • 4 persons (+2,175 households)

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