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Housing

# Australian home ownership statistics: how many Australians own their home?

Australia's home ownership rate was 66% at the 2021 Census, down from around 70% in the early 1980s. More households now own with a mortgage than own outright, a shift that first emerged in 2003 and has continued since.

10 min read  21 Apr 2025 Updated 02 July 2026  Fact checked 

In this article

1.  [How many Australians own their home?](#how-many-australians-own-their-home)
2.  [How many Australians have a mortgage?](#how-many-australians-have-a-mortgage)
3.  [Who is buying homes in Australia?](#who-is-buying-homes-in-australia)

4.  [What types of homes do Australians live in?](#what-types-of-homes-do-australians-live-in)
5.  [Which Australian states have the highest home ownership rates?](#which-australian-states-have-the-highest-home-ownership-rates)
6.  [How affordable is it to buy a home in Australia?](#how-affordable-is-it-to-buy-a-home-in-australia)

Home ownership rate

66% 

Owned outright + with mortgage

Total private dwellings

10.85M 

2021 Census, occupied

Owned with mortgage

3.80M 

35% of all dwellings

Owned outright

3.36M 

31% of all dwellings

## Section 01

Total homeowners 

## How many Australians own their home?

The 2021 Census counted **10,852,208 occupied private dwellings** across Australia. Roughly two in three were owner-occupied, split almost evenly between households that own outright and those still paying off a mortgage. The remaining third rent, either privately or through public housing.

The combined home ownership rate of 66% was below the roughly 70% recorded in the early 1980s. Outright ownership has fallen over the longer term, while mortgage ownership has become more common. Since 2003, more households have owned their homes with a mortgage than have owned their homes outright.

Australian housing tenure, 2021

Share of occupied private dwellings by tenure type

66%

own their home

Owned with mortgage

3,798,273 dwellings

35%

Owned outright

3,364,184 dwellings

31%

Renting

3,320,776 dwellings

30.6%

Other / not stated

approx. 368,975 dwellings

3.4%

Totals may not equal 100% due to rounding. Owned with a mortgage includes shared equity schemes. Rented excludes rent-free dwellings.  
  
**Source:** ABS 2021 Census of Population and Housing.

![CheckRate](/__l5e/assets-v1/7bc4597d-01a6-41ce-b2ee-e3271c8e8b60/checkrate-logo.png)

Q Is Australia's home ownership rate falling?

Yes. Australia's home ownership rate was 66% at the 2021 Census, below the roughly 70% recorded in the early 1980s. Outright ownership has fallen the most, dropping from 39.5% in 1997–98 to 29.5% in 2019–20. Over the same period, mortgage ownership became more common.

Long-run shift in ownership

Around

70% 

Home ownership rate in the early 1980s

66% 

Home ownership rate, 2021  Census

39.5% 

Outright owners in 1997–98 

29.5% 

Outright owners in 2019–20 

Outright ownership has fallen 10 percentage points  over roughly two decades. More Australians now own their home with a mortgage than own it outright.

About the data

The 2021 Census is the latest full national baseline for housing tenure across all occupied private dwellings. The ABS cancelled the 2023–24 Survey of Income and Housing due to data quality issues, and the next Survey of Income and Housing results are expected in mid-2027. Where 2025 or 2026 figures appear later in this article, they are used to show more recent lending, dwelling price or interest-rate conditions, not updated home ownership rates.

## Section 02

Mortgage holders 

## How many Australians have a mortgage?

Around **3.8 million households**, or 35% of all occupied private dwellings, owned their home with a mortgage at the 2021 Census. The national median outstanding mortgage debt was $275,000 in 2019–20, with weekly housing costs averaging $493, equal to about 16% of gross household income.

In 1997–98, outright ownership was 39.5% and mortgage ownership was 30.9%. By 2019–20, outright ownership had dropped to 29.5%, while mortgage ownership had risen to 36.8%. Private renting also increased, from 20% to 26.2% over the same period.

New lending fell in the March quarter 2026 after rising through 2025. ABS Lending Indicators show 139,794 new dwelling loan commitments in the March quarter 2026, seasonally adjusted and excluding refinancing, down 6.2% from the December quarter 2025 but still 8.6% higher than a year earlier. Owner-occupier commitments fell 6.9% over the quarter, investor commitments fell 5.3%, and owner-occupier first home buyer commitments fell 4.3%. The average new loan size across all dwelling commitments was $724,415 nationally in the March quarter 2026, up 9.0% from a year earlier. Among owner-occupier loans specifically, the average was about $735,000.

National median mortgage debt

$275k 

Outstanding balance, 2019–20

Average weekly cost

$493

For mortgaged households nationally

Cost as share of income

16% 

Of gross household income

Australian housing tenure trends, 1997–2020

Share of households by tenure type, ABS Survey of Income and Housing

-   Owned outright 
-   Owned with mortgage 
-   Private renter 

Figures do not sum to 100% as smaller categories (rent-free, other) are excluded. Original series, not seasonally adjusted.  
  
**Source:** ABS Survey of Income and Housing, 1997–98 to 2019–20.

![CheckRate](/__l5e/assets-v1/7bc4597d-01a6-41ce-b2ee-e3271c8e8b60/checkrate-logo.png)

Median mortgage debt by state, Australia

Median outstanding debt among mortgaged households, 2019–20

ACT

$347,000

NT

$321,000

NSW

$302,000

VIC

$285,000

WA

$280,000

QLD

$261,000

SA

$216,000

TAS

$177,000

Median outstanding debt among owner households with a mortgage at the time of the survey. New loan sizes have grown since 2019–20, with the average new owner-occupier loan reaching about $735,000 nationally in the March quarter 2026.  
  
**Source:** ABS Housing Occupancy and Costs, 2019–20; ABS Lending Indicators, March quarter 2026.

![CheckRate](/__l5e/assets-v1/7bc4597d-01a6-41ce-b2ee-e3271c8e8b60/checkrate-logo.png)

Q What percentage of Australian homeowners have a mortgage?

Based on the 2021 Census, 35% of all occupied private dwellings were owned with a mortgage, covering around 3.8 million households. The median outstanding debt was $275,000 nationally in 2019–20, and weekly housing costs averaged $493, about 16% of gross household income. New loan sizes have grown since then, with the average new owner-occupier loan reaching about $735,000 nationally in the March quarter 2026.

## Section 03

Who is buying 

## Who is buying homes in Australia?

Age is the strongest driver of home ownership in Australia. Ownership rises sharply through people's 30s and 40s, then levels out in their 60s and 70s. Every generation born since the mid-1950s has reached each age group with lower ownership rates than the generation before.

Australians born between 1947 and 1951 reached a **54.2% home ownership rate at ages 25–29**. Those born from 1992 to 1996 had reached just **36.1%** at the same stage of life, an **18-percentage-point gap**. This may reflect rising prices, larger deposits and longer mortgage terms, pushing the ownership timeline back for each successive generation.

Born 1947–51 (at age 25–29)

54.2% 

Home ownership rate for the post-war generation entering their late 20s

Born 1992–96 (at age 25–29)

36.1% 

Home ownership rate for millennials and Gen Z at the same life stage, 18 pp below the post-war generation

Home ownership by birth cohort and age group, Australia

Ownership rates (%) at each age bracket, by year of birth

-   1947-51 
-   1957-61 
-   1967-71 
-   1977-81 
-   1987-91 
-   1992-96 

Analysis excludes "not stated" responses. 1991 Census data has been extrapolated. Ownership rates reflect the household reference person's year of birth.  
  
**Source:** AIHW analysis of ABS Census data.

![CheckRate](/__l5e/assets-v1/7bc4597d-01a6-41ce-b2ee-e3271c8e8b60/checkrate-logo.png)

First home buyers by age group, Australia 2019–20

Share of recent home purchases by age group, first home buyers vs changeover buyers

-   First home buyers 
-   Changeover buyers 

Recent home buyers are households that purchased in the three years prior to survey. Changeover buyers had previously owned a home.  
  
**Source:** ABS Survey of Income and Housing, 2019–20.

![CheckRate](/__l5e/assets-v1/7bc4597d-01a6-41ce-b2ee-e3271c8e8b60/checkrate-logo.png)

**56.1% of first home buyers** who purchased in the three years to 2019–20 were aged between 25 and 34, up from 49.6% in 2017–18. The share under 25 remained small at 5.3%, consistent with the income and savings thresholds required for mortgage approval.

Changeover buyers are usually older. Around **24% of changeover purchases** in 2019–20 were made by households aged 65 or over, likely reflecting retirees using built-up home equity to downsize rather than buying for investment.

Q What age do most Australians buy their first home?

According to the ABS Survey of Income and Housing 2019–20, 56.1% of first home buyers were aged 25–34, while only 5.3% were under 25. This may reflect the high deposits and income usually needed to get a mortgage. Buying a first home is happening later with each generation, and younger Australians now have lower ownership rates at ages 25–29 than any earlier generation on record.

## Section 04

Dwelling types 

## What types of homes do Australians live in?

Of Australia's 10.85 million occupied private dwellings, separate houses make up the majority. The 2021 Census counted **7.7 million separate houses**, equal to roughly 71% of all homes. High-density apartments in buildings of nine or more storeys accounted for 394,303 homes nationally, concentrated mainly in NSW and Victoria.

Dwelling types, Australia 2021

Number of private dwellings by structure type

Separate house

7,699,917

Townhouse (1 storey)

753,231

Townhouse (2+ storey)

597,289

Flat / apt (1–2 storey)

479,622

Flat / apt (4–8 storey)

444,338

Flat / apt (9+ storey)

394,303

Flat / apt (3 storey)

382,041

The ABS randomly adjusts counts to protect confidentiality, so minor discrepancies may exist between components and totals.  
  
**Source:** ABS 2021 Census of Population and Housing, Administrative Data Snapshot.

![CheckRate](/__l5e/assets-v1/7bc4597d-01a6-41ce-b2ee-e3271c8e8b60/checkrate-logo.png)

The state breakdown shows how housing types vary across Australia. New South Wales had the highest share of flats and apartments, partly reflecting Sydney's higher-density housing mix. Western Australia and Queensland had larger detached-house shares, while Victoria stood out for medium-density housing. The 2021 Census counted 237,779 one-storey townhouses in Victoria, more than any other state.

Why the Northern Territory looks different

The NT has Australia's most varied housing mix, with more caravans, cabins and non-standard homes than other jurisdictions. This may reflect remote community housing patterns that are not typical of the broader residential market.

## Section 05

State by state 

## Which Australian states have the highest home ownership rates?

Home ownership is not evenly spread across Australia, with clear differences between states and territories. Rates range from **59% in the Northern Territory** to **69.3% in Western Australia**. The Northern Territory, Western Australia and the ACT have the highest shares of mortgaged households.

New South Wales

Total ownership

64%

With mortgage

34%

Weekly cost (mortgage)

$574

Victoria

Total ownership

68%

With mortgage

37%

Weekly cost (mortgage)

$501

Queensland

Total ownership

64%

With mortgage

36%

Weekly cost (mortgage)

$447

South Australia

Total ownership

69%

With mortgage

39%

Weekly cost (mortgage)

$390

Western Australia

Total ownership

69.3%

With mortgage

42.7%

Weekly cost (mortgage)

$443

Tasmania

Total ownership

68%

With mortgage

35%

Weekly cost (mortgage)

$346

Northern Territory

Total ownership

59%

With mortgage

43%

Weekly cost (mortgage)

$534

Australian Capital Territory

Total ownership

69%

With mortgage

42%

Weekly cost (mortgage)

$546

Home ownership, mortgage debt and housing costs by state and territory

Share of dwellings owned outright, owned with mortgage, and renting

-   Outright 
-   Mortgage 
-   Renting 

Figures may not sum to 100% due to the remaining "other/not stated" category (3.4% nationally). Occupied private dwellings only.  
  
**Source:** ABS Housing Occupancy and Costs, 2019–20, unless otherwise stated.

![CheckRate](/__l5e/assets-v1/7bc4597d-01a6-41ce-b2ee-e3271c8e8b60/checkrate-logo.png)

State / territory

Ownership

Mortgaged

Outright

Renting

Median mortgage

Cost % of income

New South Wales

64%

34%

30%

33%

$302,000

17%

Victoria

68%

37%

31%

29%

$285,000

16%

Queensland

64%

36%

28%

35%

$261,000

15%

South Australia

69%

39%

30%

28%

$216,000

14%

Western Australia

69.3%

42.7%

26.6%

28%

$280,000

14%

Tasmania

68%

35%

33%

29%

$177,000

15%

Northern Territory

59%

43%

16%

40%

$321,000

16%

Australian Capital Territory

69%

42%

27%

28%

$347,000

16%

Australia (national)

66%

35%

31%

30.6%

$275,000

16%

Cost as a percentage of income refers to housing costs, **including** mortgage repayments, rates and body corporate fees, as a share of gross weekly household income. Median mortgage **refers to** outstanding debt among **households with a mortgage**. Source: ABS Housing Occupancy and Costs, 2019–20; **ABS 2021 Census of Population and Housing for national tenure totals**.

![CheckRate](/__l5e/assets-v1/7bc4597d-01a6-41ce-b2ee-e3271c8e8b60/checkrate-logo.png)

-   **Northern Territory:** the NT has the lowest overall ownership rate at **59%** and the highest rental rate at **40%**, reflecting the large share of public and community housing in remote areas. Among NT owners, 43% still carry a mortgage, and the median debt of $321,000 is the second highest nationally.
-   **Western Australia:** WA had the highest ownership rate at 69.3%, which may partly reflect Perth's historically more affordable land prices and higher proportion of detached housing. However, that gap is narrowing. Perth's median established house transfer price rose from $660,000 in the December quarter 2023 to $1,000,000 in the March quarter 2026, a 52% increase in just over two years.
-   **Tasmania:** Tasmania has a **68%** home ownership rate and records the lowest median mortgage debt at **$177,000** and the lowest average weekly cost at $346. However, housing costs still represent 15% of gross income, in line with the national average, because lower wages reduce much of the cost advantage.
-   **ACT:** the ACT has a 69% home ownership rate, along with the highest median outstanding mortgage at **$347,000** and the highest weekly mortgage cost at $546, reflecting Canberra's high property values and above-average incomes among government-sector households.
-   **Queensland and NSW:** both sit at **64%** ownership and share the lowest ownership rates among the mainland states. NSW also has the highest share of renters at 33% and the highest mortgage cost as a share of income at 17%.

Q Which Australian state has the highest home ownership rate?

Western Australia had the highest home ownership rate at 69.3%, followed by South Australia and the Australian Capital Territory, both at 69%. The Northern Territory had the lowest overall rate at 59% and the highest rental rate at 40%. Among all states and territories, Tasmania had the lowest median mortgage debt, at $177,000, while the Australian Capital Territory had the highest, at $347,000.

## Section 06

Affordability 

## How affordable is it to buy a home in Australia?

Saving a deposit can take decades in every capital city, but the timeframe depends heavily on where a household is buying. Based on one full-time income, the March quarter 2026 household saving ratio of 6.2% and a 20% deposit, the time needed to save ranges from around 23 years in Darwin to close to 43 years in Sydney.

The household saving ratio has moved between roughly 6% and 7% over the past year and sat at 6.2% in the March quarter 2026, down from 7.0% in the December quarter 2025. A lower saving rate lengthens the estimate because less income is assumed to be saved each year. Capital-city house prices also remained high relative to full-time earnings in early 2026, keeping deposit-saving timelines long across every capital.

$1.49M 

Median established house, Sydney, March 2026

The highest of any capital. Brisbane $1.15M · Canberra $1.07M · Perth $1.00M · Adelaide $980K · Melbourne $850K · Darwin $750K · Hobart $740K. Source: ABS Total Value of Dwellings (6432.0), March quarter 2026.

Deposit savings reality, 2026

42.9 yrs 

Years to save a 20%  deposit in Sydney on a single income, the longest of any capital city

22.8 yrs 

Darwin, the most accessible capital, on the same basis

13 × 

Sydney's median established house versus a single full-time annual wage

6.2% 

Household saving ratio (March 2026 ) assumed throughout

Estimate based on one full-time income at the state average full-time wage, a 6.2% household saving ratio and a 20% deposit on the capital-city median established-house transfer price. The estimate does not account for tax, rent, living costs, stamp duty, grants, investment returns or dual incomes. Source: ABS dwelling prices (6432.0), average weekly earnings (6302.0, November 2025), National Accounts saving ratio (March 2026).

Years to save a 20% deposit, by capital city

Estimate based on one full-time income, a 6.2% household saving ratio and a 20% deposit, 2026

Sydney (NSW)

42.9 yrs

Brisbane (QLD)

34.0 yrs

Adelaide (SA)

30.3 yrs

Canberra (ACT)

29.1 yrs

Perth (WA)

26.9 yrs

Melbourne (VIC)

25.4 yrs

Hobart (TAS)

24.3 yrs

Darwin (NT)

22.8 yrs

Estimate based on one full-time income at the state average full-time wage. It assumes a 6.2% household saving ratio and a 20% deposit. It does not account for tax, rent, living costs, stamp duty, grants, investment returns or dual incomes. Earnings reflect the most recent Average Weekly Earnings release, November 2025, which the ABS publishes twice yearly.  
  
**Source:** ABS dwelling price data (6432.0, March 2026), ABS average weekly earnings (6302.0, November 2025), ABS National Accounts saving ratio (March 2026).

![CheckRate](/__l5e/assets-v1/7bc4597d-01a6-41ce-b2ee-e3271c8e8b60/checkrate-logo.png)

Price-to-income across the capitals

Measured against a single full-time annual wage, Sydney's median established house was about 13 times income, the highest of any capital. Brisbane was nearly 11 times income, Adelaide and Canberra were around 9, Perth and Melbourne were about 8, and Hobart and Darwin were closer to 7. Source: ABS dwelling prices (6432.0) and average weekly earnings (6302.0).

Government programmes, including the First Home Guarantee, shared equity schemes and state-based stamp duty concessions, are designed to reduce upfront costs for eligible buyers. However, the deposit estimates show that high house prices relative to full-time earnings remain a major affordability barrier across every capital city.

Q How long does it take to save for a house deposit in Australia?

It depends heavily on the city. Based on one full-time income, the March quarter 2026 household saving ratio of 6.2% and a 20% deposit, saving for a house deposit takes around 43 years in Sydney. Brisbane is about 34 years, Adelaide 30, Canberra 29, Perth 27, Melbourne 25 and Hobart 24. Darwin has the shortest timeframe, at roughly 23 years. The estimate does not account for tax, rent, living costs, stamp duty, grants, investment returns or dual incomes.

General information only

This article is based on publicly available ABS data and related official data sources. It is general information only and does not constitute financial advice. It does not consider personal income, expenses, savings, borrowing capacity or eligibility for housing assistance.

## References

1.  [ABS: Housing, Census, 2021](https://www.abs.gov.au/statistics/people/housing/housing-census/latest-release), housing tenure and dwelling data from the 2021 Census.
2.  [ABS: Housing Occupancy and Costs, 2019–20](https://www.abs.gov.au/statistics/people/housing/housing-occupancy-and-costs/latest-release), housing costs, tenure and mortgage cost data.
3.  [AIHW: Home ownership and housing tenure](https://www.aihw.gov.au/reports/australias-welfare/home-ownership-and-housing-tenure), home ownership and housing tenure trends.
4.  [ABS: Lending Indicators, March quarter 2026](https://www.abs.gov.au/statistics/economy/finance/lending-indicators/latest-release), new housing loan commitments and average loan size data.
5.  [ABS: Total Value of Dwellings, March quarter 2026](https://www.abs.gov.au/statistics/economy/price-indexes-and-inflation/total-value-dwellings/latest-release), dwelling values, mean dwelling prices and residential property data.
6.  [ABS: Australian National Accounts: National Income, Expenditure and Product, March quarter 2026](https://www.abs.gov.au/statistics/economy/national-accounts/australian-national-accounts-national-income-expenditure-and-product/latest-release), household income and national accounts data.
7.  [ABS: Average Weekly Earnings, Australia, November 2025](https://www.abs.gov.au/statistics/labour/earnings-and-working-conditions/average-weekly-earnings-australia/latest-release), average weekly earnings and wage data.
8.  [RBA: Housing Lending Rates, Table F6](https://www.rba.gov.au/statistics/interest-rates/), owner-occupier and investor housing lending rates.

## Data Snapshots

![australian housing tenure trends 1997 2020](https://eznpqfufanyahmlyjhnj.supabase.co/storage/v1/object/public/article-covers/snapshots/03e517d2-481e-4723-8c56-1d8b1b238848/australian-housing-tenure-trends-1997-2020-5ada.jpg)

australian housing tenure trends 1997 2020

![australian housing tenure 2021](https://eznpqfufanyahmlyjhnj.supabase.co/storage/v1/object/public/article-covers/snapshots/03e517d2-481e-4723-8c56-1d8b1b238848/australian-housing-tenure-2021-6quu.jpg)

australian housing tenure 2021

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