Going solo: The hidden reason why Australia needs more homes than ever
Changing demographics are exacerbating demand for certain types of housing
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The rise in single person households is exacerbating the housing crisis — and it shows no evidence of slowing down, according to new findings.
Research by Ray White says the number of people living alone in Australia is on the increase and is impacting the volume and style of homes being built.
Data from the RBA and the ABS showed that more than one in four households in Australia now have just one occupant.
The average size of households increased during the early stages of the COVID-induced lockdowns as young people in particular returned to the family home. However, by the end of 2020, that trend started to reverse resulting in the average household size hitting a historic low of 2.48 people by August 2022.
Chief economist at Ray White, Nerida Conisbee said the results seem counterintuitive at first.
“With lockdowns frequently restricting visitation levels during the pandemic, it would have seemed intuitive that people would move in together to have company. The opposite however occurred. Rising wealth as a result of record savings rates led to more people moving out on their own,” she said.
“This higher demand for housing from more single person households led rents to rise even though population growth was very low.
“Given the opportunity (and the money), it appears that there is a strong preference for people to not be surrounded by too many people in their homes.”
The impact on the demand for increasing levels of housing has been significant.
“A rough calculation suggests that across the Australian population of more than 25 million people, a decline in (the Average Household Size) AHS of the magnitude observed between early 2020 and September 2022 (around 1 per cent, without any change in population growth) would alone imply an increase of around 120,000 households,” a report authored by Nalini Agarwal, James Bishop and Iris Day for the RBA said.
While the rising numbers of single person households may appear to be voluntary, Ms Conisbee said that it was not always the case. This was especially true for older Australians living in three or four-bedroom homes.
She said the existing housing stock was not keeping up with changing demographic needs.
“Australia is dominated by houses with three or more bedrooms,” Ms Conisbee said.
“Most households with just one person have more than two spare bedrooms. While there is likely a preference by some to have a lot of spare rooms, the reality is that finding a home with just one or two bedrooms is difficult unless you want to live in a high density area or in a high rise apartment building.
“There is a growing requirement for smaller medium density homes, particularly in inner and middle suburbs around Australia.”
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Strong population growth, major infrastructure spending and comparatively affordable property are expected to cement Melbourne’s position as Australia’s most attractive long-term real estate market.
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Melbourne is poised to become Australia’s largest city within the next decade, with strong population growth, infrastructure investment and relative affordability driving long-term property demand.
A new research report from Knight Frank argues the Victorian capital remains one of the country’s most compelling markets for investors, businesses and residents.
The report highlights the city’s rapidly expanding population, diverse economy and major infrastructure pipeline as key factors underpinning future property growth.
Knight Frank Managing Director Victoria, Dominic Long, said Melbourne’s fundamentals continue to position the city strongly for long-term investment.
“Melbourne continues to stand out as one of Australia’s most compelling real estate markets,” he said.
“It is Australia’s strongest long-term growth city with the fastest growing population, the most diversified economy, world-class liveability and the most affordable major market for office, industrial and residential property.”
Population growth driving demand
Melbourne’s population has grown at an average rate of 1.8 per cent per year since 2000, faster than any advanced global economy, according to the research.
In the year to June 2025 alone, the city added about 123,500 residents, the largest annual increase of any Australian capital.
Population growth is expected to remain one of the key drivers of demand across residential and commercial property markets, including housing, offices and logistics space.
The report forecasts Melbourne’s population will overtake Sydney’s by the 2030s, reinforcing its position as the country’s fastest-growing major city.
Office market offering value
Melbourne’s CBD office market is also attracting renewed attention from investors.
Prime office rents remain significantly lower than in competing cities, with CBD office space about 46 per cent cheaper than Sydney and around 13 per cent cheaper than Brisbane.
That relative affordability is expected to drive long-term demand from occupiers and investors seeking value in Australia’s largest office markets.
The city’s office sector is also showing signs of recovery, with effective rents rising in 2025 and demand increasing for high-quality buildings in premium locations.
Industrial market benefiting from scale
Melbourne’s industrial sector continues to expand, supported by strong population growth, e-commerce demand and the scale of the city’s logistics network.
The city already hosts the country’s largest industrial market, with about 34 million square metres of warehousing stock and significant land available for future development.
Industrial rents remain competitive compared with other capitals, while Melbourne’s port handles the largest container volumes in Australia, further supporting demand for logistics space.
Infrastructure pipeline supporting growth
More than $200 billion in transport infrastructure investment between 2014 and 2036 is also expected to reshape the city and support future property values.
Major projects include the Metro Tunnel, the West Gate Tunnel, the North-East Link and the Suburban Rail Loop, which together will improve connectivity across Melbourne and its growth corridors.
Knight Frank’s Head of Research & Consulting, Victoria, Dr Tony McGough, said these investments would play a key role in supporting the city’s economic expansion.
“Melbourne is Australia’s most economically diverse city and has delivered stable growth for more than two decades,” he said.
“With strong population growth, a highly educated workforce and unprecedented infrastructure investment, Melbourne is well placed to remain one of Australia’s most attractive long-term property markets.”
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