Area type

Census 2021 statistics are published for a number of different geographies. These can be large, for example the whole of England, or small, for example an output area (OA), the lowest level of geography for which statistics are produced.

For higher levels of geography, more detailed statistics can be produced. When a lower level of geography is used, such as output areas (which have a minimum of 100 persons), the statistics produced have less detail. This is to protect the confidentiality of people and ensure that individuals or their characteristics cannot be identified.

Lower tier local authorities

Lower tier local authorities provide a range of local services. There are 309 lower tier local authorities in England made up of 181 non-metropolitan districts, 59 unitary authorities, 36 metropolitan districts and 33 London boroughs (including City of London). In Wales there are 22 local authorities made up of 22 unitary authorities.

Coverage

Census 2021 statistics are published for the whole of England and Wales. However, you can choose to filter areas by:

• country - for example, Wales
• region - for example, London
• local authority - for example, Cornwall
• health area – for example, Clinical Commissioning Group
• statistical area - for example, MSOA or LSOA

Households of multiple occupancy (HMO)

A dwelling where unrelated tenants rent their home from a private landlord is a HMO, if both of the following apply:

* at least three unrelated individuals live there, forming more than one household

* toilet, bathroom or kitchen facilities are shared with other tenants

A small HMO is shared by 3 or 4 unrelated tenants. A large HMO is shared by 5 or more unrelated tenants.

Accommodation type

The type of building or structure used or available by an individual or household.

This could be:

* the whole house or bungalow

* a flat, maisonette or apartment

* a temporary or mobile structure, such as a caravan

More information about accommodation types

Whole house or bungalow:

This property type is not divided into flats or other living accommodation. There are three types of whole houses or bungalows.

Detached:

None of the living accommodation is attached to another property but can be attached to a garage.

Semi-detached:

The living accommodation is joined to another house or bungalow by a common wall that they share.

Terraced:

A mid-terraced house is located between two other houses and shares two common walls. An end-of-terrace house is part of a terraced development but only shares one common wall.

Flats (Apartments) and maisonettes:

An apartment is another word for a flat. A maisonette is a 2-storey flat.