Housing Mix Calculator
The population, bedroom count and average household size a development yields from its mix of studios, one-, two- and three-plus-bedroom dwellings.
Different dwelling sizes house different numbers of people — a studio averages about 1.
How the housing mix calculator works
Different dwelling sizes house different numbers of people — a studio averages about 1.2, a three-bedroom about 3.1. The population of a development is the sum across the mix, not dwellings times a single figure.
The mix also drives school demand, parking and open space, which is why planning schemes often require a minimum share of larger dwellings.
Formula: population = Σ (dwellings of each size × occupancy of that size)
Worked examples
| Inputs | Population | Note |
|---|---|---|
| 380 dwellings, mixed | 782 | about 780 people |
| Family-heavy | 986 | a much higher population |
| Studios and one-beds | 510 | small households |
FAQFrequently asked questions
How many people live in a two-bedroom flat?
About 2.3 on average — a mix of couples, small families and sharers. Occupancy rises with bedrooms but not proportionally.
Why does the mix matter to a planner?
Because it drives population, and population drives schools, parking, open space and infrastructure. A studio-heavy building houses far fewer people than its dwelling count suggests.
What mix do schemes require?
Many require a minimum share of two- and three-bedroom dwellings — often 20 to 30% — to avoid buildings that only suit singles.
Are these occupancy figures universal?
They vary by city and by tenure. Enter your census figures; the defaults are typical inner-city averages.
What is the school-age estimate for?
A rough check on school demand — about 12% of an urban population is aged five to seventeen, more in family-heavy developments.
Where these figures come from
- UN-Habitat — Urban Indicators Guidelines — density, green space and public space benchmarks
- World Health Organization — Urban green spaces — the 9 m² per person minimum
- ITE — Parking Generation Manual — parking demand rates by land use
- US Census Bureau — Population and housing — the US national statistics agency
Last checked: September 2026. Default per-capita rates are mid-range figures from national statistical agencies and utility reports; every one is an input you should replace with the local figure.