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Flats that sleep in winter: what the census says about occasional living
A census counts not only people but dwellings, including those used occasionally. That category explains why some towns live at full breath in summer while half their windows stay dark in winter.
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What the census actually counts
What the ratio means in practice
A high share of occasionally used dwellings means a seasonal rhythm: full streets in summer, sparse lights in winter, and with that the winter supply of shops and services.1
For someone seeking a year-round home, that ratio is a fact about the neighbourhood: where most windows glow in winter, there is also a school, a clinic and a bakery.1,2
How to reach the numbers
Census data by place is publicly available in the statistics series and can be examined before even setting out for a town.1