In a ten-year period, from the population census of 1971 to 1981, the number of households increased from 10,020 to 10,280, representing a growth of 2.59%. Analyzing data from 1953, a continuous mild increase in the number of households is observed until the last census. However, this growth is not a result of an increase in the total population or significant immigration of new families. On the contrary, the increase in the number of households results from the continuous division of larger families. Improved economic conditions and an increase in the standard of living lead younger families to build new houses and apartments, establishing entirely new households. Older family members remain in the old rural houses with agricultural holdings and the entire economy to which all household facilities were adapted.
When analyzing the trend of the number of households within the municipality, differences are noticeable among settlements. The highest increase in the number of households occurred in Novi Bečej—5.02%, which corresponds to the highest total population and households in this settlement. Novi Bečej also experienced the highest percentage of the population shifting from agriculture to non-agricultural activities, contributing to the fragmentation of larger families. In Novo Miloševo and Bočar, the number of households increased very little, almost negligibly. Meanwhile, in the same period, the number of households in Kuman decreased by 13, or 0.88%. The minimal increase in two rural settlements and the decrease in the number of households in Kuman are a consequence of the gradual migration of younger families to neighboring cities, primarily Zrenjanin.
Out of a total of 10,280 households in 1981, 4,855 households, or 47.23%, had agricultural holdings within the municipality. Significant variations exist in the representation of households with agricultural holdings across settlements. Bočar has 482 of such households, accounting for 68.56% of the total households in this settlement. In Kuman, the percentage of these households is 61.89%, in Novo Miloševo 56.29%, and the lowest representation is in Novi Bečej—36.37%. This difference is primarily due to variations in the economic structure of the settlements.
In terms of size or the number of members, households differ within the municipality. Out of a total of 10,020 households in 1971, single-member households represented 13.3%. Two-member households constituted 26%, three-member households 21.5%, four-member households 22.5%, five-member households 9.5%, six-member households 5.0%, seven-member households 1.4%, and households with eight or more members 0.8%. Two-member families had the highest number, followed by four-member and three-member households. Single-member and two-member households mainly comprised what is known as elderly households, where younger members had left their birthplaces and moved to cities.
Within the municipality, there are variations in the sizes of households across settlements. For example, Novi Bečej has the highest number of two-member households (26.78%), followed by three-member households (23.23%) and four-member households (22.63%). Novo Miloševo, in comparison to the total number of households, has the highest representation of households with four or more members. With four members, this settlement has 21.85% of households, with five members 10.69%, with six members 6.52%, and with seven or more members 3.63%. Novo Miloševo has 33 households with eight or more members, the same as Novi Bečej, despite having twice the total number of households. Additionally, Novo Miloševo has one-third more households with seven members than Novi Bečej. These differences in household sizes can be linked to the general structure and origin of the population. After World War II, part of Novo Miloševo was settled by people from our mountainous, less active, and war-devastated regions, who retained the tradition of raising families with more children for a longer time, which is not characteristic of Vojvodina, i.e., the indigenous population.
The majority of households with members working abroad consist of single-member and two-member families. Out of a total of 334 such households in 1971, 242 (or 72.4%) were single-member households, 80 (or 24.0%) were two-member households, and only 12 (or 3.6%) were households with three or more members. These households were primarily composed of the oldest members who remained on agricultural holdings, while the younger, most productive members capable of earning a living went abroad for temporary work.
In terms of land ownership, the structure of households varies both within the municipality and across settlements. One-fourth (or 24.5%) of households in the municipality have no land. The largest number of these households is in Novi Bečej (72.46%). Regarding land possession from 0.10 hectares to 15.01 hectares and more, the highest representation of households in the municipality in 1971 was those with land up to 0.10 hectares—1,762 or 17.6%. Following are households with 0.11 to 0.50 hectares—12.7%; from 0.51 to 1.00 hectare—4.4%; 1.01 to 2.00 hectares—7.4%; 2.01 to 3.00 hectares—6.1%; 3.01 to 4.00 hectares—3.9%; 4.01 to 5.00 hectares—4.8%, etc. The percentage representation of households from 0.10 hectares to 3.01 hectares decreases, and then, with larger land ownership from 3 to 10 hectares, it increases. Households with land over 10 hectares constitute less than 1%.
Within the municipality, there are differences across settlements. For example, Novo Miloševo has the highest number of households with land from 0.11 to 0.50 hectares (480 or 37.62%). Novo Miloševo and Novi Bečej have an equal number of households with land from 8 to 10 hectares and from 10 to 15 hectares, although Novi Bečej has twice the total number of households. Regarding land from 0.50 to 1.00 hectare, 3 to 4 hectares, and 4 to 5 hectares, Bočar has more households than Kuman, despite Kuman having twice the total number of households. Bočar has the highest number of households from 1 to 2 hectares (89 or 12.70%) in the structure of its households from 0.10 hectares to 15 hectares and more. In Kuman, the highest number of households is from 0.11 to 0.50 hectares (21.74%), in Novi Bečej with land up to 0.10 hectares (21.86%), and in Novo Miloševo from 0.11 to 0.50 hectares (18.54%).
Out of a total of 10,020 households in the municipality in 1971, 50.6% of households earned income from non-agricultural activities. Second, with 37.3%, were households with income from agriculture, and 12.1% of households earned income from mixed sources, i.e., from both agricultural and non-agricultural activities.
The structure of households according to sources of income varies significantly across settlements. In Bočar, the largest percentage of households (46.36%) earned income from agriculture, with the smallest percentage from mixed sources (19.54%). In Kuman, the majority of households (48.09%) found their sources of income in non-agricultural activities. This is primarily due to a higher number of workers, daily migrants, who work and earn income in the city, in non-agricultural activities. In Novi Bečej, influenced by a different economic structure, the majority of households found their sources of income in non-agriculture (60.97%). In Novo Miloševo, households with income from agriculture held the leading position in the structure of households (50.54%).