The study of household composition through census data relies on the identification of family nuclei. Simple households are defined as those containing one family nucleus or a single person; all others with combinations are defined as complex households. In contemporary Western societies, where complex households only represent a minority of households, this category is not detailed. However, where such forms of co-residence are more common, the need arises for a detailed partition of this very heterogeneous category. This paper aims to provide a method for the categorisation of complex households. After reviewing criteria from the United Nations recommendations and the Indian census typology, we decompose the household categories of French Polynesia’s most recent census (2017). We then take into account the regional features of family organisation in order to produce homogeneous and robust subcategories. The resulting typology offers a detailed classification of households in French Polynesia and allows immediate comparison with the existing typology. We propose a data-based procedure for producing a detailed taxonomy of family structures in territories where complex households represent a significant part of the population. We also highlight the need to combine automatic clustering with local specificities to identify categories that are suitable for use in guiding public action.