Housing
Number of cars per household
About this topic
Number of cars per household shows how many registered motor vehicles are available to people living in a household. It is a measure of access to private transport rather than total travel activity.
This topic is useful for understanding mobility, transport choice, and access to jobs and services. It should be read with public transport availability, household type, income, and travel to work, because high or low car ownership can reflect very different local conditions.
Interpretation notes
- This measures registered motor vehicles owned or used by residents that were garaged or parked at or near the dwelling on Census night.
- Vehicle counts are a household access measure, not a direct measure of how often people drive or commute.
Related topics
Key insight
In 2021, 2 motor vehicles was the most common car-ownership level among households in Smithfield (Qld), accounting for 45.1% (1,043 households). This share was higher than Cairns (R) (37.5%). Since 2016, the biggest change was in 2 motor vehicles, which increased by 338 households and 10.6 percentage points.
Section overview
Car ownership
Smithfield (Qld) - Households (Enumerated)
This table summarises number of cars per household for Smithfield (Qld) in 2021 for persons, with comparison against Cairns (R) and change since 2016.
Car ownership snapshot
2021 distribution by category for Smithfield (Qld), with comparison markers for Cairns (R).
No motor vehicles
2021 count
78
% of total
3.4%
Change from 2016
-3.8pp
78
3.4%
-3.8pp
1 motor vehicle
2021 count
717
% of total
31.0%
Change from 2016
-11.8pp
717
31.0%
-11.8pp
2 motor vehicles
2021 count
1,043
% of total
45.1%
Change from 2016
+10.6pp
1,043
45.1%
+10.6pp
3 or more motor vehicles
2021 count
436
% of total
18.9%
Change from 2016
+6.1pp
436
18.9%
+6.1pp
Not stated
2021 count
32
% of total
1.4%
Change from 2016
-0.7pp
32
1.4%
-0.7pp
Chart view
Car ownership change
Absolute change in category counts between 2016 and 2021.
No motor vehicles
-69
-3.8pp
1 motor vehicle
-156
-11.8pp
2 motor vehicles
+338
+10.6pp
3 or more motor vehicles
+174
+6.1pp
Not stated
-10
-0.7pp
Data table
Number of cars per household for Smithfield (Qld). Car ownership. 2021 and 2016 counts, percentages, and change compared with Cairns (R).
| Category | 2021 | 2016 | Change | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Count | % | Cairns (R)% | Count | % | Cairns (R)% | Count | pp | |
| No motor vehicles | 78 | 3.4% | 6.3% | 147 | 7.2% | 6.9% | -69 | -3.8pp |
| 1 motor vehicle | 717 | 31.0% | 37.0% | 873 | 42.8% | 36.5% | -156 | -11.8pp |
| 2 motor vehicles | 1,043 | 45.1% | 37.5% | 705 | 34.5% | 37.0% | +338 | +10.6pp |
| 3 or more motor vehicles | 436 | 18.9% | 17.4% | 262 | 12.8% | 15.4% | +174 | +6.1pp |
| Not stated | 32 | 1.4% | 1.8% | 42 | 2.1% | 4.1% | -10 | -0.7pp |
| Total households | 2,311 | 100.0% | 100.0% | 2,041 | 100.0% | 100.0% | +270 | 0.0pp |