Housing
Housing tenure
About this topic
Housing tenure shows whether households own their dwelling outright, are purchasing it, rent privately, rent from a social landlord, or occupy it under another arrangement. It describes how households hold or access housing, not the type of dwelling itself.
This topic is useful for analysing housing markets, affordability, stability, and the mix of owners and renters. It works best alongside dwelling type, household composition, and housing cost topics such as mortgage repayments and rent.
Interpretation notes
- Tenure type describes how the dwelling is occupied, including ownership, mortgage, rental, or other arrangements.
- It applies to occupied private dwellings and should not be confused with dwelling structure or housing cost measures.
Key insight
In 2021, 63.1% of households in Smithfield (Qld) were purchasing or had fully paid off their home, while 31.1% were renting. The mortgage share was higher than Cairns (R) (32.8%).
Section overview
Housing tenure
Smithfield (Qld) - Households (Enumerated)
This table summarises housing tenure for Smithfield (Qld) in 2021 for persons, with comparison against Cairns (R) and change since 2016.
Housing tenure snapshot
2021 distribution by category for Smithfield (Qld), with comparison markers for Cairns (R).
Fully owned
2021 count
540
% of total
22.4%
Change from 2016
+0.9pp
540
22.4%
+0.9pp
Mortgage
2021 count
982
% of total
40.7%
Change from 2016
+1.5pp
982
40.7%
+1.5pp
Renting - Total
2021 count
751
% of total
31.1%
Change from 2016
-1.3pp
751
31.1%
-1.3pp
Renting - Social housing
2021 count
60
% of total
2.5%
Change from 2016
+0.1pp
60
2.5%
+0.1pp
Renting - Private
2021 count
682
% of total
28.3%
Change from 2016
-1.7pp
682
28.3%
-1.7pp
Renting - Not stated
2021 count
10
% of total
0.4%
Change from 2016
-0.1pp
10
0.4%
-0.1pp
Other tenure type
2021 count
24
% of total
1.0%
Change from 2016
+0.6pp
24
1.0%
+0.6pp
Not stated
2021 count
111
% of total
4.6%
Change from 2016
-2.4pp
111
4.6%
-2.4pp
Chart view
Housing tenure change
Absolute change in category counts between 2016 and 2021.
Fully owned
+119
+0.9pp
Mortgage
+214
+1.5pp
Renting - Total
+115
-1.3pp
Renting - Social housing
+13
+0.1pp
Renting - Private
+93
-1.7pp
Renting - Not stated
0
-0.1pp
Other tenure type
+17
+0.6pp
Not stated
-27
-2.4pp
Data table
Housing tenure for Smithfield (Qld). Housing tenure. 2021 and 2016 counts, percentages, and change compared with Cairns (R).
| Category | 2021 | 2016 | Change | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Count | % | Cairns (R)% | Count | % | Cairns (R)% | Count | pp | |
| Fully owned | 540 | 22.4% | 25.3% | 421 | 21.5% | 22.5% | +119 | +0.9pp |
| Mortgage | 982 | 40.7% | 32.8% | 768 | 39.2% | 30.2% | +214 | +1.5pp |
| Renting - Total | 751 | 31.1% | 32.9% | 636 | 32.4% | 35.7% | +115 | -1.3pp |
| Renting - Social housing | 60 | 2.5% | 3.7% | 47 | 2.4% | 4.0% | +13 | +0.1pp |
| Renting - Private | 682 | 28.3% | 29.0% | 589 | 30.0% | 31.2% | +93 | -1.7pp |
| Renting - Not stated | 10 | 0.4% | 0.2% | 10 | 0.5% | 0.5% | 0 | -0.1pp |
| Other tenure type | 24 | 1.0% | 1.3% | 7 | 0.4% | 0.7% | +17 | +0.6pp |
| Not stated | 111 | 4.6% | 7.7% | 138 | 7.0% | 10.8% | -27 | -2.4pp |
| Total households | 2,412 | 100.0% | 100.0% | 1,960 | 100.0% | 100.0% | +452 | 0.0pp |