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.

Key insight

In 2021, 1 motor vehicle was the most common car-ownership level among households in Cumberland (A), accounting for 40.7% (29,161 households). This share was higher than Greater Sydney (39.5%). Since 2016, the biggest change was in 1 motor vehicle, which increased by 4,761 households and 2.9 percentage points.

Section overview

Car ownership

Cumberland (A) - Households (Enumerated)

This table summarises number of cars per household for Cumberland (A) in 2021 for persons, with comparison against Greater Sydney and change since 2016.

Car ownership snapshot

2021 distribution by category for Cumberland (A), with comparison markers for Greater Sydney.

Cumberland (A)
Greater Sydney

No motor vehicles

2021 count

8,904

% of total

12.4%

Change from 2016

+0.7pp

1 motor vehicle

2021 count

29,161

% of total

40.7%

Change from 2016

+2.9pp

2 motor vehicles

2021 count

21,135

% of total

29.5%

Change from 2016

-1.2pp

3 or more motor vehicles

2021 count

10,659

% of total

14.9%

Change from 2016

-0.5pp

Not stated

2021 count

1,808

% of total

2.5%

Change from 2016

-1.9pp

Data table

Number of cars per household for Cumberland (A). Car ownership. 2021 and 2016 counts, percentages, and change compared with Greater Sydney.

Number of cars per household for Cumberland (A). Car ownership. 2021 and 2016 counts, percentages, and change compared with Greater Sydney.
Number of cars per household for Cumberland (A). Car ownership. 2021 and 2016 counts, percentages, and change compared with Greater Sydney.
Category20212016Change
Count%Greater Sydney%Count%Greater Sydney%Countpp
No motor vehicles8,90412.4%11.1%7,54411.7%11.1%+1,360+0.7pp
1 motor vehicle29,16140.7%39.5%24,40037.8%37.1%+4,761+2.9pp
2 motor vehicles21,13529.5%32.3%19,77830.7%32.8%+1,357-1.2pp
3 or more motor vehicles10,65914.9%15.7%9,93515.4%15.7%+724-0.5pp
Not stated1,8082.5%1.4%2,8514.4%3.3%-1,043-1.9pp
Total households71,666100.0%100.0%64,503100.0%100.0%+7,1630.0pp