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 Merrylands (part), accounting for 39.6% (3,932 households). This share was lower than Cumberland (A) (40.7%). Since 2016, the biggest change was in 1 motor vehicle, which increased by 3,917 households and 27.7 percentage points.

Section overview

Car ownership

Merrylands (part) - Households (Enumerated)

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

Car ownership snapshot

2021 distribution by category for Merrylands (part), with comparison markers for Cumberland (A).

Merrylands (part)
Cumberland (A)

No motor vehicles

2021 count

1,287

% of total

13.0%

Change from 2016

+13.0pp

1 motor vehicle

2021 count

3,932

% of total

39.6%

Change from 2016

+27.7pp

2 motor vehicles

2021 count

2,900

% of total

29.2%

Change from 2016

-9.7pp

3 or more motor vehicles

2021 count

1,509

% of total

15.2%

Change from 2016

-31.6pp

Not stated

2021 count

293

% of total

3.0%

Change from 2016

+0.6pp

Data table

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

Number of cars per household for Merrylands (part). Car ownership. 2021 and 2016 counts, percentages, and change compared with Cumberland (A).
Number of cars per household for Merrylands (part). Car ownership. 2021 and 2016 counts, percentages, and change compared with Cumberland (A).
Category20212016Change
Count%Cumberland (A)%Count%Cumberland (A)%Countpp
No motor vehicles1,28713.0%12.4%00.0%11.7%+1,287+13.0pp
1 motor vehicle3,93239.6%40.7%1511.9%37.8%+3,917+27.7pp
2 motor vehicles2,90029.2%29.5%4938.9%30.7%+2,851-9.7pp
3 or more motor vehicles1,50915.2%14.9%5946.8%15.4%+1,450-31.6pp
Not stated2933.0%2.5%32.4%4.4%+290+0.6pp
Total households9,926100.0%100.0%126100.0%100.0%+9,8000.0pp