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, 1 motor vehicle was the most common car-ownership level among households in Smithfield (NSW) (part), accounting for 34.8% (1,405 households). This share was higher than Fairfield (C) (33.8%). Since 2016, the biggest change was in 1 motor vehicle, which increased by 1,361 households and 1.2 percentage points.
Section overview
Car ownership
Smithfield (NSW) (part) - Households (Enumerated)
This table summarises number of cars per household for Smithfield (NSW) (part) in 2021 for persons, with comparison against Fairfield (C) and change since 2016.
Car ownership snapshot
2021 distribution by category for Smithfield (NSW) (part), with comparison markers for Fairfield (C).
No motor vehicles
2021 count
465
% of total
11.5%
Change from 2016
+4.6pp
465
11.5%
+4.6pp
1 motor vehicle
2021 count
1,405
% of total
34.8%
Change from 2016
+1.2pp
1,405
34.8%
+1.2pp
2 motor vehicles
2021 count
1,262
% of total
31.3%
Change from 2016
-3.8pp
1,262
31.3%
-3.8pp
3 or more motor vehicles
2021 count
828
% of total
20.5%
Change from 2016
+6.8pp
828
20.5%
+6.8pp
Not stated
2021 count
68
% of total
1.7%
Change from 2016
+1.7pp
68
1.7%
+1.7pp
Chart view
Car ownership change
Absolute change in category counts between 2016 and 2021.
No motor vehicles
+456
+4.6pp
1 motor vehicle
+1,361
+1.2pp
2 motor vehicles
+1,216
-3.8pp
3 or more motor vehicles
+810
+6.8pp
Not stated
+68
+1.7pp
Data table
Number of cars per household for Smithfield (NSW) (part). Car ownership. 2021 and 2016 counts, percentages, and change compared with Fairfield (C).
| Category | 2021 | 2016 | Change | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Count | % | Fairfield (C)% | Count | % | Fairfield (C)% | Count | pp | |
| No motor vehicles | 465 | 11.5% | 10.4% | 9 | 6.9% | 10.4% | +456 | +4.6pp |
| 1 motor vehicle | 1,405 | 34.8% | 33.8% | 44 | 33.6% | 32.4% | +1,361 | +1.2pp |
| 2 motor vehicles | 1,262 | 31.3% | 31.4% | 46 | 35.1% | 31.2% | +1,216 | -3.8pp |
| 3 or more motor vehicles | 828 | 20.5% | 22.4% | 18 | 13.7% | 21.9% | +810 | +6.8pp |
| Not stated | 68 | 1.7% | 1.9% | 0 | 0.0% | 4.1% | +68 | +1.7pp |
| Total households | 4,034 | 100.0% | 100.0% | 131 | 100.0% | 100.0% | +3,903 | 0.0pp |