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 Parramatta (C), accounting for 45.8% (42,203 households). This share was higher than Greater Sydney (39.5%). Since 2016, the biggest change was in 1 motor vehicle, which increased by 10,776 households and 4.3 percentage points.

Section overview

Car ownership

Parramatta (C) - Households (Enumerated)

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

Car ownership snapshot

2021 distribution by category for Parramatta (C), with comparison markers for Greater Sydney.

Parramatta (C)
Greater Sydney

No motor vehicles

2021 count

10,829

% of total

11.8%

Change from 2016

+1.2pp

1 motor vehicle

2021 count

42,203

% of total

45.8%

Change from 2016

+4.3pp

2 motor vehicles

2021 count

27,726

% of total

30.1%

Change from 2016

-2.8pp

3 or more motor vehicles

2021 count

10,030

% of total

10.9%

Change from 2016

-1.3pp

Not stated

2021 count

1,321

% of total

1.4%

Change from 2016

-1.5pp

Data table

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

Number of cars per household for Parramatta (C). Car ownership. 2021 and 2016 counts, percentages, and change compared with Greater Sydney.
Number of cars per household for Parramatta (C). Car ownership. 2021 and 2016 counts, percentages, and change compared with Greater Sydney.
Category20212016Change
Count%Greater Sydney%Count%Greater Sydney%Countpp
No motor vehicles10,82911.8%11.1%8,00110.6%11.1%+2,828+1.2pp
1 motor vehicle42,20345.8%39.5%31,42741.5%37.1%+10,776+4.3pp
2 motor vehicles27,72630.1%32.3%24,92132.9%32.8%+2,805-2.8pp
3 or more motor vehicles10,03010.9%15.7%9,27012.2%15.7%+760-1.3pp
Not stated1,3211.4%1.4%2,2072.9%3.3%-886-1.5pp
Total households92,109100.0%100.0%75,819100.0%100.0%+16,2900.0pp