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 Penrith, accounting for 47.4% (4,000 households). This share was higher than Penrith (C) (32.2%). Since 2016, the biggest change was in 1 motor vehicle, which increased by 1,677 households and 7.4 percentage points.
Section overview
Car ownership
Penrith - Households (Enumerated)
This table summarises number of cars per household for Penrith in 2021 for persons, with comparison against Penrith (C) and change since 2016.
Car ownership snapshot
2021 distribution by category for Penrith, with comparison markers for Penrith (C).
No motor vehicles
2021 count
1,308
% of total
15.5%
Change from 2016
+0.3pp
1,308
15.5%
+0.3pp
1 motor vehicle
2021 count
4,000
% of total
47.4%
Change from 2016
+7.4pp
4,000
47.4%
+7.4pp
2 motor vehicles
2021 count
1,853
% of total
22.0%
Change from 2016
-1.1pp
1,853
22.0%
-1.1pp
3 or more motor vehicles
2021 count
602
% of total
7.1%
Change from 2016
-2.1pp
602
7.1%
-2.1pp
Not stated
2021 count
664
% of total
7.9%
Change from 2016
-4.6pp
664
7.9%
-4.6pp
Chart view
Car ownership change
Absolute change in category counts between 2016 and 2021.
No motor vehicles
+423
+0.3pp
1 motor vehicle
+1,677
+7.4pp
2 motor vehicles
+514
-1.1pp
3 or more motor vehicles
+69
-2.1pp
Not stated
-59
-4.6pp
Data table
Number of cars per household for Penrith. Car ownership. 2021 and 2016 counts, percentages, and change compared with Penrith (C).
| Category | 2021 | 2016 | Change | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Count | % | Penrith (C)% | Count | % | Penrith (C)% | Count | pp | |
| No motor vehicles | 1,308 | 15.5% | 6.3% | 885 | 15.2% | 5.8% | +423 | +0.3pp |
| 1 motor vehicle | 4,000 | 47.4% | 32.2% | 2,323 | 40.0% | 29.6% | +1,677 | +7.4pp |
| 2 motor vehicles | 1,853 | 22.0% | 34.9% | 1,339 | 23.1% | 35.3% | +514 | -1.1pp |
| 3 or more motor vehicles | 602 | 7.1% | 20.9% | 533 | 9.2% | 21.4% | +69 | -2.1pp |
| Not stated | 664 | 7.9% | 5.7% | 723 | 12.5% | 7.9% | -59 | -4.6pp |
| Total households | 8,431 | 100.0% | 100.0% | 5,805 | 100.0% | 100.0% | +2,626 | 0.0pp |