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 Watsonia, accounting for 39% (853 households). This share was higher than Banyule (C) (36.4%). Since 2016, the biggest change was in 2 motor vehicles, which increased by 83 households and 2.8 percentage points.

Section overview

Car ownership

Watsonia - Households (Enumerated)

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

Car ownership snapshot

2021 distribution by category for Watsonia, with comparison markers for Banyule (C).

Watsonia
Banyule (C)

No motor vehicles

2021 count

154

% of total

7.0%

Change from 2016

-0.8pp

1 motor vehicle

2021 count

853

% of total

39.0%

Change from 2016

-0.1pp

2 motor vehicles

2021 count

828

% of total

37.8%

Change from 2016

+2.8pp

3 or more motor vehicles

2021 count

264

% of total

12.1%

Change from 2016

-0.1pp

Not stated

2021 count

93

% of total

4.3%

Change from 2016

-1.8pp

Data table

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

Number of cars per household for Watsonia. Car ownership. 2021 and 2016 counts, percentages, and change compared with Banyule (C).
Number of cars per household for Watsonia. Car ownership. 2021 and 2016 counts, percentages, and change compared with Banyule (C).
Category20212016Change
Count%Banyule (C)%Count%Banyule (C)%Countpp
No motor vehicles1547.0%5.7%1667.8%6.0%-12-0.8pp
1 motor vehicle85339.0%36.4%83439.1%34.0%+19-0.1pp
2 motor vehicles82837.8%39.1%74535.0%38.4%+83+2.8pp
3 or more motor vehicles26412.1%15.6%26112.2%15.9%+3-0.1pp
Not stated934.3%3.2%1306.1%5.9%-37-1.8pp
Total households2,188100.0%100.0%2,131100.0%100.0%+570.0pp