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, 2 motor vehicles was the most common car-ownership level among households in Edmonton, accounting for 38% (1,500 households). This share was higher than Cairns (R) (34.8%). Since 2016, the biggest change was in 3 or more motor vehicles, which increased by 206 households and 4.2 percentage points.
Section overview
Car ownership
Edmonton - Households (Enumerated)
This table summarises number of cars per household for Edmonton in 2021 for persons, with comparison against Cairns (R) and change since 2016.
Car ownership snapshot
2021 distribution by category for Edmonton, with comparison markers for Cairns (R).
No motor vehicles
2021 count
169
% of total
4.3%
Change from 2016
+0.3pp
169
4.3%
+0.3pp
1 motor vehicle
2021 count
1,112
% of total
28.2%
Change from 2016
-2.2pp
1,112
28.2%
-2.2pp
2 motor vehicles
2021 count
1,500
% of total
38.0%
Change from 2016
-0.7pp
1,500
38.0%
-0.7pp
3 or more motor vehicles
2021 count
842
% of total
21.3%
Change from 2016
+4.2pp
842
21.3%
+4.2pp
Not stated
2021 count
333
% of total
8.4%
Change from 2016
-1.4pp
333
8.4%
-1.4pp
Chart view
Car ownership change
Absolute change in category counts between 2016 and 2021.
No motor vehicles
+21
+0.3pp
1 motor vehicle
-19
-2.2pp
2 motor vehicles
+57
-0.7pp
3 or more motor vehicles
+206
+4.2pp
Not stated
-33
-1.4pp
Data table
Number of cars per household for Edmonton. Car ownership. 2021 and 2016 counts, percentages, and change compared with Cairns (R).
| Category | 2021 | 2016 | Change | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Count | % | Cairns (R)% | Count | % | Cairns (R)% | Count | pp | |
| No motor vehicles | 169 | 4.3% | 6.1% | 148 | 4.0% | 6.5% | +21 | +0.3pp |
| 1 motor vehicle | 1,112 | 28.2% | 35.3% | 1,131 | 30.4% | 34.1% | -19 | -2.2pp |
| 2 motor vehicles | 1,500 | 38.0% | 34.8% | 1,443 | 38.7% | 33.7% | +57 | -0.7pp |
| 3 or more motor vehicles | 842 | 21.3% | 16.0% | 636 | 17.1% | 13.9% | +206 | +4.2pp |
| Not stated | 333 | 8.4% | 7.8% | 366 | 9.8% | 11.7% | -33 | -1.4pp |
| Total households | 3,950 | 100.0% | 100.0% | 3,724 | 100.0% | 100.0% | +226 | 0.0pp |