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 Central Desert (R), accounting for 42.2% (401 households). This share was higher than Regional NT (37.3%). Since 2016, the biggest change was in 1 motor vehicle, which increased by 127 households and 10.1 percentage points.
Section overview
Car ownership
Central Desert (R) - Households (Enumerated)
This table summarises number of cars per household for Central Desert (R) in 2021 for persons, with comparison against Regional NT and change since 2016.
Car ownership snapshot
2021 distribution by category for Central Desert (R), with comparison markers for Regional NT.
No motor vehicles
2021 count
237
% of total
24.9%
Change from 2016
-13.7pp
237
24.9%
-13.7pp
1 motor vehicle
2021 count
401
% of total
42.2%
Change from 2016
+10.1pp
401
42.2%
+10.1pp
2 motor vehicles
2021 count
124
% of total
13.1%
Change from 2016
+1.6pp
124
13.1%
+1.6pp
3 or more motor vehicles
2021 count
73
% of total
7.7%
Change from 2016
+1.7pp
73
7.7%
+1.7pp
Not stated
2021 count
117
% of total
12.3%
Change from 2016
+0.5pp
117
12.3%
+0.5pp
Chart view
Car ownership change
Absolute change in category counts between 2016 and 2021.
No motor vehicles
-93
-13.7pp
1 motor vehicle
+127
+10.1pp
2 motor vehicles
+26
+1.6pp
3 or more motor vehicles
+22
+1.7pp
Not stated
+16
+0.5pp
Data table
Number of cars per household for Central Desert (R). Car ownership. 2021 and 2016 counts, percentages, and change compared with Regional NT.
| Category | 2021 | 2016 | Change | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Count | % | Regional NT% | Count | % | Regional NT% | Count | pp | |
| No motor vehicles | 237 | 24.9% | 17.9% | 330 | 38.6% | 17.4% | -93 | -13.7pp |
| 1 motor vehicle | 401 | 42.2% | 37.3% | 274 | 32.1% | 32.9% | +127 | +10.1pp |
| 2 motor vehicles | 124 | 13.1% | 21.6% | 98 | 11.5% | 21.2% | +26 | +1.6pp |
| 3 or more motor vehicles | 73 | 7.7% | 10.8% | 51 | 6.0% | 10.2% | +22 | +1.7pp |
| Not stated | 117 | 12.3% | 12.4% | 101 | 11.8% | 18.4% | +16 | +0.5pp |
| Total households | 950 | 100.0% | 100.0% | 854 | 100.0% | 100.0% | +96 | 0.0pp |