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 Coffs Harbour (C), accounting for 37.1% (11,034 households). This share was higher than Regional NSW (35%). Since 2016, the biggest change was in 3 or more motor vehicles, which increased by 1,359 households and 3.2 percentage points.
Section overview
Car ownership
Coffs Harbour (C) - Households (Enumerated)
This table summarises number of cars per household for Coffs Harbour (C) in 2021 for persons, with comparison against Regional NSW and change since 2016.
Car ownership snapshot
2021 distribution by category for Coffs Harbour (C), with comparison markers for Regional NSW.
No motor vehicles
2021 count
1,590
% of total
5.3%
Change from 2016
-0.8pp
1,590
5.3%
-0.8pp
1 motor vehicle
2021 count
11,034
% of total
37.1%
Change from 2016
-0.6pp
11,034
37.1%
-0.6pp
2 motor vehicles
2021 count
11,016
% of total
37.0%
Change from 2016
+0.7pp
11,016
37.0%
+0.7pp
3 or more motor vehicles
2021 count
5,616
% of total
18.9%
Change from 2016
+3.2pp
5,616
18.9%
+3.2pp
Not stated
2021 count
520
% of total
1.7%
Change from 2016
-2.5pp
520
1.7%
-2.5pp
Chart view
Car ownership change
Absolute change in category counts between 2016 and 2021.
No motor vehicles
-53
-0.8pp
1 motor vehicle
+846
-0.6pp
2 motor vehicles
+1,204
+0.7pp
3 or more motor vehicles
+1,359
+3.2pp
Not stated
-614
-2.5pp
Data table
Number of cars per household for Coffs Harbour (C). Car ownership. 2021 and 2016 counts, percentages, and change compared with Regional NSW.
| Category | 2021 | 2016 | Change | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Count | % | Regional NSW% | Count | % | Regional NSW% | Count | pp | |
| No motor vehicles | 1,590 | 5.3% | 5.5% | 1,643 | 6.1% | 6.1% | -53 | -0.8pp |
| 1 motor vehicle | 11,034 | 37.1% | 35.0% | 10,188 | 37.7% | 35.0% | +846 | -0.6pp |
| 2 motor vehicles | 11,016 | 37.0% | 37.2% | 9,812 | 36.3% | 36.2% | +1,204 | +0.7pp |
| 3 or more motor vehicles | 5,616 | 18.9% | 20.7% | 4,257 | 15.7% | 18.4% | +1,359 | +3.2pp |
| Not stated | 520 | 1.7% | 1.7% | 1,134 | 4.2% | 4.2% | -614 | -2.5pp |
| Total households | 29,774 | 100.0% | 100.0% | 27,042 | 100.0% | 100.0% | +2,732 | 0.0pp |