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, 2 motor vehicles was the most common car-ownership level among households in East Pilbara (S), accounting for 35% (575 households). This share was lower than Regional WA (37.7%). Since 2016, the biggest change was in 1 motor vehicle, which increased by 65 households and 2.7 percentage points.

Section overview

Car ownership

East Pilbara (S) - Households (Enumerated)

This table summarises number of cars per household for East Pilbara (S) in 2021 for persons, with comparison against Regional WA and change since 2016.

Car ownership snapshot

2021 distribution by category for East Pilbara (S), with comparison markers for Regional WA.

East Pilbara (S)
Regional WA

No motor vehicles

2021 count

163

% of total

9.9%

Change from 2016

-1.1pp

1 motor vehicle

2021 count

565

% of total

34.4%

Change from 2016

+2.7pp

2 motor vehicles

2021 count

575

% of total

35.0%

Change from 2016

-0.3pp

3 or more motor vehicles

2021 count

300

% of total

18.2%

Change from 2016

+0.8pp

Not stated

2021 count

49

% of total

3.0%

Change from 2016

-2.3pp

Data table

Number of cars per household for East Pilbara (S). Car ownership. 2021 and 2016 counts, percentages, and change compared with Regional WA.

Number of cars per household for East Pilbara (S). Car ownership. 2021 and 2016 counts, percentages, and change compared with Regional WA.
Number of cars per household for East Pilbara (S). Car ownership. 2021 and 2016 counts, percentages, and change compared with Regional WA.
Category20212016Change
Count%Regional WA%Count%Regional WA%Countpp
No motor vehicles1639.9%4.8%17311.0%5.1%-10-1.1pp
1 motor vehicle56534.4%31.3%50031.7%29.4%+65+2.7pp
2 motor vehicles57535.0%37.7%55735.3%37.1%+18-0.3pp
3 or more motor vehicles30018.2%24.2%27417.4%24.5%+26+0.8pp
Not stated493.0%2.0%845.3%4.0%-35-2.3pp
Total households1,644100.0%100.0%1,579100.0%100.0%+650.0pp