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 Kempsey (A), accounting for 36.1% (4,098 households). This share was higher than Regional NSW (35%). Since 2016, the biggest change was in 3 or more motor vehicles, which increased by 483 households and 3.1 percentage points.

Section overview

Car ownership

Kempsey (A) - Households (Enumerated)

This table summarises number of cars per household for Kempsey (A) in 2021 for persons, with comparison against Regional NSW and change since 2016.

Car ownership snapshot

2021 distribution by category for Kempsey (A), with comparison markers for Regional NSW.

Kempsey (A)
Regional NSW

No motor vehicles

2021 count

594

% of total

5.2%

Change from 2016

-1.0pp

1 motor vehicle

2021 count

4,098

% of total

36.1%

Change from 2016

-0.2pp

2 motor vehicles

2021 count

4,018

% of total

35.4%

Change from 2016

+1.1pp

3 or more motor vehicles

2021 count

2,386

% of total

21.0%

Change from 2016

+3.1pp

Not stated

2021 count

254

% of total

2.2%

Change from 2016

-3.2pp

Data table

Number of cars per household for Kempsey (A). Car ownership. 2021 and 2016 counts, percentages, and change compared with Regional NSW.

Number of cars per household for Kempsey (A). Car ownership. 2021 and 2016 counts, percentages, and change compared with Regional NSW.
Number of cars per household for Kempsey (A). Car ownership. 2021 and 2016 counts, percentages, and change compared with Regional NSW.
Category20212016Change
Count%Regional NSW%Count%Regional NSW%Countpp
No motor vehicles5945.2%5.5%6586.2%6.1%-64-1.0pp
1 motor vehicle4,09836.1%35.0%3,86836.3%35.0%+230-0.2pp
2 motor vehicles4,01835.4%37.2%3,65334.3%36.2%+365+1.1pp
3 or more motor vehicles2,38621.0%20.7%1,90317.9%18.4%+483+3.1pp
Not stated2542.2%1.7%5705.4%4.2%-316-3.2pp
Total households11,352100.0%100.0%10,651100.0%100.0%+7010.0pp