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 Thornton (NSW), accounting for 45.9% (1,736 households). This share was higher than Maitland (C) (39.6%). Since 2016, the biggest change was in 2 motor vehicles, which increased by 515 households and 1.5 percentage points.
Section overview
Car ownership
Thornton (NSW) - Households (Enumerated)
This table summarises number of cars per household for Thornton (NSW) in 2021 for persons, with comparison against Maitland (C) and change since 2016.
Car ownership snapshot
2021 distribution by category for Thornton (NSW), with comparison markers for Maitland (C).
No motor vehicles
2021 count
85
% of total
2.2%
Change from 2016
-0.1pp
85
2.2%
-0.1pp
1 motor vehicle
2021 count
924
% of total
24.4%
Change from 2016
-1.0pp
924
24.4%
-1.0pp
2 motor vehicles
2021 count
1,736
% of total
45.9%
Change from 2016
+1.5pp
1,736
45.9%
+1.5pp
3 or more motor vehicles
2021 count
948
% of total
25.1%
Change from 2016
-0.1pp
948
25.1%
-0.1pp
Not stated
2021 count
92
% of total
2.4%
Change from 2016
-0.6pp
92
2.4%
-0.6pp
Chart view
Car ownership change
Absolute change in category counts between 2016 and 2021.
No motor vehicles
+23
-0.1pp
1 motor vehicle
+226
-1.0pp
2 motor vehicles
+515
+1.5pp
3 or more motor vehicles
+255
-0.1pp
Not stated
+10
-0.6pp
Data table
Number of cars per household for Thornton (NSW). Car ownership. 2021 and 2016 counts, percentages, and change compared with Maitland (C).
| Category | 2021 | 2016 | Change | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Count | % | Maitland (C)% | Count | % | Maitland (C)% | Count | pp | |
| No motor vehicles | 85 | 2.2% | 4.5% | 62 | 2.3% | 4.9% | +23 | -0.1pp |
| 1 motor vehicle | 924 | 24.4% | 30.2% | 698 | 25.4% | 30.3% | +226 | -1.0pp |
| 2 motor vehicles | 1,736 | 45.9% | 39.6% | 1,221 | 44.4% | 38.6% | +515 | +1.5pp |
| 3 or more motor vehicles | 948 | 25.1% | 22.2% | 693 | 25.2% | 19.5% | +255 | -0.1pp |
| Not stated | 92 | 2.4% | 3.5% | 82 | 3.0% | 6.7% | +10 | -0.6pp |
| Total households | 3,784 | 100.0% | 100.0% | 2,750 | 100.0% | 100.0% | +1,034 | 0.0pp |