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 North Melbourne, accounting for 50.1% (3,249 households). This share was higher than Melbourne (C) (41.6%). Since 2016, the biggest change was in 1 motor vehicle, which increased by 3,244 households and 0.1 percentage points.
Section overview
Car ownership
North Melbourne - Households (Enumerated)
This table summarises number of cars per household for North Melbourne in 2021 for persons, with comparison against Melbourne (C) and change since 2016.
Car ownership snapshot
2021 distribution by category for North Melbourne, with comparison markers for Melbourne (C).
No motor vehicles
2021 count
2,095
% of total
32.3%
Change from 2016
+32.3pp
2,095
32.3%
+32.3pp
1 motor vehicle
2021 count
3,249
% of total
50.1%
Change from 2016
+0.1pp
3,249
50.1%
+0.1pp
2 motor vehicles
2021 count
879
% of total
13.6%
Change from 2016
-16.4pp
879
13.6%
-16.4pp
3 or more motor vehicles
2021 count
169
% of total
2.6%
Change from 2016
+2.6pp
169
2.6%
+2.6pp
Not stated
2021 count
98
% of total
1.5%
Change from 2016
+1.5pp
98
1.5%
+1.5pp
Chart view
Car ownership change
Absolute change in category counts between 2016 and 2021.
No motor vehicles
+2,095
+32.3pp
1 motor vehicle
+3,244
+0.1pp
2 motor vehicles
+876
-16.4pp
3 or more motor vehicles
+169
+2.6pp
Not stated
+98
+1.5pp
Data table
Number of cars per household for North Melbourne. Car ownership. 2021 and 2016 counts, percentages, and change compared with Melbourne (C).
| Category | 2021 | 2016 | Change | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Count | % | Melbourne (C)% | Count | % | Melbourne (C)% | Count | pp | |
| No motor vehicles | 2,095 | 32.3% | 45.3% | 0 | 0.0% | 46.4% | +2,095 | +32.3pp |
| 1 motor vehicle | 3,249 | 50.1% | 41.6% | 5 | 50.0% | 37.0% | +3,244 | +0.1pp |
| 2 motor vehicles | 879 | 13.6% | 9.7% | 3 | 30.0% | 10.7% | +876 | -16.4pp |
| 3 or more motor vehicles | 169 | 2.6% | 1.8% | 0 | 0.0% | 2.1% | +169 | +2.6pp |
| Not stated | 98 | 1.5% | 1.6% | 0 | 0.0% | 3.7% | +98 | +1.5pp |
| Total households | 6,486 | 100.0% | 100.0% | 10 | 100.0% | 100.0% | +6,476 | 0.0pp |