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 West Melbourne, accounting for 48.2% (1,968 households). This share was higher than Melbourne (C) (38.9%). Since 2016, the biggest change was in 1 motor vehicle, which increased by 980 households and 6.9 percentage points.
Section overview
Car ownership
West Melbourne - Households (Enumerated)
This table summarises number of cars per household for West Melbourne in 2021 for persons, with comparison against Melbourne (C) and change since 2016.
Car ownership snapshot
2021 distribution by category for West Melbourne, with comparison markers for Melbourne (C).
No motor vehicles
2021 count
1,402
% of total
34.4%
Change from 2016
+4.0pp
1,402
34.4%
+4.0pp
1 motor vehicle
2021 count
1,968
% of total
48.2%
Change from 2016
+6.9pp
1,968
48.2%
+6.9pp
2 motor vehicles
2021 count
401
% of total
9.8%
Change from 2016
-3.0pp
401
9.8%
-3.0pp
3 or more motor vehicles
2021 count
81
% of total
2.0%
Change from 2016
0.0pp
81
2.0%
0.0pp
Not stated
2021 count
230
% of total
5.6%
Change from 2016
-7.9pp
230
5.6%
-7.9pp
Chart view
Car ownership change
Absolute change in category counts between 2016 and 2021.
No motor vehicles
+675
+4.0pp
1 motor vehicle
+980
+6.9pp
2 motor vehicles
+95
-3.0pp
3 or more motor vehicles
+32
0.0pp
Not stated
-94
-7.9pp
Data table
Number of cars per household for West 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 | 1,402 | 34.4% | 42.5% | 727 | 30.4% | 42.8% | +675 | +4.0pp |
| 1 motor vehicle | 1,968 | 48.2% | 38.9% | 988 | 41.3% | 33.0% | +980 | +6.9pp |
| 2 motor vehicles | 401 | 9.8% | 9.0% | 306 | 12.8% | 9.4% | +95 | -3.0pp |
| 3 or more motor vehicles | 81 | 2.0% | 1.7% | 49 | 2.0% | 1.9% | +32 | 0.0pp |
| Not stated | 230 | 5.6% | 7.9% | 324 | 13.5% | 12.9% | -94 | -7.9pp |
| Total households | 4,079 | 100.0% | 100.0% | 2,392 | 100.0% | 100.0% | +1,687 | 0.0pp |