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 Mid-Coast (A), accounting for 39.4% (15,635 households). This share was higher than Regional NSW (35%). Since 2016, the biggest change was in 2 motor vehicles, which increased by 1,550 households and 0.9 percentage points.

Section overview

Car ownership

Mid-Coast (A) - Households (Enumerated)

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

Car ownership change

Absolute change in category counts between 2016 and 2021.

2016
2021

No motor vehicles

-95

-0.7pp

1 motor vehicle

+1,285

-0.2pp

2 motor vehicles

+1,550

+0.9pp

3 or more motor vehicles

+1,503

+2.5pp

Not stated

-826

-2.5pp

Data table

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

Number of cars per household for Mid-Coast (A). Car ownership. 2021 and 2016 counts, percentages, and change compared with Regional NSW.
Number of cars per household for Mid-Coast (A). Car ownership. 2021 and 2016 counts, percentages, and change compared with Regional NSW.
Category20212016Change
Count%Regional NSW%Count%Regional NSW%Countpp
No motor vehicles2,0095.1%5.5%2,1045.8%6.1%-95-0.7pp
1 motor vehicle15,63539.4%35.0%14,35039.6%35.0%+1,285-0.2pp
2 motor vehicles14,04035.4%37.2%12,49034.5%36.2%+1,550+0.9pp
3 or more motor vehicles7,06217.8%20.7%5,55915.3%18.4%+1,503+2.5pp
Not stated9042.3%1.7%1,7304.8%4.2%-826-2.5pp
Total households39,654100.0%100.0%36,233100.0%100.0%+3,4210.0pp