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 St Marys (SA), accounting for 38.3% (491 households). This share was higher than Mitcham (C) (32.1%). Since 2016, the biggest change was in 2 motor vehicles, which increased by 95 households and 3.9 percentage points.

Section overview

Car ownership

St Marys (SA) - Households (Enumerated)

This table summarises number of cars per household for St Marys (SA) in 2021 for persons, with comparison against Mitcham (C) and change since 2016.

Car ownership snapshot

2021 distribution by category for St Marys (SA), with comparison markers for Mitcham (C).

St Marys (SA)
Mitcham (C)

No motor vehicles

2021 count

107

% of total

8.3%

Change from 2016

-1.3pp

1 motor vehicle

2021 count

491

% of total

38.3%

Change from 2016

-2.1pp

2 motor vehicles

2021 count

467

% of total

36.4%

Change from 2016

+3.9pp

3 or more motor vehicles

2021 count

173

% of total

13.5%

Change from 2016

+1.9pp

Not stated

2021 count

41

% of total

3.2%

Change from 2016

-3.7pp

Data table

Number of cars per household for St Marys (SA). Car ownership. 2021 and 2016 counts, percentages, and change compared with Mitcham (C).

Number of cars per household for St Marys (SA). Car ownership. 2021 and 2016 counts, percentages, and change compared with Mitcham (C).
Number of cars per household for St Marys (SA). Car ownership. 2021 and 2016 counts, percentages, and change compared with Mitcham (C).
Category20212016Change
Count%Mitcham (C)%Count%Mitcham (C)%Countpp
No motor vehicles1078.3%4.9%1109.6%5.3%-3-1.3pp
1 motor vehicle49138.3%32.1%46240.4%32.1%+29-2.1pp
2 motor vehicles46736.4%40.5%37232.5%39.7%+95+3.9pp
3 or more motor vehicles17313.5%20.5%13311.6%18.0%+40+1.9pp
Not stated413.2%2.1%796.9%4.9%-38-3.7pp
Total households1,282100.0%100.0%1,143100.0%100.0%+1390.0pp