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 Northam, accounting for 33.8% (927 households). This share was higher than Northam (S) (29.5%). Since 2016, the biggest change was in 2 motor vehicles, which increased by 98 households and 2.3 percentage points.
Section overview
Car ownership
Northam - Households (Enumerated)
This table summarises number of cars per household for Northam in 2021 for persons, with comparison against Northam (S) and change since 2016.
Car ownership snapshot
2021 distribution by category for Northam, with comparison markers for Northam (S).
No motor vehicles
2021 count
187
% of total
6.8%
Change from 2016
-0.1pp
187
6.8%
-0.1pp
1 motor vehicle
2021 count
927
% of total
33.8%
Change from 2016
+1.6pp
927
33.8%
+1.6pp
2 motor vehicles
2021 count
876
% of total
32.0%
Change from 2016
+2.3pp
876
32.0%
+2.3pp
3 or more motor vehicles
2021 count
503
% of total
18.4%
Change from 2016
-0.6pp
503
18.4%
-0.6pp
Not stated
2021 count
257
% of total
9.4%
Change from 2016
-2.3pp
257
9.4%
-2.3pp
Chart view
Car ownership change
Absolute change in category counts between 2016 and 2021.
No motor vehicles
+6
-0.1pp
1 motor vehicle
+85
+1.6pp
2 motor vehicles
+98
+2.3pp
3 or more motor vehicles
+6
-0.6pp
Not stated
-50
-2.3pp
Data table
Number of cars per household for Northam. Car ownership. 2021 and 2016 counts, percentages, and change compared with Northam (S).
| Category | 2021 | 2016 | Change | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Count | % | Northam (S)% | Count | % | Northam (S)% | Count | pp | |
| No motor vehicles | 187 | 6.8% | 4.7% | 181 | 6.9% | 5.1% | +6 | -0.1pp |
| 1 motor vehicle | 927 | 33.8% | 29.5% | 842 | 32.2% | 27.8% | +85 | +1.6pp |
| 2 motor vehicles | 876 | 32.0% | 32.3% | 778 | 29.7% | 31.2% | +98 | +2.3pp |
| 3 or more motor vehicles | 503 | 18.4% | 24.6% | 497 | 19.0% | 25.1% | +6 | -0.6pp |
| Not stated | 257 | 9.4% | 9.0% | 307 | 11.7% | 10.8% | -50 | -2.3pp |
| Total households | 2,740 | 100.0% | 100.0% | 2,618 | 100.0% | 100.0% | +122 | 0.0pp |