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, 2 motor vehicles was the most common car-ownership level among households in Happy Valley (SA), accounting for 41.5% (1,852 households). This share was higher than Onkaparinga (C) (38.5%). Since 2016, the biggest change was in 2 motor vehicles, which increased by 1,844 households and 8.2 percentage points.

Section overview

Car ownership

Happy Valley (SA) - Households (Enumerated)

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

Car ownership snapshot

2021 distribution by category for Happy Valley (SA), with comparison markers for Onkaparinga (C).

Happy Valley (SA)
Onkaparinga (C)

No motor vehicles

2021 count

136

% of total

3.0%

Change from 2016

+3.0pp

1 motor vehicle

2021 count

1,469

% of total

32.9%

Change from 2016

+32.9pp

2 motor vehicles

2021 count

1,852

% of total

41.5%

Change from 2016

+8.2pp

3 or more motor vehicles

2021 count

965

% of total

21.6%

Change from 2016

-20.1pp

Not stated

2021 count

36

% of total

0.8%

Change from 2016

-11.7pp

Data table

Number of cars per household for Happy Valley (SA). Car ownership. 2021 and 2016 counts, percentages, and change compared with Onkaparinga (C).

Number of cars per household for Happy Valley (SA). Car ownership. 2021 and 2016 counts, percentages, and change compared with Onkaparinga (C).
Number of cars per household for Happy Valley (SA). Car ownership. 2021 and 2016 counts, percentages, and change compared with Onkaparinga (C).
Category20212016Change
Count%Onkaparinga (C)%Count%Onkaparinga (C)%Countpp
No motor vehicles1363.0%5.3%00.0%5.3%+136+3.0pp
1 motor vehicle1,46932.9%34.9%00.0%35.1%+1,469+32.9pp
2 motor vehicles1,85241.5%38.5%833.3%38.2%+1,844+8.2pp
3 or more motor vehicles96521.6%20.2%1041.7%18.6%+955-20.1pp
Not stated360.8%1.1%312.5%2.9%+33-11.7pp
Total households4,464100.0%100.0%24100.0%100.0%+4,4400.0pp