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 North St Marys, accounting for 39.1% (577 households). This share was higher than Penrith (C) (32.2%). Since 2016, the biggest change was in 1 motor vehicle, which increased by 96 households and 4.1 percentage points.

Section overview

Car ownership

North St Marys - Households (Enumerated)

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

Car ownership snapshot

2021 distribution by category for North St Marys, with comparison markers for Penrith (C).

North St Marys
Penrith (C)

No motor vehicles

2021 count

172

% of total

11.7%

Change from 2016

-1.1pp

1 motor vehicle

2021 count

577

% of total

39.1%

Change from 2016

+4.1pp

2 motor vehicles

2021 count

361

% of total

24.5%

Change from 2016

-2.2pp

3 or more motor vehicles

2021 count

189

% of total

12.8%

Change from 2016

-0.6pp

Not stated

2021 count

173

% of total

11.7%

Change from 2016

+0.1pp

Data table

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

Number of cars per household for North St Marys. Car ownership. 2021 and 2016 counts, percentages, and change compared with Penrith (C).
Number of cars per household for North St Marys. Car ownership. 2021 and 2016 counts, percentages, and change compared with Penrith (C).
Category20212016Change
Count%Penrith (C)%Count%Penrith (C)%Countpp
No motor vehicles17211.7%6.3%17612.8%5.8%-4-1.1pp
1 motor vehicle57739.1%32.2%48135.0%29.6%+96+4.1pp
2 motor vehicles36124.5%34.9%36726.7%35.3%-6-2.2pp
3 or more motor vehicles18912.8%20.9%18413.4%21.4%+5-0.6pp
Not stated17311.7%5.7%16011.6%7.9%+13+0.1pp
Total households1,475100.0%100.0%1,376100.0%100.0%+990.0pp