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 Port Augusta (C), accounting for 36.5% (1,876 households). This share was higher than Regional SA (33.4%). Since 2016, the biggest change was in 3 or more motor vehicles, which increased by 124 households and 2 percentage points.

Section overview

Car ownership

Port Augusta (C) - Households (Enumerated)

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

Car ownership snapshot

2021 distribution by category for Port Augusta (C), with comparison markers for Regional SA.

Port Augusta (C)
Regional SA

No motor vehicles

2021 count

519

% of total

10.1%

Change from 2016

+0.5pp

1 motor vehicle

2021 count

1,876

% of total

36.5%

Change from 2016

-1.0pp

2 motor vehicles

2021 count

1,711

% of total

33.3%

Change from 2016

+0.6pp

3 or more motor vehicles

2021 count

927

% of total

18.0%

Change from 2016

+2.0pp

Not stated

2021 count

112

% of total

2.2%

Change from 2016

-2.2pp

Data table

Number of cars per household for Port Augusta (C). Car ownership. 2021 and 2016 counts, percentages, and change compared with Regional SA.

Number of cars per household for Port Augusta (C). Car ownership. 2021 and 2016 counts, percentages, and change compared with Regional SA.
Number of cars per household for Port Augusta (C). Car ownership. 2021 and 2016 counts, percentages, and change compared with Regional SA.
Category20212016Change
Count%Regional SA%Count%Regional SA%Countpp
No motor vehicles51910.1%5.5%4819.6%5.7%+38+0.5pp
1 motor vehicle1,87636.5%33.4%1,88237.5%33.3%-6-1.0pp
2 motor vehicles1,71133.3%35.8%1,64132.7%35.7%+70+0.6pp
3 or more motor vehicles92718.0%23.5%80316.0%21.5%+124+2.0pp
Not stated1122.2%1.8%2204.4%3.8%-108-2.2pp
Total households5,143100.0%100.0%5,021100.0%100.0%+1220.0pp