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 South Perth (C), accounting for 41.7% (7,374 households). This share was higher than Greater Perth (34.6%). Since 2016, the biggest change was in 1 motor vehicle, which increased by 1,022 households and 2.8 percentage points.

Section overview

Car ownership

South Perth (C) - Households (Enumerated)

This table summarises number of cars per household for South Perth (C) in 2021 for persons, with comparison against Greater Perth and change since 2016.

Car ownership snapshot

2021 distribution by category for South Perth (C), with comparison markers for Greater Perth.

South Perth (C)
Greater Perth

No motor vehicles

2021 count

988

% of total

5.6%

Change from 2016

-0.3pp

1 motor vehicle

2021 count

7,374

% of total

41.7%

Change from 2016

+2.8pp

2 motor vehicles

2021 count

6,620

% of total

37.4%

Change from 2016

-0.5pp

3 or more motor vehicles

2021 count

2,537

% of total

14.3%

Change from 2016

-0.6pp

Not stated

2021 count

172

% of total

1.0%

Change from 2016

-1.4pp

Data table

Number of cars per household for South Perth (C). Car ownership. 2021 and 2016 counts, percentages, and change compared with Greater Perth.

Number of cars per household for South Perth (C). Car ownership. 2021 and 2016 counts, percentages, and change compared with Greater Perth.
Number of cars per household for South Perth (C). Car ownership. 2021 and 2016 counts, percentages, and change compared with Greater Perth.
Category20212016Change
Count%Greater Perth%Count%Greater Perth%Countpp
No motor vehicles9885.6%4.9%9675.9%4.9%+21-0.3pp
1 motor vehicle7,37441.7%34.6%6,35238.9%32.2%+1,022+2.8pp
2 motor vehicles6,62037.4%39.4%6,19937.9%39.4%+421-0.5pp
3 or more motor vehicles2,53714.3%19.9%2,43614.9%20.8%+101-0.6pp
Not stated1721.0%1.2%3912.4%2.7%-219-1.4pp
Total households17,690100.0%100.0%16,341100.0%100.0%+1,3490.0pp