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 Southern Mallee (DC), accounting for 36.2% (289 households). This share was higher than Regional SA (35.8%). Since 2016, the biggest change was in 1 motor vehicle, which increased by 37 households and 3.5 percentage points.

Section overview

Car ownership

Southern Mallee (DC) - Households (Enumerated)

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

Car ownership snapshot

2021 distribution by category for Southern Mallee (DC), with comparison markers for Regional SA.

Southern Mallee (DC)
Regional SA

No motor vehicles

2021 count

37

% of total

4.6%

Change from 2016

+1.3pp

1 motor vehicle

2021 count

228

% of total

28.5%

Change from 2016

+3.5pp

2 motor vehicles

2021 count

289

% of total

36.2%

Change from 2016

+1.3pp

3 or more motor vehicles

2021 count

238

% of total

29.8%

Change from 2016

-1.2pp

Not stated

2021 count

10

% of total

1.3%

Change from 2016

-3.4pp

Data table

Number of cars per household for Southern Mallee (DC). Car ownership. 2021 and 2016 counts, percentages, and change compared with Regional SA.

Number of cars per household for Southern Mallee (DC). Car ownership. 2021 and 2016 counts, percentages, and change compared with Regional SA.
Number of cars per household for Southern Mallee (DC). Car ownership. 2021 and 2016 counts, percentages, and change compared with Regional SA.
Category20212016Change
Count%Regional SA%Count%Regional SA%Countpp
No motor vehicles374.6%5.5%253.3%5.7%+12+1.3pp
1 motor vehicle22828.5%33.4%19125.0%33.3%+37+3.5pp
2 motor vehicles28936.2%35.8%26734.9%35.7%+22+1.3pp
3 or more motor vehicles23829.8%23.5%23731.0%21.5%+1-1.2pp
Not stated101.3%1.8%364.7%3.8%-26-3.4pp
Total households799100.0%100.0%764100.0%100.0%+350.0pp