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.
Related topics
Key insight
In 2021, 1 motor vehicle was the most common car-ownership level among households in Lightning Ridge, accounting for 38.4% (407 households). This share was higher than Walgett (A) (31.7%). Since 2016, the biggest change was in 1 motor vehicle, which decreased by 112 households and 0.8 percentage points.
Section overview
Car ownership
Lightning Ridge - Households (Enumerated)
This table summarises number of cars per household for Lightning Ridge in 2021 for persons, with comparison against Walgett (A) and change since 2016.
Car ownership snapshot
2021 distribution by category for Lightning Ridge, with comparison markers for Walgett (A).
No motor vehicles
2021 count
55
% of total
5.2%
Change from 2016
-3.5pp
55
5.2%
-3.5pp
1 motor vehicle
2021 count
407
% of total
38.4%
Change from 2016
-0.8pp
407
38.4%
-0.8pp
2 motor vehicles
2021 count
261
% of total
24.6%
Change from 2016
+1.7pp
261
24.6%
+1.7pp
3 or more motor vehicles
2021 count
120
% of total
11.3%
Change from 2016
+0.7pp
120
11.3%
+0.7pp
Not stated
2021 count
213
% of total
20.1%
Change from 2016
+1.5pp
213
20.1%
+1.5pp
Chart view
Car ownership change
Absolute change in category counts between 2016 and 2021.
No motor vehicles
-60
-3.5pp
1 motor vehicle
-112
-0.8pp
2 motor vehicles
-42
+1.7pp
3 or more motor vehicles
-21
+0.7pp
Not stated
-33
+1.5pp
Data table
Number of cars per household for Lightning Ridge. Car ownership. 2021 and 2016 counts, percentages, and change compared with Walgett (A).
| Category | 2021 | 2016 | Change | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Count | % | Walgett (A)% | Count | % | Walgett (A)% | Count | pp | |
| No motor vehicles | 55 | 5.2% | 5.5% | 115 | 8.7% | 11.0% | -60 | -3.5pp |
| 1 motor vehicle | 407 | 38.4% | 31.7% | 519 | 39.2% | 33.0% | -112 | -0.8pp |
| 2 motor vehicles | 261 | 24.6% | 23.5% | 303 | 22.9% | 23.4% | -42 | +1.7pp |
| 3 or more motor vehicles | 120 | 11.3% | 14.6% | 141 | 10.6% | 14.5% | -21 | +0.7pp |
| Not stated | 213 | 20.1% | 24.8% | 246 | 18.6% | 18.0% | -33 | +1.5pp |
| Total households | 1,060 | 100.0% | 100.0% | 1,324 | 100.0% | 100.0% | -264 | 0.0pp |