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 West Torrens (C), accounting for 40.4% (10,144 households). This share was higher than Greater Adelaide (36.7%). Since 2016, the biggest change was in 2 motor vehicles, which increased by 1,027 households and 1.7 percentage points.
Section overview
Car ownership
West Torrens (C) - Households (Enumerated)
This table summarises number of cars per household for West Torrens (C) in 2021 for persons, with comparison against Greater Adelaide and change since 2016.
Car ownership snapshot
2021 distribution by category for West Torrens (C), with comparison markers for Greater Adelaide.
No motor vehicles
2021 count
2,462
% of total
9.8%
Change from 2016
-0.6pp
2,462
9.8%
-0.6pp
1 motor vehicle
2021 count
10,144
% of total
40.4%
Change from 2016
-0.9pp
10,144
40.4%
-0.9pp
2 motor vehicles
2021 count
8,539
% of total
34.0%
Change from 2016
+1.7pp
8,539
34.0%
+1.7pp
3 or more motor vehicles
2021 count
3,709
% of total
14.8%
Change from 2016
+1.9pp
3,709
14.8%
+1.9pp
Not stated
2021 count
268
% of total
1.1%
Change from 2016
-2.0pp
268
1.1%
-2.0pp
Chart view
Car ownership change
Absolute change in category counts between 2016 and 2021.
No motor vehicles
+36
-0.6pp
1 motor vehicle
+523
-0.9pp
2 motor vehicles
+1,027
+1.7pp
3 or more motor vehicles
+708
+1.9pp
Not stated
-445
-2.0pp
Data table
Number of cars per household for West Torrens (C). Car ownership. 2021 and 2016 counts, percentages, and change compared with Greater Adelaide.
| Category | 2021 | 2016 | Change | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Count | % | Greater Adelaide% | Count | % | Greater Adelaide% | Count | pp | |
| No motor vehicles | 2,462 | 9.8% | 7.6% | 2,426 | 10.4% | 8.0% | +36 | -0.6pp |
| 1 motor vehicle | 10,144 | 40.4% | 36.7% | 9,621 | 41.3% | 36.6% | +523 | -0.9pp |
| 2 motor vehicles | 8,539 | 34.0% | 36.5% | 7,512 | 32.3% | 36.1% | +1,027 | +1.7pp |
| 3 or more motor vehicles | 3,709 | 14.8% | 18.1% | 3,001 | 12.9% | 16.4% | +708 | +1.9pp |
| Not stated | 268 | 1.1% | 1.1% | 713 | 3.1% | 2.9% | -445 | -2.0pp |
| Total households | 25,122 | 100.0% | 100.0% | 23,284 | 100.0% | 100.0% | +1,838 | 0.0pp |