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 Whyalla (C), accounting for 37.8% (3,397 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 234 households and 2.3 percentage points.
Section overview
Car ownership
Whyalla (C) - Households (Enumerated)
This table summarises number of cars per household for Whyalla (C) in 2021 for persons, with comparison against Regional SA and change since 2016.
Chart view
Car ownership snapshot
2021 distribution by category for Whyalla (C), with comparison markers for Regional SA.
No motor vehicles
2021 count
1,085
% of total
12.1%
Change from 2016
-0.6pp
1,085
12.1%
-0.6pp
1 motor vehicle
2021 count
3,397
% of total
37.8%
Change from 2016
+0.5pp
3,397
37.8%
+0.5pp
2 motor vehicles
2021 count
2,777
% of total
30.9%
Change from 2016
+0.2pp
2,777
30.9%
+0.2pp
3 or more motor vehicles
2021 count
1,532
% of total
17.1%
Change from 2016
+2.3pp
1,532
17.1%
+2.3pp
Not stated
2021 count
192
% of total
2.1%
Change from 2016
-2.4pp
192
2.1%
-2.4pp
Car ownership change
Absolute change in category counts between 2016 and 2021.
No motor vehicles
-29
-0.6pp
1 motor vehicle
+124
+0.5pp
2 motor vehicles
+86
+0.2pp
3 or more motor vehicles
+234
+2.3pp
Not stated
-203
-2.4pp
Data table
Number of cars per household for Whyalla (C). Car ownership. 2021 and 2016 counts, percentages, and change compared with Regional SA.
| Category | 2021 | 2016 | Change | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Count | % | Regional SA% | Count | % | Regional SA% | Count | pp | |
| No motor vehicles | 1,085 | 12.1% | 5.5% | 1,114 | 12.7% | 5.7% | -29 | -0.6pp |
| 1 motor vehicle | 3,397 | 37.8% | 33.4% | 3,273 | 37.3% | 33.3% | +124 | +0.5pp |
| 2 motor vehicles | 2,777 | 30.9% | 35.8% | 2,691 | 30.7% | 35.7% | +86 | +0.2pp |
| 3 or more motor vehicles | 1,532 | 17.1% | 23.5% | 1,298 | 14.8% | 21.5% | +234 | +2.3pp |
| Not stated | 192 | 2.1% | 1.8% | 395 | 4.5% | 3.8% | -203 | -2.4pp |
| Total households | 8,984 | 100.0% | 100.0% | 8,774 | 100.0% | 100.0% | +210 | 0.0pp |