Suburban residential street with cars parked outside houses
In your state

States where the most households own more than the typical 2 vehicles

Written by:
Emily Sherman
May 18, 2023
Marso // Shutterstock

States where the most households own more than the typical 2 vehicles

If you are one of the millions of Americans who commutes to work every day or otherwise relies on a car to get around, you are among the majority. Most Americans have access to at least one vehicle, and in fact, the average American household owns two. Around 8% of Americans don't own any vehicles, while two is most common, and 1 in 5 households owns three or more vehicles, according to Census Bureau data.

Stacker ranked states which had the largest portion of households that own more than the typical two vehicles using Census Bureau data from 2021, the most recent data available.

Whether your household has more than one vehicle depends in part on where you live. For instance, the states where the largest portions of the public own three or more vehicles are what some people call "flyover" states and mountainous regions of the U.S., where other forms of transportation are likely not as easily accessible.

Similarly, rural areas tend to have a higher percentage of these many-vehicle-owning households. For this list, Stacker used Census Bureau data on metropolitan and nonmetropolitan areas to determine the percentage of eligible households located in urban and rural areas, respectively. Percentages do not add to 100 because some of the population live in areas defined as mixed metropolitan by the Census Bureau.

Owning a vehicle is not cheap, so it's no surprise that households that own three or more vehicles also tend to boast above-average household incomes.

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A map of U.S. states colored in by which states have the most households that own more than two vehicles. Plains states and mountainous states are colored the darkest. California also measures high.
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Stacker

Mountainous states lead the U.S. in vehicle ownership by household

Among states with the largest concentration of households with many vehicles, so-called "flyover" states top the list. These central states—which have fewer inhabitants than the East and West Coasts—are called "flyovers" due to the high number of cross-country flights that pass over them.

There are likely several factors that led to this, including more limited access to alternative forms of transportation, a larger rural population, and greater average household size.

Driveway view of the stone facade of a house with two cars facing in different directions.
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Alan Budman // Shutterstock

51. District of Columbia

- Share of households that own more than 2 vehicles: 4.04%
- Those households' median income: $210,000

4% urban households have more than 2 vehicles
Data not available about how many rural households have more than 2 vehicles

Modern residential houses with cars in the driveway.
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ND700 // Shutterstock

50. New York

- Share of households that own more than 2 vehicles: 14.32%
- Those households' median income: $141,800

13% urban households have more than 2 vehicles
18% rural households have more than 2 vehicles

House in Florida on a Sunny Day.
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Civdis // Shutterstock

49. Florida

- Share of households that own more than 2 vehicles: 16.71%
- Those households' median income: $109,100

16% urban households have more than 2 vehicles
21% rural households have more than 2 vehicles

Suburban Ranch home with parked cars in the driveway.
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rSnapshotPhotos // Shutterstock

48. Louisiana

- Share of households that own more than 2 vehicles: 17.10%
- Those households' median income: $98,000

16% urban households have more than 2 vehicles
21% rural households have more than 2 vehicles

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Country home with two cars in driveway on a sunny blue sky day.
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rSnapshotPhotos // Shutterstock

47. Massachusetts

- Share of households that own more than 2 vehicles: 17.60%
- Those households' median income: $162,000

17% urban households have more than 2 vehicles
Data not available about how many rural households have more than 2 vehicles

Main entrance of residential house with car and truck parked on concrete driveway in front.
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Imagenet // Shutterstock

46. Rhode Island

- Share of households that own more than 2 vehicles: 18.29%
- Those households' median income: $134,000

18% urban households have more than 2 vehicles
Data not available about how many rural households have more than 2 vehicles

Tesla Model X P90D and 75D on a parking lot.
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Yauhen_D // Shutterstock

45. New Jersey

- Share of households that own more than 2 vehicles: 19.93%
- Those households' median income: $160,000

20% urban households have more than 2 vehicles
Data not available about how many rural households have more than 2 vehicles

City traffic with many cars parked in line on street side.
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Bilanol // Shutterstock

44. Illinois

- Share of households that own more than 2 vehicles: 20.01%
- Those households' median income: $116,000

18% urban households have more than 2 vehicles
25% rural households have more than 2 vehicles

Brand new farmer's house with car parked on driveway in front.
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Imagenet // Shutterstock

43. Vermont

- Share of households that own more than 2 vehicles: 20.07%
- Those households' median income: $115,000

19% urban households have more than 2 vehicles
20% rural households have more than 2 vehicles

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Door, house, and car keys hanging on hooks on a wall.
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David Smart // Shutterstock

42. Delaware

- Share of households that own more than 2 vehicles: 20.26%
- Those households' median income: $116,300

20% urban households have more than 2 vehicles
Data not available about how many rural households have more than 2 vehicles

Close-up front of new silver car parking on the asphalt road.
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SKT Studio // Shutterstock

41. Maine

- Share of households that own more than 2 vehicles: 20.75%
- Those households' median income: $105,000

21% urban households have more than 2 vehicles
21% rural households have more than 2 vehicles

View with cars and people on a cloudy day.
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Alizada Studios // Shutterstock

40. West Virginia

- Share of households that own more than 2 vehicles: 20.86%
- Those households' median income: $96,000

17% urban households have more than 2 vehicles
22% rural households have more than 2 vehicles

Aerial of the Small Town surrounded by farmland in Shrewsbury, Pennsylvania.
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Christian Hinkle // Shutterstock

39. Pennsylvania

- Share of households that own more than 2 vehicles: 21.10%
- Those households' median income: $115,650

20% urban households have more than 2 vehicles
24% rural households have more than 2 vehicles

Car parked in front of wide garage double door on concrete driveway.
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Bilanol // Shutterstock

38. Michigan

- Share of households that own more than 2 vehicles: 21.25%
- Those households' median income: $108,900

21% urban households have more than 2 vehicles
22% rural households have more than 2 vehicles

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Traffic on Post road in Westport, Connecticut.
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Miro Vrlik Photography // Shutterstock

37. Connecticut

- Share of households that own more than 2 vehicles: 21.30%
- Those households' median income: $153,000

21% urban households have more than 2 vehicles
24% rural households have more than 2 vehicles

Yellow van on street of Hyder, Alaska.
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oksana.perkins // Shutterstock

36. Alaska

- Share of households that own more than 2 vehicles: 21.36%
- Those households' median income: $135,300

23% urban households have more than 2 vehicles
9% rural households have more than 2 vehicles

Aerial view of Summerlin streets and homes in suburban Las Vegas, Nevada.
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trekandshoot // Shutterstock

35. Nevada

- Share of households that own more than 2 vehicles: 22.21%
- Those households' median income: $112,700

21% urban households have more than 2 vehicles
35% rural households have more than 2 vehicles

An American Ohio suburban home with one car in the driveway.
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Denise Kappa // Shutterstock

34. Ohio

- Share of households that own more than 2 vehicles: 22.22%
- Those households' median income: $105,200

21% urban households have more than 2 vehicles
28% rural households have more than 2 vehicles

Aerial of a neighborhood in Phoenix.
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Allison J. Hahn // Shutterstock

33. Arizona

- Share of households that own more than 2 vehicles: 22.25%
- Those households' median income: $110,500

22% urban households have more than 2 vehicles
24% rural households have more than 2 vehicles

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Aerial view of classic upper middle class neighborhood street in Maryland.
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tokar // Shutterstock

32. Maryland

- Share of households that own more than 2 vehicles: 22.99%
- Those households' median income: $152,000

23% urban households have more than 2 vehicles
Data not available about how many rural households have more than 2 vehicles

Aerial drone view of the Brushy Creek neighborhood in Austin suburb of Round Rock.
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Roschetzky Photography // Shutterstock

31. Texas

- Share of households that own more than 2 vehicles: 23.10%
- Those households' median income: $107,000

22% urban households have more than 2 vehicles
23% rural households have more than 2 vehicles

Bramber Green Neighborhood in Greenland, New Hampshire.
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Rise Up Aerial // Shutterstock

30. New Hampshire

- Share of households that own more than 2 vehicles: 23.92%
- Those households' median income: $137,100

23% urban households have more than 2 vehicles
24% rural households have more than 2 vehicles

Vintage car parkerd in front of a wood house in the city of Vicksburg.
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TLF Images // Shutterstock

29. Mississippi

- Share of households that own more than 2 vehicles: 24.06%
- Those households' median income: $87,200

24% urban households have more than 2 vehicles
24% rural households have more than 2 vehicles

Downtown with people walking and cars parked on road.
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Kristi Blokhin // Shutterstock

28. South Carolina

- Share of households that own more than 2 vehicles: 24.07%
- Those households' median income: $95,000

23% urban households have more than 2 vehicles
24% rural households have more than 2 vehicles

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Horse Farm, Kentucky Bluegrass.
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anthony heflin // Shutterstock

27. Kentucky

- Share of households that own more than 2 vehicles: 24.17%
- Those households' median income: $94,300

20% urban households have more than 2 vehicles
25% rural households have more than 2 vehicles

Key holder with keys hanging on the wall.
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K.E.V // Shutterstock

26. Indiana

- Share of households that own more than 2 vehicles: 24.33%
- Those households' median income: $99,000

22% urban households have more than 2 vehicles
28% rural households have more than 2 vehicles

Street view of downtown Bentonville.
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shuttersv // Shutterstock

25. Arkansas

- Share of households that own more than 2 vehicles: 24.49%
- Those households' median income: $85,000

24% urban households have more than 2 vehicles
26% rural households have more than 2 vehicles

St. Louis, Missouri street with colorful historic homes during the winter.
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Sabrina Janelle Gordon // Shutterstock

24. Missouri

- Share of households that own more than 2 vehicles: 24.65%
- Those households' median income: $99,400

22% urban households have more than 2 vehicles
28% rural households have more than 2 vehicles

Suburban modern car and ATV in double garage interior.
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Gorloff-KV // Shutterstock

23. Georgia

- Share of households that own more than 2 vehicles: 24.96%
- Those households' median income: $104,700

23% urban households have more than 2 vehicles
27% rural households have more than 2 vehicles

Cars for sale parked in a row.
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lumen-digital // Shutterstock

22. Oklahoma

- Share of households that own more than 2 vehicles: 25.26%
- Those households' median income: $89,000

22% urban households have more than 2 vehicles
28% rural households have more than 2 vehicles

Residential neighborhood with parked cars and beautiful homes.
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Stephanie Braconnier // Shutterstock

21. Oregon

- Share of households that own more than 2 vehicles: 25.37%
- Those households' median income: $110,000

24% urban households have more than 2 vehicles
35% rural households have more than 2 vehicles

Aerial view of the rooftops of the Hawaii Kai residential neighborhood.
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Alexandre G. ROSA // Shutterstock

20. Hawaii

- Share of households that own more than 2 vehicles: 25.53%
- Those households' median income: $157,500

24% urban households have more than 2 vehicles
27% rural households have more than 2 vehicles

Albuquerque residential suburbs, New Mexico.
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turtix // Shutterstock

19. New Mexico

- Share of households that own more than 2 vehicles: 25.83%
- Those households' median income: $91,400

25% urban households have more than 2 vehicles
28% rural households have more than 2 vehicles

Top-down aerial view of a house with red roof and yard with two parked new cars.
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Bilanol // Shutterstock

18. North Carolina

- Share of households that own more than 2 vehicles: 25.88%
- Those households' median income: $97,000

24% urban households have more than 2 vehicles
28% rural households have more than 2 vehicles

Aerial shot from above of Los Angeles neighborhood.
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ADLC // Shutterstock

17. California

- Share of households that own more than 2 vehicles: 26.33%
- Those households' median income: $129,000

26% urban households have more than 2 vehicles
29% rural households have more than 2 vehicles

Home garage with two vehicles, interior.
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Gorloff-KV // Shutterstock

16. Tennessee

- Share of households that own more than 2 vehicles: 26.62%
- Those households' median income: $97,000

24% urban households have more than 2 vehicles
30% rural households have more than 2 vehicles

Morning Sun in a Suburban Virginia Neighborhood.
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Foolish Productions // Shutterstock

15. Virginia

- Share of households that own more than 2 vehicles: 26.80%
- Those households' median income: $125,000

24% urban households have more than 2 vehicles
31% rural households have more than 2 vehicles

Aerial of a neighborhood in Bayview, Wisconsin.
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James Meyer // Shutterstock

14. Wisconsin

- Share of households that own more than 2 vehicles: 26.88%
- Those households' median income: $105,100

22% urban households have more than 2 vehicles
29% rural households have more than 2 vehicles

Downtown Montgomery, Alabama skyline.
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Kevin Ruck // Shutterstock

13. Alabama

- Share of households that own more than 2 vehicles: 26.93%
- Those households' median income: $92,000

26% urban households have more than 2 vehicles
31% rural households have more than 2 vehicles

Suburban street scene with cars parked on street.
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Ann Cantelow // Shutterstock

12. Colorado

- Share of households that own more than 2 vehicles: 27.01%
- Those households' median income: $124,700

26% urban households have more than 2 vehicles
33% rural households have more than 2 vehicles

Car parked in front of wide garage double door.
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Bilanol // Shutterstock

11. Washington

- Share of households that own more than 2 vehicles: 27.98%
- Those households' median income: $124,000

27% urban households have more than 2 vehicles
31% rural households have more than 2 vehicles

Keychain on key hook with front door in background.
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SkunkChunk // Shutterstock

10. Kansas

- Share of households that own more than 2 vehicles: 28.69%
- Those households' median income: $97,900

24% urban households have more than 2 vehicles
32% rural households have more than 2 vehicles

An aerial view of neighborhood development.
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Allison J. Hahn // Shutterstock

9. Iowa

- Share of households that own more than 2 vehicles: 28.93%
- Those households' median income: $96,410

24% urban households have more than 2 vehicles
31% rural households have more than 2 vehicles

Street view of downtown stores and restaurants and cars parked alongside.
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Sandra Burm // Shutterstock

8. Minnesota

- Share of households that own more than 2 vehicles: 29.97%
- Those households' median income: $113,000

23% urban households have more than 2 vehicles
35% rural households have more than 2 vehicles

Aerial View of Lincoln, Nebraska.
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Jacob Boomsma // Shutterstock

7. Nebraska

- Share of households that own more than 2 vehicles: 30.74%
- Those households' median income: $100,000

21% urban households have more than 2 vehicles
38% rural households have more than 2 vehicles

Aerial View of Murdo, South Dakota.
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Jacob Boomsma // Shutterstock

6. South Dakota

- Share of households that own more than 2 vehicles: 33.56%
- Those households' median income: $95,300

23% urban households have more than 2 vehicles
33% rural households have more than 2 vehicles

Panoramic aerial view of town and cars in Jackson Hole.
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GagliardiPhotography // Shutterstock

5. Wyoming

- Share of households that own more than 2 vehicles: 33.58%
- Those households' median income: $94,000

Data not available about how many urban households have more than 2 vehicles
35% rural households have more than 2 vehicles

Large-sized homes line streets with cars in small town.
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Charles Knowles // Shutterstock

4. Idaho

- Share of households that own more than 2 vehicles: 34.47%
- Those households' median income: $93,300

31% urban households have more than 2 vehicles
38% rural households have more than 2 vehicles

Aerial view of sunset over Fargo, North Dakota.
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Kirkam // Shutterstock

3. North Dakota

- Share of households that own more than 2 vehicles: 34.84%
- Those households' median income: $100,000

27% urban households have more than 2 vehicles
38% rural households have more than 2 vehicles

Houses in a town in Utah valley.
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Jason Finn // Shutterstock

2. Utah

- Share of households that own more than 2 vehicles: 35.15%
- Those households' median income: $122,100

34% urban households have more than 2 vehicles
37% rural households have more than 2 vehicles

A ranch somewhere in Montana nestled beneath majestic mountains.
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Jim Black // Shutterstock

1. Montana

- Share of households that own more than 2 vehicles: 36.45%
- Those households' median income: $92,840

27% urban households have more than 2 vehicles
34% rural households have more than 2 vehicles

Data reporting by Dom DiFurio. Story editing by Jeff Inglis. Copy editing by Tim Bruns. Photo selection by Clarese Moller.

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