Muswellbrook vs Cessnock

Muswellbrook and Cessnock are both regional New South Wales areas where residents are mostly car-dependent. Muswellbrook is more walkable for daily needs, with a far higher share of homes within a 15-minute walk of health services (31.8% versus 11.6%), groceries (43.7% versus 24.5%), and schools (64.0% versus 51.6%). In contrast, Cessnock has a far larger Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander population, with 6,487 people compared to 1,908 in Muswellbrook, and a far higher share of homes within walking distance of a park.

Both areas share very similar outcomes for First Nations residents, including nearly identical household incomes and Year 12 completion rates. This common ground exists despite differences in their layouts, as Cessnock has far more street intersections per square kilometre. While Muswellbrook has a well higher share of homes with a 15-minute-city walkshed, Cessnock has a larger share of its walkable amenities focused on public transport.