Cessnock vs Newcastle

Cessnock and Newcastle are nearby areas in New South Wales with very different layouts. Newcastle is very walkable, with 88.1% of homes having a 15-minute-city walkshed, compared to only 35.2% in Cessnock, which is mostly car-dependent. This difference extends to essential services; 76% of Newcastle homes are within a 15-minute walk of health services, while only 11.6% of homes in Cessnock have the same access. Education outcomes also vary, with First Nations Year 12 completion far higher in Newcastle at 43.6%, while Cessnock is at 26.9%.

These two areas share very similar outcomes for First Nations households, including typical incomes and unemployment rates. While they track similarly in these areas, the gap in walkability remains a defining contrast. Newcastle has a much higher number of street intersections per square kilometre than Cessnock, reflecting a more dense urban layout. Both areas have a similar average terrain slope of around 6%.