Kempsey vs Port Macquarie - Hastings

Kempsey and Port Macquarie - Hastings are two regional areas in New South Wales with notable differences in First Nations outcomes. In Kempsey, the First Nations unemployment rate is 18.7%, which is far higher than the 7.5% seen in Port Macquarie - Hastings. This gap extends to education and income, with Year 12 completion far higher in Port Macquarie - Hastings at 37.5% compared to 24.6% in Kempsey, and a typical First Nations household income that is well higher in Port Macquarie - Hastings at $1,519. Port Macquarie - Hastings also has a more walkable layout, with a score of 4.6 (somewhat walkable) compared to 3.7 (mostly car-dependent) in Kempsey.

Both areas are similar in the share of people who speak a First Nations language, with each sitting near the national figure at around 4.3% to 4.4%. They also share a similar landscape, with almost identical average terrain slopes. While Port Macquarie - Hastings generally has more homes within walking distance of parks and health services, Kempsey has a higher share of homes within a 15-minute walk of groceries.