# Cardinia vs Baw Baw — 2021 Census comparison

Indigenous Area comparison · about 45 km apart

Cardinia and Baw Baw are nearby Victorian areas with very different levels of accessibility. Cardinia is more walkable, with 60.3% of homes within a 15-minute walk of groceries compared to 39.1% in Baw Baw. This easier access extends to schools, where Cardinia is far higher at 67.5% and Baw Baw is 51.3%. Cardinia also has a larger First Nations population of 1,145 people and a far higher Year 12 completion rate for this group at 44.7%, while Baw Baw sits at 33.0%.

Both areas have followed similar paths since 2011, though Cardinia consistently maintains a lead in street connectivity and walkability. Cardinia is described as somewhat walkable, while Baw Baw is mostly car-dependent. This difference is reflected in the local amenities, with Cardinia having a higher share of parks within a 15-minute walk, whereas Baw Baw has a slightly higher share of food, drink, and culture options nearby.

## First Nations

| Statistic | Cardinia | Baw Baw | Gap | Trend |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| First Nations people | 1,145 | 758 | 387 larger in Cardinia |  |
| Median age | 20 yrs | 23 yrs | 3 yrs older in Baw Baw |  |
| Year 12 | 44.7% | 33.0% | 11.7 pts higher in Cardinia |  |
| Unemployment | 7.7% | 9.6% | 1.9 pts higher in Baw Baw |  |
| Median income | $697 | $640 | $57 higher in Cardinia |  |
| Household income | $1,811 | $1,620 | $191 higher in Cardinia |  |
| Indigenous language | 2.7% | 3.8% | 1.1 pts higher in Baw Baw |  |

## Walkability

| Statistic | Cardinia | Baw Baw | Gap | Trend |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Walk score | 4.7 | 3.7 | 1.0 higher in Cardinia |  |
| Types ≤15 min | 4.5 | 3.6 | 0.9 more in Cardinia |  |
| 15-min city | 57.1% | 36.7% | 20.4 pts higher in Cardinia |  |
| Walk to shops | 60.3% | 39.1% | 21.2 pts higher in Cardinia |  |
| Walk to transit | 65.8% | 53.8% | 12.0 pts higher in Cardinia |  |
| Walk to school | 67.5% | 51.3% | 16.2 pts higher in Cardinia |  |
| Walk to a park | 86.7% | 74.7% | 12.1 pts higher in Cardinia |  |
| Walk to health | 37.2% | 28.1% | 9.1 pts higher in Cardinia |  |
| Intersections/km² | 18 | 2 | 15 higher in Cardinia |  |
| Mean slope | 5.3% | 7.4% | 2.1 pts higher in Baw Baw |  |

Interactive comparison: https://censusatlas.au/compare/iare/IARE201002/cardinia/vs/IARE202002/baw-baw