Ballarat vs Castlemaine - Kerang

Ballarat and Castlemaine - Kerang are two distinct Victorian regions separated by about 146 km. Ballarat is far more walkable, with a score of 5.6 (somewhat walkable) compared to 3.7 (mostly car-dependent) in Castlemaine - Kerang. This is seen in local access, as Ballarat has far more homes within a 15-minute walk of groceries (63.8% vs 42.0%) and public transport (79.0% vs 48.3%). Ballarat also has a far larger First Nations population, with 2,196 people compared to 1,190 in Castlemaine - Kerang, and a much higher rate of First Nations Year 12 completion at 43.6% against 31.3%.

Both areas share very similar First Nations unemployment rates, which sit at 12.2% in Ballarat and 12.0% in Castlemaine - Kerang. This common challenge exists alongside a wide gap in age and income for First Nations people; residents in Castlemaine - Kerang are noticeably older with a typical age of 27, while those in Ballarat are younger at 22. First Nations personal incomes are also a little higher in Ballarat, where the typical person earns $553 compared to $470 in Castlemaine - Kerang.