Ballarat vs Warrnambool

Ballarat and Warrnambool are two regional Victorian areas with different levels of local access and community makeup. Ballarat has far more First Nations people, with 2,196 residents compared to 705 in Warrnambool. School completion for First Nations students is far higher in Ballarat at 43.6%, well above the national figure, while Warrnambool sits at 32.2%, which is well below the national figure. Ballarat also offers better local access, with 64.1% of homes in a 15-minute-city walkshed and 48.2% of homes within a 15-minute walk of health services, both far higher than the figures for Warrnambool.

Both areas share a similar landscape, with an almost identical mean terrain slope of around 4.8% to 4.9%. They also show very similar outcomes for First Nations residents in terms of typical personal income and unemployment rates. While Ballarat is slightly more walkable, Warrnambool is better for those needing a short walk to public transport, with 83.0% of homes located within 10 minutes of a stop.