Bellingen vs Nambucca Heads

Bellingen and Nambucca Heads are two nearby New South Wales areas with very different layouts. Nambucca Heads is much more compact and accessible, with a walkability score of 5.9 (somewhat walkable) compared to Bellingen's 3.7 (mostly car-dependent). This is reflected in the local amenities; 81.3% of homes in Nambucca Heads are within a 15-minute walk of groceries, while only 49.5% of homes in Bellingen have that same access. Bellingen, however, shows stronger outcomes for First Nations residents, including a higher Year 12 completion rate of 36.7% and a typical household income of $1,397, compared to 31.8% and $1,135 in Nambucca Heads.

These two areas have tracked differently since 2011, though they share a similar natural landscape with almost identical mean terrain slopes. Life in both places involves navigating a similar environment, yet the gap in convenience has widened, with Nambucca Heads seeing a far higher increase in the number of homes within a 15-minute walk of health services and public transport.