Upper Murray vs Wagga Wagga - South

Upper Murray and Wagga Wagga - South are two distinct New South Wales areas with very different layouts. Upper Murray has a much larger First Nations population, with 1,016 people, while Wagga Wagga - South has 482. The two areas differ sharply on access to services; Upper Murray has far more homes within a 15-minute walk of groceries (45.3% vs 22.5%) and health services (44.0% vs 22.6%). In contrast, Wagga Wagga - South is far more connected to public transport, with 83.6% of homes within a 10-minute walk compared to just 28.6% in Upper Murray.

Both areas are mostly car-dependent, and the same share of people in each (3.3%) speak a First Nations language. The gap in First Nations outcomes remains a stark contrast, as those in Wagga Wagga - South see much higher typical personal incomes ($813 vs $552) and higher Year 12 completion rates (39.6% vs 28.2%). These disparities in income and education are wide and persist as a key difference between the two locations.