Bidwill vs Emerton

Bidwill and Emerton are neighbouring areas in Blacktown, though they differ sharply in local accessibility. Emerton is a walker's paradise, where 100% of homes are within a 15-minute walk of groceries, schools, and health services. In contrast, Bidwill is only somewhat walkable, and no homes there are within a 15-minute walk of health services. Emerton also has a higher share of people who speak a First Nations language (6.8%) compared to Bidwill (2.7%), while Bidwill has a much larger population of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people with 704 residents.

Both areas are perfectly suited for those without cars, as every single home in Bidwill and Emerton is within a 10-minute walk of public transport and a 15-minute walk of a park. These similarities exist alongside a gap in First Nations outcomes that has remained steady; the typical First Nations personal income in Emerton is $594, which is well higher than the $453 seen in Bidwill.