Wantrina - Rowville - Ferntree Gully vs Wheelers Hill

Wantrina - Rowville - Ferntree Gully and Wheelers Hill are neighbouring areas in Melbourne's east with different demographics. Wantrina - Rowville - Ferntree Gully has a far larger First Nations population, with 1,022 people compared to just 113 in Wheelers Hill. In Wheelers Hill, the First Nations unemployment rate is well higher at 16.1%, while it is much lower in Wantrina - Rowville - Ferntree Gully at 7.7%. Wheelers Hill also has a higher share of homes within a 15-minute walk of groceries (88.7% versus 82.0%) and health services (84.8% versus 79.6%).

Both areas are very walkable, with almost identical walkability scores. This shared ease of movement is reflected in their street connectivity and similar access to parks, which are almost universally within a 15-minute walk for residents of both places. While both areas provide good access to local amenities, Wheelers Hill has a higher share of homes near public transport, whereas parks make up a larger share of the walkable amenities in Wantrina - Rowville - Ferntree Gully.