Atherton vs Eacham

Atherton and Eacham are two nearby areas in the Tablelands with different levels of accessibility. Atherton is more developed for pedestrians, with a walkability score of 2.4 (mostly car-dependent) and far more homes within a 15-minute walk of parks (61.8%), schools (48.1%), and health services (26.4%) than Eacham. There are also far more Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people living in Atherton (919) compared to Eacham (363), and the First Nations unemployment rate is well higher in Atherton at 14.0%.

Both areas share a very similar economic profile for First Nations residents, with typical household incomes around $1,300. This commonality exists despite other differences, such as in Eacham where First Nations people are more likely to speak a First Nations language (12.9%) and have higher Year 12 completion rates (42.2%). Both places remain largely reliant on cars, as neither has any homes within a 10-minute walk of public transport.