Launceston vs George Town

Launceston and George Town are two nearby Tasmanian areas with very different layouts. Launceston is very walkable, with a score of 6.2, while George Town is mostly car-dependent with a score of 2.9. This is reflected in the access to local needs; 77% of Launceston homes are within a 15-minute walk of groceries and 87.2% are near public transport, compared to just 39.1% and 34.8% in George Town. Launceston also has a far larger Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander population, with 2,839 people.

Both areas sit near the national figure for the share of people who speak a First Nations language, at 2.3% in Launceston and 2.5% in George Town. While Launceston has a higher typical income for First Nations residents, George Town has a well higher unemployment rate for this group at 17.4%, which is well above the national figure. The gap in accessibility between these two places remains stark, with Launceston having far more street intersections and a much wider range of amenities within walking distance.