North-Eastern NSW vs Victoria exc. Melbourne

North-Eastern NSW and Victoria exc. Melbourne are both expansive regional areas, but they differ in how easy it is for residents to access local services. Victoria exc. Melbourne is more walkable, with a far higher share of homes within a 15-minute walk of a park (79.0% compared to 66.7% in North-Eastern NSW) and public transport (64.2% versus 53.7%). First Nations outcomes also differ, with Year 12 completion well higher in Victoria exc. Melbourne at 35.4%, while North-Eastern NSW is at 28.3%.

Both regions are largely car-dependent, though Victoria exc. Melbourne is slightly more walkable. These two areas have tracked closely in other ways, with almost identical typical personal incomes for First Nations residents ($564 in Victoria exc. Melbourne and $538 in North-Eastern NSW). While most gaps between them have remained steady, the difference in street connectivity is far higher in Victoria exc. Melbourne, which has two intersections per square kilometre compared to none in North-Eastern NSW.