Belmore River vs South Kempsey

South Kempsey is the younger of the two, with a median age of 42 against 51 in Belmore River. In both, most households own their home and the large majority of homes are detached houses. In Belmore River, most households are couple families. Houses cost more in Belmore River: a median of $748,000, against $415,000 in South Kempsey, though rent is higher in South Kempsey. On these figures, Belmore River tends to suit couples and older residents, while South Kempsey suits buyers on a tighter budget.

Which one suits you?

There is no overall winner — the suburb that suits a family with school-age kids is routinely the wrong one for someone commuting into the city. So each of these answers its own question, against a checklist you can see, using the same figures in the tables below.

Families with school-age kids

South Kempsey

ahead on 2 of the 6 things we measure here

  • has more schools inside the suburb (4 vs 0)
  • has more parks and reserves (3 vs 0)
  • But Belmore River carries lower crime risk (34/100 vs 97/100)

Weighs schools, house stock, crime, parks, childcare, and who already lives there.

First-home buyers

South Kempsey

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • has cheaper houses ($415,000 vs $748,000)

Weighs house prices and mortgage stress.

Renters

Belmore River

ahead on 2 of the 3 things we measure here

  • leaves renters under less rental stress (18% vs 25%)
  • has cheaper rent ($230/wk vs $270/wk)
  • But South Kempsey has a bigger rental market to choose from (34% vs 18%)

Weighs rent, rental stress, and how much is for rent.

Commuting to the city

South Kempsey

ahead on 2 of the 3 things we measure here

  • sits closer to the CBD (421.4 km vs 446.9 km)
  • has a shorter drive in (289 min vs 299 min)

Weighs distance, drive time, and walkability.

Downsizers and retirees

Belmore River

ahead on 2 of the 5 things we measure here

  • carries lower crime risk (34/100 vs 97/100)
  • has more residents already 65 and over (29% vs 19%)

Weighs smaller dwellings, who already lives there, GPs, walkability, and crime.

Investors

South Kempsey

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • is growing faster (13.1% vs -0.4%)

Weighs population growth.

Where they sit

Belmore River and South Kempsey drawn to the same scale. Both outlines are shown together, so the map answers whether they share a border and how their areas compare.

Belmore River South Kempsey
Hides rows where both suburbs match

Bars start at zero. Scores, risks and rankings are drawn against their full 0–100 range; other rows are drawn in proportion to the larger of the two.

Side by side, out of 100

Risks are inverted — shown as safety and low exposure — so a longer bar always means better.

Belmore River South Kempsey
Walkability 0 / 0
Belmore River — Walkability: 0/100 South Kempsey — Walkability: 0/100
Safety 66 / 3
Belmore River — Safety: 66/100 South Kempsey — Safety: 3/100
Low fire risk 32 / 33
Belmore River — Low fire risk: 32/100 South Kempsey — Low fire risk: 33/100

Demographics

South Kempsey has more residents (2,604 vs 268); Belmore River skews older (51 vs 42).

Belmore River South Kempsey
Population 268 2,604
+872% vs other
Population trend (2016 → 2021) -0.4% +13.1%
Median age 51 42
Median household income $67,184/yr
+17% vs other
 $55,848/yr
Median weekly rent $230/wk $270/wk
+17% vs other

Age profile

Share of residents in each band, 2021 Census.

Belmore River South Kempsey
0-4 6.7% / 5.6%
Belmore River — 0-4: 6.7% South Kempsey — 0-4: 5.6%
5-14 12.3% / 15.4%
Belmore River — 5-14: 12.3% South Kempsey — 5-14: 15.4%
15-19 4.1% / 7.0%
Belmore River — 15-19: 4.1% South Kempsey — 15-19: 7.0%
20-24 4.9% / 4.6%
Belmore River — 20-24: 4.9% South Kempsey — 20-24: 4.6%
25-34 8.2% / 10.5%
Belmore River — 25-34: 8.2% South Kempsey — 25-34: 10.5%
35-44 9.7% / 10.8%
Belmore River — 35-44: 9.7% South Kempsey — 35-44: 10.8%
45-54 10.8% / 12.9%
Belmore River — 45-54: 10.8% South Kempsey — 45-54: 12.9%
55-64 18.7% / 14.2%
Belmore River — 55-64: 18.7% South Kempsey — 55-64: 14.2%
65-74 20.1% / 11.6%
Belmore River — 65-74: 20.1% South Kempsey — 65-74: 11.6%
75-84 8.6% / 6.1%
Belmore River — 75-84: 8.6% South Kempsey — 75-84: 6.1%
85+ — / 1.4%
Belmore River — 85+: not among its largest South Kempsey — 85+: 1.4%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (20.1%).

Who lives together

Household composition, 2021 Census.

Belmore River 57.1% couple families
Belmore River — Couple Families: 57.1% Belmore River — Lone Person: 37.5% Belmore River — One Parent Families: 5.4% Belmore River — Group Household: 0.0% Belmore River — Other Families: 0.0%
South Kempsey 31.2% couple families
South Kempsey — Couple Families: 31.2% South Kempsey — Lone Person: 34.7% South Kempsey — One Parent Families: 24.9% South Kempsey — Group Household: 7.1% South Kempsey — Other Families: 2.2%
Couple Families Lone Person One Parent Families Group Household Other Families

Who owns and who rents

Occupied private dwellings by tenure, 2021 Census.

Belmore River 18.2% renting
Belmore River — Owned Outright: 54.5% Belmore River — Mortgage: 27.3% Belmore River — Renting: 18.2%
South Kempsey 34.5% renting
South Kempsey — Owned Outright: 36.0% South Kempsey — Mortgage: 29.5% South Kempsey — Renting: 34.5%
Owned outright Mortgage Renting

Where residents were born

Largest overseas birthplaces, as a share of all residents, 2021 Census. A dash means that country is not among the suburb's own eight largest.

Belmore River South Kempsey
England 1.9% / 1.0%
Belmore River — England: 1.9% South Kempsey — England: 1.0%
New Zealand — / 1.0%
Belmore River — New Zealand: not among its largest South Kempsey — New Zealand: 1.0%
Philippines — / 0.8%
Belmore River — Philippines: not among its largest South Kempsey — Philippines: 0.8%
Germany — / 0.4%
Belmore River — Germany: not among its largest South Kempsey — Germany: 0.4%
China — / 0.3%
Belmore River — China: not among its largest South Kempsey — China: 0.3%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (1.9%).

Qualifications

Highest non-school qualification, residents 15+, 2021 Census.

Belmore River South Kempsey
Certificate III & IV 20.5% / 15.6%
Belmore River — Certificate III & IV: 20.5% South Kempsey — Certificate III & IV: 15.6%
Bachelor Degree 5.2% / 5.1%
Belmore River — Bachelor Degree: 5.2% South Kempsey — Bachelor Degree: 5.1%
Advanced Diploma / Diploma 4.9% / 5.0%
Belmore River — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 4.9% South Kempsey — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 5.0%
Postgraduate Degree — / 1.2%
Belmore River — Postgraduate Degree: not among its largest South Kempsey — Postgraduate Degree: 1.2%
Graduate Diploma / Certificate — / 0.3%
Belmore River — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: not among its largest South Kempsey — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 0.3%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (20.5%).

What people live in

Occupied private dwellings by structure, 2021 Census.

Belmore River 94.7% houses
Belmore River — Houses: 94.7% Belmore River — Flats / Apartments: 5.3% Belmore River — Townhouses: 0.0%
South Kempsey 90.4% houses
South Kempsey — Houses: 90.4% South Kempsey — Flats / Apartments: 8.9% South Kempsey — Townhouses: 0.7%
Houses Flats / Apartments Townhouses

Property market

Belmore River South Kempsey
Median house price $748,000 $415,000
Median unit price —
same for both
Median land price — $320,000
Typical days to sell (houses) — 52 days
from 28 sales

Zoning mix

Belmore River has more rural and farming land (84% vs 64%).

Belmore River South Kempsey
Rural and farming 84% 64%
Environmental 16% 11%
Residential 0% 14%
Infrastructure and transport 0% 5%
Industrial 0% 4%
Parks and recreation 0% 1%
Zoning sets what may be built, not what is there today. A single address can sit in a different zone to the suburb around it. Zones as at 2026-09.

Development activity

Belmore River South Kempsey
New dwellings approved 144
across Kempsey
same for both
Approvals change year on year +380%
same for both

Gross rental yield

Gross — before strata, rates, management, insurance and vacancy. From median advertised rents and median asking prices over the last 6 months. How we calculate.

Belmore River South Kempsey
Houses — 4.7%
$550/wk on $610K
Units —
same for both

Ranking within NSW

Belmore River South Kempsey
House price Higher than 29% of NSW Higher than 13% of NSW
Income Higher than 30% of NSW Higher than 16% of NSW
Schools — Higher than 28% of NSW
Walkability Higher than 31% of NSW Higher than 35% of NSW
Affordability Higher than 56% of NSW Higher than 80% of NSW
EV adoption Higher than 7% of NSW Higher than 8% of NSW
NBN connectivity Higher than 47% of NSW Higher than 68% of NSW
Rental yield (houses) — Higher than 94% of NSW

Liveability

Belmore River South Kempsey
Grade — D
Score — 8/100
Socio-economic band below-average income
decile 3/10
 high-need area
decile 1/10

Risk profile

South Kempsey carries more crime risk (97 vs 34).

Belmore River South Kempsey
Bushfire Moderate
68/100
 Moderate
67/100
Crime Low
34/100
 High
97/100
Flood Not mapped
no mapped data here
same for both
Coastal erosion Low
28/100
 None
0/100
Aircraft noise None
0/100
same for both
Industrial facilities nearby 0
within 5 km
 3
within 5 km

Schools

Belmore River South Kempsey
Inside the suburb 0 4
Rated above peers 0
same for both
Rated at peers 0 2
Rated below peers 0 2

Schools in Belmore River

No schools recorded inside this suburb's boundary. Children here will be zoned to schools nearby.

Schools in South Kempsey

  • Kempsey Adventist School Independent · Combined at peers
  • Melville High School Government · Secondary at peers
  • Kempsey South Public School Government · Primary below peers
  • Macleay Vocational College Independent · Secondary · Special school below peers

Amenities in the suburb

Belmore River South Kempsey
Cafes & restaurants 0 1
Parks & reserves 0 3
Childcare 0 2
Fuel stations 0 5
EV chargers 0 1
Waterways 3 10

Mobility

Belmore River sits further from the CBD (446.9 km vs 421.4 km).

Belmore River South Kempsey
Walkability score 0/100
same for both
Distance to Sydney 446.9 km
+6% vs other
 421.4 km
Drive time (normal traffic) 299 min 289 min
Electric vehicle share 0.1%
postcode 2440
same for both
Rooftop solar per 100 dwellings 53
postcode 2440
same for both

How people get to work

Method of travel on census day 2021 — which fell during COVID restrictions, so working from home is inflated and every travel mode understated.

Belmore River South Kempsey
Car (driver) 73.6% / 81.3%
Belmore River — Car (driver): 73.6% South Kempsey — Car (driver): 81.3%
Worked from Home 18.4% / 8.3%
Belmore River — Worked from Home: 18.4% South Kempsey — Worked from Home: 8.3%
Car (passenger) 3.4% / 6.4%
Belmore River — Car (passenger): 3.4% South Kempsey — Car (passenger): 6.4%
Walked Only 4.6% / 3.5%
Belmore River — Walked Only: 4.6% South Kempsey — Walked Only: 3.5%
Bus — / 0.6%
Belmore River — Bus: not among its largest South Kempsey — Bus: 0.6%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (81.3%).

Setting

Belmore River South Kempsey
Elevation 0 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
 34 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
Distance to the ocean 5.3 km 13.7 km

NBN connectivity

Belmore River South Kempsey
Connectivity score 29/100 54/100
Most common technology Fixed wireless Fibre to the node
Full-fibre (FTTP) share 0%
119 premises
 26%
1,298 premises

Council rates

Belmore River South Kempsey
Average residential rate $1,447/yr
same for both
Council Kempsey
same for both

Federal electorate

Belmore River South Kempsey
Division Cowper
same for both
Member Pat Conaghan
same for both
Party The Nationals
same for both

First Home Owner Grant

Belmore River South Kempsey
Grant amount $10,000
same for both
Property price cap $600,000
same for both
Eligibility New
same for both

Tags

Belmore River

Retirees Rural

South Kempsey

Acreage Affordable

More comparisons

Other comparisons with Belmore River

Belmore River vs Crescent Head Belmore River vs Gladstone Belmore River vs Hat Head Belmore River vs Verges Creek Belmore River vs Kinchela Belmore River vs Austral Eden

Other comparisons with South Kempsey

South Kempsey vs West Kempsey South Kempsey vs Crescent Head South Kempsey vs East Kempsey South Kempsey vs Dondingalong South Kempsey vs Kundabung South Kempsey vs Kempsey
Full data on Belmore River Full data on South Kempsey
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Information shown is provided as-is from Australian government and commercial data sources.
Always verify with the relevant authority before making property decisions.
See Data Sources and How We Calculate for details.

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