Burnt Bridge vs South Kempsey

Burnt Bridge is the younger of the two, with a median age of 30 against 42 in South Kempsey. In both, most households own their home and the large majority of homes are detached houses. On these figures, Burnt Bridge tends to suit young adults, while South Kempsey suits people living alone and families with children.

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 Burnt Bridge is already more of a family suburb (79% vs 56%)

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

First-home buyers

Too close to call

Nothing among the 1 things we measure here separates them by enough to be worth acting on.

Weighs mortgage stress.

Renters

Burnt Bridge

ahead on 2 of the 3 things we measure here

  • leaves renters under less rental stress (15% vs 25%)
  • has cheaper rent ($178/wk vs $270/wk)

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

Commuting to the city

Burnt Bridge

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • has a shorter drive in (281 min vs 289 min)

Weighs distance, drive time, and walkability.

Downsizers and retirees

South Kempsey

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • has more residents already 65 and over (19% vs 9%)

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 -27.6%)

Weighs population growth.

Where they sit

Burnt Bridge 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.

Burnt Bridge 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.

Burnt Bridge South Kempsey
Walkability 4 / 0
Burnt Bridge — Walkability: 4/100 South Kempsey — Walkability: 0/100
Safety 3 / 3
Burnt Bridge — Safety: 3/100 South Kempsey — Safety: 3/100
Low fire risk 20 / 33
Burnt Bridge — Low fire risk: 20/100 South Kempsey — Low fire risk: 33/100

Demographics

South Kempsey has more residents (2,604 vs 110); South Kempsey rents higher ($270/wk vs $178/wk).

Burnt Bridge South Kempsey
Population 110 2,604
+2267% vs other
Population trend (2016 → 2021) -27.6% +13.1%
Median age 30 42
Median household income $63,336/yr
+12% vs other
 $55,848/yr
Median weekly rent $178/wk $270/wk
+52% vs other

Age profile

Share of residents in each band, 2021 Census.

Burnt Bridge South Kempsey
0-4 10.9% / 5.6%
Burnt Bridge — 0-4: 10.9% South Kempsey — 0-4: 5.6%
5-14 4.5% / 15.4%
Burnt Bridge — 5-14: 4.5% South Kempsey — 5-14: 15.4%
15-19 10.9% / 7.0%
Burnt Bridge — 15-19: 10.9% South Kempsey — 15-19: 7.0%
20-24 8.2% / 4.6%
Burnt Bridge — 20-24: 8.2% South Kempsey — 20-24: 4.6%
25-34 17.3% / 10.5%
Burnt Bridge — 25-34: 17.3% South Kempsey — 25-34: 10.5%
35-44 8.2% / 10.8%
Burnt Bridge — 35-44: 8.2% South Kempsey — 35-44: 10.8%
45-54 14.5% / 12.9%
Burnt Bridge — 45-54: 14.5% South Kempsey — 45-54: 12.9%
55-64 18.2% / 14.2%
Burnt Bridge — 55-64: 18.2% South Kempsey — 55-64: 14.2%
65-74 3.6% / 11.6%
Burnt Bridge — 65-74: 3.6% South Kempsey — 65-74: 11.6%
75-84 5.5% / 6.1%
Burnt Bridge — 75-84: 5.5% South Kempsey — 75-84: 6.1%
85+ — / 1.4%
Burnt Bridge — 85+: not among its largest South Kempsey — 85+: 1.4%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (18.2%).

Who lives together

Household composition, 2021 Census.

Burnt Bridge 78.9% one parent families
Burnt Bridge — One Parent Families: 78.9% Burnt Bridge — Lone Person: 21.1% Burnt Bridge — Couple Families: 0.0% Burnt Bridge — Group Household: 0.0% Burnt Bridge — Other Families: 0.0%
South Kempsey 24.9% one parent families
South Kempsey — One Parent Families: 24.9% South Kempsey — Lone Person: 34.7% South Kempsey — Couple Families: 31.2% South Kempsey — Group Household: 7.1% South Kempsey — Other Families: 2.2%
One Parent Families Lone Person Couple Families Group Household Other Families

Who owns and who rents

Occupied private dwellings by tenure, 2021 Census.

Burnt Bridge 35.3% renting
Burnt Bridge — Owned Outright: 64.7% Burnt Bridge — Mortgage: 0.0% Burnt Bridge — Renting: 35.3%
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

What people live in

Occupied private dwellings by structure, 2021 Census.

Burnt Bridge 96.4% houses
Burnt Bridge — Houses: 96.4% Burnt Bridge — Flats / Apartments: 3.6% Burnt Bridge — 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

Qualifications

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

Burnt Bridge South Kempsey
Certificate III & IV 10.0% / 15.6%
Burnt Bridge — Certificate III & IV: 10.0% South Kempsey — Certificate III & IV: 15.6%
Bachelor Degree — / 5.1%
Burnt Bridge — Bachelor Degree: not among its largest South Kempsey — Bachelor Degree: 5.1%
Advanced Diploma / Diploma — / 5.0%
Burnt Bridge — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: not among its largest South Kempsey — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 5.0%
Postgraduate Degree — / 1.2%
Burnt Bridge — Postgraduate Degree: not among its largest South Kempsey — Postgraduate Degree: 1.2%
Graduate Diploma / Certificate — / 0.3%
Burnt Bridge — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: not among its largest South Kempsey — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 0.3%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (15.6%).

Property market

Burnt Bridge South Kempsey
Median house price — $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

Burnt Bridge has more rural and farming land (95% vs 64%); South Kempsey has more land zoned for conservation (11% vs 0%).

Burnt Bridge South Kempsey
Rural and farming 95% 64%
Residential 5% 14%
Environmental 0% 11%
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

Burnt Bridge 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.

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

Ranking within NSW

Burnt Bridge South Kempsey
House price — Higher than 13% of NSW
Income Higher than 26% of NSW Higher than 16% of NSW
Schools — Higher than 28% of NSW
Walkability Higher than 45% of NSW Higher than 35% of NSW
Affordability — Higher than 80% of NSW
EV adoption Higher than 7% of NSW Higher than 8% of NSW
NBN connectivity Higher than 53% of NSW Higher than 68% of NSW
Rental yield (houses) — Higher than 94% of NSW

Liveability

Burnt Bridge South Kempsey
Grade — D
Score — 8/100
Socio-economic band high-need area
decile 1/10
same for both

Risk profile

Burnt Bridge carries more bushfire risk (80 vs 67).

Burnt Bridge South Kempsey
Bushfire High
80/100
 Moderate
67/100
Crime High
97/100
same for both
Flood Not mapped
no mapped data here
same for both
Coastal erosion None
0/100
same for both
Aircraft noise None
0/100
same for both
Industrial facilities nearby 3
within 5 km
same for both

Schools

Burnt Bridge 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 Burnt Bridge

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

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

Mobility

Burnt Bridge South Kempsey
Walkability score 4/100 0/100
Distance to Sydney 421.2 km 421.4 km
Drive time (normal traffic) 281 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.

Burnt Bridge South Kempsey
Car (driver) 66.7% / 81.3%
Burnt Bridge — Car (driver): 66.7% South Kempsey — Car (driver): 81.3%
Car (passenger) 33.3% / 6.4%
Burnt Bridge — Car (passenger): 33.3% South Kempsey — Car (passenger): 6.4%
Worked from Home — / 8.3%
Burnt Bridge — Worked from Home: not among its largest South Kempsey — Worked from Home: 8.3%
Walked Only — / 3.5%
Burnt Bridge — Walked Only: not among its largest South Kempsey — Walked Only: 3.5%
Bus — / 0.6%
Burnt Bridge — Bus: not among its largest South Kempsey — Bus: 0.6%

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

Setting

Burnt Bridge South Kempsey
Elevation 42 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
 34 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
Distance to the ocean 17.9 km 13.7 km

NBN connectivity

Burnt Bridge South Kempsey
Connectivity score 30/100 54/100
Most common technology Fixed wireless Fibre to the node
Full-fibre (FTTP) share 0%
37 premises
 26%
1,298 premises

Council rates

Burnt Bridge South Kempsey
Average residential rate $1,447/yr
same for both
Council Kempsey
same for both

Federal electorate

Burnt Bridge South Kempsey
Division Cowper
same for both
Member Pat Conaghan
same for both
Party The Nationals
same for both

First Home Owner Grant

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

Tags

Burnt Bridge

Professionals Rural Young Families

South Kempsey

Acreage Affordable

More comparisons

Other comparisons with Burnt Bridge

Burnt Bridge vs Dondingalong

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 Burnt Bridge 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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