Cessnock vs Kearsley

In both, most households own their home and the large majority of homes are detached houses. In Kearsley, about half of households are couple families. Houses cost more in Kearsley: a median of $770,000, against $700,000 in Cessnock. On these figures, Cessnock tends to suit people living alone, while Kearsley suits couples.

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

Kearsley

ahead on 4 of the 6 things we measure here

  • has more schools rated above their peers (1 vs 0)
  • carries lower crime risk (72/100 vs 89/100)
  • is already more of a family suburb (68% vs 55%)
  • But Cessnock has more parks and reserves (22 vs 2)

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

First-home buyers

Cessnock

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • has cheaper houses ($700,000 vs $770,000)

Weighs house prices and mortgage stress.

Renters

They split

one each way, out of the 3 things we measure here

  • Cessnock has a bigger rental market to choose from (39% vs 14%)
  • Kearsley leaves renters under less rental stress (22% vs 27%)

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

Commuting to the city

They split

one each way, out of the 4 things we measure here

  • Cessnock is more walkable (88/100 vs 17/100)
  • Kearsley sits closer to the CBD (148.7 km vs 152.3 km)

Weighs distance, drive time, rail access, and walkability.

Downsizers and retirees

Cessnock

ahead on 4 of the 5 things we measure here

  • has more GPs (11 vs 0)
  • has more units and townhouses to downsize into (16% vs 2%)
  • is more walkable (88/100 vs 17/100)
  • But Kearsley carries lower crime risk (72/100 vs 89/100)

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

Investors

Cessnock

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • is growing faster (7.4% vs -2.7%)

Weighs population growth.

Where they sit

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

Cessnock Kearsley
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.

Cessnock Kearsley
Walkability 88 / 17
Cessnock — Walkability: 88/100 Kearsley — Walkability: 17/100
Safety 11 / 28
Cessnock — Safety: 11/100 Kearsley — Safety: 28/100
Low fire risk 42 / 26
Cessnock — Low fire risk: 42/100 Kearsley — Low fire risk: 26/100

Demographics

Cessnock has more residents (16,300 vs 838); Kearsley has higher household incomes ($76,284 vs $61,984).

Cessnock Kearsley
Population 16,300
+95% vs other
 838
Population trend (2016 → 2021) +7.4% -2.7%
Median age 40 38
Median household income $61,984/yr $76,284/yr
+23% vs other
Median weekly rent $320/wk
+2% vs other
 $315/wk

Age profile

Share of residents in each band, 2021 Census.

Cessnock Kearsley
0-4 5.7% / 5.3%
Cessnock — 0-4: 5.7% Kearsley — 0-4: 5.3%
5-14 11.4% / 13.6%
Cessnock — 5-14: 11.4% Kearsley — 5-14: 13.6%
15-19 5.4% / 8.0%
Cessnock — 15-19: 5.4% Kearsley — 15-19: 8.0%
20-24 6.3% / 5.8%
Cessnock — 20-24: 6.3% Kearsley — 20-24: 5.8%
25-34 14.3% / 12.4%
Cessnock — 25-34: 14.3% Kearsley — 25-34: 12.4%
35-44 12.7% / 11.0%
Cessnock — 35-44: 12.7% Kearsley — 35-44: 11.0%
45-54 11.7% / 14.9%
Cessnock — 45-54: 11.7% Kearsley — 45-54: 14.9%
55-64 11.3% / 13.8%
Cessnock — 55-64: 11.3% Kearsley — 55-64: 13.8%
65-74 11.0% / 10.1%
Cessnock — 65-74: 11.0% Kearsley — 65-74: 10.1%
75-84 6.6% / 4.4%
Cessnock — 75-84: 6.6% Kearsley — 75-84: 4.4%
85+ 3.5% / —
Cessnock — 85+: 3.5% Kearsley — 85+: not among its largest

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (14.9%).

Who lives together

Household composition, 2021 Census.

Cessnock 29.0% couple families
Cessnock — Couple Families: 29.0% Cessnock — Lone Person: 39.9% Cessnock — One Parent Families: 26.0% Cessnock — Group Household: 3.6% Cessnock — Other Families: 1.6%
Kearsley 45.3% couple families
Kearsley — Couple Families: 45.3% Kearsley — Lone Person: 29.7% Kearsley — One Parent Families: 22.2% Kearsley — Group Household: 2.8% Kearsley — Other Families: 0.0%
Couple Families Lone Person One Parent Families Group Household Other Families

Who owns and who rents

Occupied private dwellings by tenure, 2021 Census.

Cessnock 39.1% renting
Cessnock — Owned Outright: 32.1% Cessnock — Mortgage: 28.8% Cessnock — Renting: 39.1%
Kearsley 14.3% renting
Kearsley — Owned Outright: 40.9% Kearsley — Mortgage: 44.8% Kearsley — Renting: 14.3%
Owned outright Mortgage Renting

Qualifications

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

Cessnock Kearsley
Certificate III & IV 17.4% / 23.5%
Cessnock — Certificate III & IV: 17.4% Kearsley — Certificate III & IV: 23.5%
Advanced Diploma / Diploma 4.8% / 5.0%
Cessnock — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 4.8% Kearsley — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 5.0%
Bachelor Degree 4.2% / 3.8%
Cessnock — Bachelor Degree: 4.2% Kearsley — Bachelor Degree: 3.8%
Postgraduate Degree 0.8% / 1.1%
Cessnock — Postgraduate Degree: 0.8% Kearsley — Postgraduate Degree: 1.1%
Graduate Diploma / Certificate 0.7% / 0.4%
Cessnock — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 0.7% Kearsley — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 0.4%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (23.5%).

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.

Cessnock Kearsley
England 1.8% / 1.4%
Cessnock — England: 1.8% Kearsley — England: 1.4%
New Zealand 1.1% / 1.1%
Cessnock — New Zealand: 1.1% Kearsley — New Zealand: 1.1%
Philippines 0.5% / 0.6%
Cessnock — Philippines: 0.5% Kearsley — Philippines: 0.6%
South Africa — / 0.5%
Cessnock — South Africa: not among its largest Kearsley — South Africa: 0.5%
Scotland 0.4% / —
Cessnock — Scotland: 0.4% Kearsley — Scotland: not among its largest
Thailand 0.3% / —
Cessnock — Thailand: 0.3% Kearsley — Thailand: not among its largest

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (1.8%).

What people live in

Occupied private dwellings by structure, 2021 Census.

Cessnock 84.1% houses
Cessnock — Houses: 84.1% Cessnock — Townhouses: 13.0% Cessnock — Flats / Apartments: 3.0%
Kearsley 98.6% houses
Kearsley — Houses: 98.6% Kearsley — Townhouses: 1.7% Kearsley — Flats / Apartments: 0.0%
Houses Townhouses Flats / Apartments

Property market

Cessnock Kearsley
Median house price $700,000 $770,000
Median unit price $525,000 —
Median land price $500,000 —
Typical days to sell (houses) 22 days
from 214 sales
 43 days
from 9 sales

House price by bedroom count

Only bed counts both suburbs published enough sales for. Sale counts are shown because the buckets differ in depth.

Cessnock Kearsley
3 bed $685K / $750K
Cessnock — 3 bed: $685K (233 sales) Kearsley — 3 bed: $750K (11 sales)

233 vs 11 sales

4 bed $761K / $930K
Cessnock — 4 bed: $761K (101 sales) Kearsley — 4 bed: $930K (8 sales)

101 vs 8 sales

Zoning mix

Kearsley has more rural and farming land (66% vs 53%).

Cessnock Kearsley
Rural and farming 53% 66%
Residential 24% 17%
Environmental 8% 9%
Infrastructure and transport 7%
same for both
Parks and recreation 6% 1%
Industrial 1% 0%
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

Cessnock Kearsley
New dwellings approved 719
across Cessnock
same for both
Approvals change year on year -31%
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.

Cessnock Kearsley
Houses 4.1%
$600/wk on $755K
 —
Units 4.5%
$455/wk on $522K
 —

Ranking within NSW

Cessnock Kearsley
House price Higher than 24% of NSW Higher than 27% of NSW
Income Higher than 24% of NSW Higher than 44% of NSW
Schools Higher than 9% of NSW —
Walkability Higher than 95% of NSW Higher than 67% of NSW
Affordability Higher than 58% of NSW Higher than 68% of NSW
EV adoption Higher than 34% of NSW
same for both
NBN connectivity Higher than 73% of NSW Higher than 70% of NSW
Rental yield (houses) Higher than 79% of NSW —
Rental yield (units) Higher than 44% of NSW —

Liveability

Cessnock is more walkable (88 vs 17); Cessnock scores higher overall (24 vs 17).

Cessnock Kearsley
Grade D
same for both
Score 24/100 17/100
Socio-economic band high-need area
decile 1/10
 below-average income
decile 2/10

Risk profile

Kearsley carries more bushfire risk (74 vs 58); Cessnock carries more crime risk (89 vs 72).

Cessnock Kearsley
Bushfire Moderate
58/100
 High
74/100
Crime High
89/100
 High
72/100
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 2
within 5 km
same for both

Schools

Cessnock Kearsley
Inside the suburb 4 1
Rated above peers 0 1
Rated at peers 4 0
Rated below peers 0
same for both

Schools in Cessnock

  • Cessnock East Public School Government · Primary at peers
  • Cessnock West Public School Government · Primary at peers
  • Mount View High School Government · Secondary at peers
  • St Patrick's Primary School Catholic · Primary at peers

Schools in Kearsley

  • Kearsley Public School Government · Primary above peers

Amenities in the suburb

Cessnock Kearsley
Supermarkets 4 0
Cafes & restaurants 4 0
Parks & reserves 22 2
Childcare 7 0
GPs 11 0
Pharmacies 4 0
Hospitals 1 0
Police stations 1 0
Banks & Bank@Post 7 0
Fuel stations 4 0
Waterways 11 2

Mobility

Cessnock sits further from the CBD (152.3 km vs 148.7 km).

Cessnock Kearsley
Walkability score 88/100 17/100
Distance to Sydney 152.3 km
+2% vs other
 148.7 km
Drive time (normal traffic) 117 min 114 min
Public transport score 77/100
Bus
 37/100
Bus
Peak arrivals per hour 149.0
7-9am + 5-7pm
 11.2
7-9am + 5-7pm
Median peak wait 0 min
scheduled, not actual
 1 min
scheduled, not actual
Electric vehicle share 0.4%
postcode 2325
same for both
Rooftop solar per 100 dwellings 51
postcode 2325
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.

Cessnock Kearsley
Car (driver) 78.6% / 79.4%
Cessnock — Car (driver): 78.6% Kearsley — Car (driver): 79.4%
Worked from Home 12.7% / 13.6%
Cessnock — Worked from Home: 12.7% Kearsley — Worked from Home: 13.6%
Car (passenger) 5.1% / 5.1%
Cessnock — Car (passenger): 5.1% Kearsley — Car (passenger): 5.1%
Walked Only 2.7% / 0.9%
Cessnock — Walked Only: 2.7% Kearsley — Walked Only: 0.9%
Train 0.2% / 0.9%
Cessnock — Train: 0.2% Kearsley — Train: 0.9%
Bus 0.4% / —
Cessnock — Bus: 0.4% Kearsley — Bus: not among its largest

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (79.4%).

Setting

Cessnock Kearsley
Elevation 94 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
 60 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
Distance to the ocean 37.4 km 33.7 km

NBN connectivity

Cessnock Kearsley
Connectivity score 65/100 60/100
Most common technology Fibre to the node
same for both
Full-fibre (FTTP) share 37%
7,577 premises
 31%
328 premises

Climate

Cessnock Kearsley
Annual rainfall 804 mm
same for both
Summer max (Jan) 30.0°C
same for both
Winter min (Jul) 5.1°C
same for both

Air quality (annual mean)

Cessnock Kearsley
PM2.5 6.3 µg/m³
same for both
PM10 17.5 µg/m³
same for both
NO₂ 0.72 pphm
same for both

Council rates

Cessnock Kearsley
Average residential rate $1,405/yr
same for both
Council Cessnock
same for both

Federal electorate

Cessnock Kearsley
Division Hunter
same for both
Member Dan Repacholi
same for both
Party Australian Labor Party
same for both

First Home Owner Grant

Cessnock Kearsley
Grant amount $10,000
same for both
Property price cap $600,000
same for both
Eligibility New
same for both

Tags

Cessnock

Parks Regional Centre

Kearsley

Acreage

More comparisons

Other comparisons with Cessnock

Cessnock vs Abermain Cessnock vs Aberdare Cessnock vs Bellbird Cessnock vs Pokolbin Cessnock vs Bellbird Heights Cessnock vs Nulkaba

Other comparisons with Kearsley

Kearsley vs Aberdare Kearsley vs Kitchener Kearsley vs Neath Kearsley vs Abernethy Kearsley vs Elrington
Full data on Cessnock Full data on Kearsley
Unlock full address-level data — $29/month

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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