East Kempsey vs Kempsey

In both, most homes are detached houses. In East Kempsey, most households own their home and about half of households are people living alone. In Kempsey, about half of households rent and most households are people living alone. Houses cost more in East Kempsey: a median of $630,000, against $375,000 in Kempsey, and rent is higher there too. On these figures, Kempsey tends to suit renters and 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

East Kempsey

ahead on 2 of the 6 things we measure here

  • has more separate houses rather than flats (84% vs 68%)
  • carries lower crime risk (90/100 vs 100/100)

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

First-home buyers

Kempsey

ahead on 2 of the 3 things we measure here

  • has cheaper houses ($375,000 vs $630,000)
  • has cheaper units ($330,000 vs $415,000)

Weighs house prices, unit prices, and mortgage stress.

Renters

Kempsey

ahead on 2 of the 3 things we measure here

  • has a bigger rental market to choose from (54% vs 35%)
  • has cheaper rent ($253/wk vs $300/wk)

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

Commuting to the city

East Kempsey

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • is more walkable (37/100 vs 15/100)

Weighs distance, drive time, and walkability.

Downsizers and retirees

They split

one each way, out of the 5 things we measure here

  • East Kempsey is more walkable (37/100 vs 15/100)
  • Kempsey has more GPs (4 vs 0)

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

Investors

Too close to call

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

Weighs population growth.

Where they sit

East Kempsey and 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.

East Kempsey 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.

East Kempsey Kempsey
Walkability 37 / 15
East Kempsey — Walkability: 37/100 Kempsey — Walkability: 15/100
Safety 10 / 0
East Kempsey — Safety: 10/100 Kempsey — Safety: 0/100
Low fire risk 100 / 100
East Kempsey — Low fire risk: 100/100 Kempsey — Low fire risk: 100/100

Demographics

East Kempsey has more residents (1,336 vs 483); East Kempsey has higher household incomes ($58,032 vs $45,812).

East Kempsey Kempsey
Population 1,336
+64% vs other
 483
Population trend (2016 → 2021) -1.6% +1.9%
Median age 41 43
Median household income $58,032/yr
+21% vs other
 $45,812/yr
Median weekly rent $300/wk
+16% vs other
 $253/wk

Age profile

Share of residents in each band, 2021 Census.

East Kempsey Kempsey
0-4 6.5% / 5.0%
East Kempsey — 0-4: 6.5% Kempsey — 0-4: 5.0%
5-14 13.2% / 11.2%
East Kempsey — 5-14: 13.2% Kempsey — 5-14: 11.2%
15-19 5.7% / 5.6%
East Kempsey — 15-19: 5.7% Kempsey — 15-19: 5.6%
20-24 5.4% / 5.8%
East Kempsey — 20-24: 5.4% Kempsey — 20-24: 5.8%
25-34 11.8% / 13.5%
East Kempsey — 25-34: 11.8% Kempsey — 25-34: 13.5%
35-44 11.1% / 10.8%
East Kempsey — 35-44: 11.1% Kempsey — 35-44: 10.8%
45-54 11.1% / 14.7%
East Kempsey — 45-54: 11.1% Kempsey — 45-54: 14.7%
55-64 12.6% / 16.6%
East Kempsey — 55-64: 12.6% Kempsey — 55-64: 16.6%
65-74 12.2% / 10.1%
East Kempsey — 65-74: 12.2% Kempsey — 65-74: 10.1%
75-84 7.0% / 6.8%
East Kempsey — 75-84: 7.0% Kempsey — 75-84: 6.8%
85+ 3.2% / 1.2%
East Kempsey — 85+: 3.2% Kempsey — 85+: 1.2%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (16.6%).

Who lives together

Household composition, 2021 Census.

East Kempsey 47.8% lone person
East Kempsey — Lone Person: 47.8% East Kempsey — One Parent Families: 21.1% East Kempsey — Couple Families: 27.0% East Kempsey — Group Household: 2.9% East Kempsey — Other Families: 1.2%
Kempsey 55.0% lone person
Kempsey — Lone Person: 55.0% Kempsey — One Parent Families: 24.0% Kempsey — Couple Families: 16.4% Kempsey — Group Household: 4.7% Kempsey — Other Families: 0.0%
Lone Person One Parent Families Couple Families Group Household Other Families

Who owns and who rents

Occupied private dwellings by tenure, 2021 Census.

East Kempsey 35.2% renting
East Kempsey — Owned Outright: 35.2% East Kempsey — Mortgage: 29.7% East Kempsey — Renting: 35.2%
Kempsey 53.6% renting
Kempsey — Owned Outright: 30.4% Kempsey — Mortgage: 16.0% Kempsey — Renting: 53.6%
Owned outright Mortgage Renting

Qualifications

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

East Kempsey Kempsey
Certificate III & IV 19.1% / 15.1%
East Kempsey — Certificate III & IV: 19.1% Kempsey — Certificate III & IV: 15.1%
Bachelor Degree 7.3% / 5.2%
East Kempsey — Bachelor Degree: 7.3% Kempsey — Bachelor Degree: 5.2%
Advanced Diploma / Diploma 5.7% / 5.8%
East Kempsey — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 5.7% Kempsey — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 5.8%
Graduate Diploma / Certificate 1.3% / 1.0%
East Kempsey — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 1.3% Kempsey — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 1.0%
Postgraduate Degree 0.5% / 0.6%
East Kempsey — Postgraduate Degree: 0.5% Kempsey — Postgraduate Degree: 0.6%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (19.1%).

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.

East Kempsey Kempsey
England 1.4% / 0.6%
East Kempsey — England: 1.4% Kempsey — England: 0.6%
Philippines 1.1% / 0.8%
East Kempsey — Philippines: 1.1% Kempsey — Philippines: 0.8%
Germany 0.5% / 0.8%
East Kempsey — Germany: 0.5% Kempsey — Germany: 0.8%
Thailand 0.4% / 0.8%
East Kempsey — Thailand: 0.4% Kempsey — Thailand: 0.8%
China — / 1.0%
East Kempsey — China: not among its largest Kempsey — China: 1.0%
Nepal — / 0.8%
East Kempsey — Nepal: not among its largest Kempsey — Nepal: 0.8%
New Zealand 0.7% / —
East Kempsey — New Zealand: 0.7% Kempsey — New Zealand: not among its largest

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (1.4%).

What people live in

Occupied private dwellings by structure, 2021 Census.

East Kempsey 84.3% houses
East Kempsey — Houses: 84.3% East Kempsey — Flats / Apartments: 9.9% East Kempsey — Townhouses: 5.9%
Kempsey 68.0% houses
Kempsey — Houses: 68.0% Kempsey — Flats / Apartments: 27.0% Kempsey — Townhouses: 5.0%
Houses Flats / Apartments Townhouses

Property market

East Kempsey Kempsey
Median house price $630,000 $375,000
Median unit price $415,000 $330,000
Median land price —
same for both
Typical days to sell (houses) 39 days
from 10 sales
 85 days
from 7 sales

Zoning mix

Kempsey has more land zoned for conservation (34% vs 12%); East Kempsey has more rural and farming land (65% vs 52%).

East Kempsey Kempsey
Rural and farming 65% 52%
Environmental 12% 34%
Residential 19% 1%
Infrastructure and transport 4% 5%
Commercial 0% 4%
Parks and recreation 0% 3%
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

East Kempsey 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.

East Kempsey Kempsey
Houses 4.3%
$565/wk on $687K
 —
Units —
same for both

Ranking within NSW

East Kempsey Kempsey
House price Higher than 18% of NSW Higher than 12% of NSW
Income Higher than 18% of NSW Higher than 7% of NSW
Schools —
same for both
Walkability Higher than 77% of NSW Higher than 65% of NSW
Affordability Higher than 67% of NSW Higher than 69% of NSW
EV adoption Higher than 7% of NSW
same for both
NBN connectivity Higher than 70% of NSW Higher than 68% of NSW
Rental yield (houses) Higher than 85% of NSW —

Liveability

East Kempsey is more walkable (37 vs 15).

East Kempsey Kempsey
Grade D —
Score 29/100 —
Socio-economic band high-need area
decile 1/10
same for both

Risk profile

Kempsey carries more crime risk (100 vs 90).

East Kempsey Kempsey
Bushfire None
0/100
same for both
Crime High
90/100
 High
100/100
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 4
within 5 km
same for both

Schools

East Kempsey Kempsey
Inside the suburb 1 0
Rated above peers 0
same for both
Rated at peers 0
same for both
Rated below peers 1 0

Schools in East Kempsey

  • Kempsey East Public School Government · Primary below peers

Schools in Kempsey

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

Amenities in the suburb

East Kempsey Kempsey
Supermarkets 0 5
Cafes & restaurants 0 9
Parks & reserves 4
same for both
Childcare 0 2
GPs 0 4
Pharmacies 0 3
Banks & Bank@Post 0 5
Fuel stations 0 6
Waterways 1
same for both

Mobility

East Kempsey Kempsey
Walkability score 37/100 15/100
Distance to Sydney 421.4 km 423 km
Drive time (normal traffic) 282 min 284 min
Public transport score 31/100
Bus
 45/100
Bus
Peak arrivals per hour 9.5
7-9am + 5-7pm
 12.2
7-9am + 5-7pm
Median peak wait 2 min
scheduled, not actual
same for both
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.

East Kempsey Kempsey
Car (driver) 79.7% / 64.2%
East Kempsey — Car (driver): 79.7% Kempsey — Car (driver): 64.2%
Walked Only 3.3% / 20.3%
East Kempsey — Walked Only: 3.3% Kempsey — Walked Only: 20.3%
Car (passenger) 9.0% / 10.6%
East Kempsey — Car (passenger): 9.0% Kempsey — Car (passenger): 10.6%
Worked from Home 7.4% / 4.9%
East Kempsey — Worked from Home: 7.4% Kempsey — Worked from Home: 4.9%
Bus 0.7% / —
East Kempsey — Bus: 0.7% Kempsey — Bus: not among its largest

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (79.7%).

Setting

East Kempsey Kempsey
Elevation 5 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
 -1 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
Distance to the ocean 14.7 km 16.5 km

NBN connectivity

East Kempsey Kempsey
Connectivity score 61/100 55/100
Most common technology Fibre to the node
same for both
Full-fibre (FTTP) share 29%
666 premises
 19%
678 premises

Council rates

East Kempsey Kempsey
Average residential rate $1,447/yr
same for both
Council Kempsey
same for both

Federal electorate

East Kempsey Kempsey
Division Cowper
same for both
Member Pat Conaghan
same for both
Party The Nationals
same for both

First Home Owner Grant

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

Tags

East Kempsey

Affordable

Kempsey

Affordable Easy Commute

More comparisons

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Other comparisons with Kempsey

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Full data on East Kempsey Full data on 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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