Frederickton vs West Kempsey

West Kempsey is the younger of the two, with a median age of 40 against 49 in Frederickton. In both, most households own their home and the large majority of homes are detached houses. Houses cost more in Frederickton: a median of $535,000, against $470,000 in West Kempsey, and rent is higher there too. On these figures, Frederickton tends to suit older residents, while West Kempsey suits 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

West Kempsey

ahead on 3 of the 6 things we measure here

  • has more parks and reserves (10 vs 0)
  • has more schools inside the suburb (4 vs 1)
  • has more childcare (7 vs 4)
  • But Frederickton carries lower crime risk (75/100 vs 96/100)

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

First-home buyers

West Kempsey

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • has cheaper houses ($470,000 vs $535,000)

Weighs house prices and mortgage stress.

Renters

West Kempsey

ahead on 2 of the 3 things we measure here

  • has a bigger rental market to choose from (41% vs 24%)
  • has cheaper rent ($290/wk vs $330/wk)

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

Commuting to the city

West Kempsey

ahead on 2 of the 3 things we measure here

  • is more walkable (55/100 vs 10/100)
  • sits closer to the CBD (423.9 km vs 431.5 km)

Weighs distance, drive time, and walkability.

Downsizers and retirees

They split

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

  • Frederickton has more residents already 65 and over (33% vs 24%)
  • West Kempsey is more walkable (55/100 vs 10/100)

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

Frederickton and West 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.

Frederickton West 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.

Frederickton West Kempsey
Walkability 10 / 55
Frederickton — Walkability: 10/100 West Kempsey — Walkability: 55/100
Safety 25 / 4
Frederickton — Safety: 25/100 West Kempsey — Safety: 4/100
Low fire risk 66 / 63
Frederickton — Low fire risk: 66/100 West Kempsey — Low fire risk: 63/100

Demographics

West Kempsey has more residents (5,073 vs 1,452); Frederickton skews older (49 vs 40).

Frederickton West Kempsey
Population 1,452 5,073
+249% vs other
Population trend (2016 → 2021) +4.4% +3.1%
Median age 49 40
Median household income $57,928/yr
+17% vs other
 $48,100/yr
Median weekly rent $330/wk
+12% vs other
 $290/wk

Age profile

Share of residents in each band, 2021 Census.

Frederickton West Kempsey
0-4 5.2% / 6.5%
Frederickton — 0-4: 5.2% West Kempsey — 0-4: 6.5%
5-14 11.3% / 14.2%
Frederickton — 5-14: 11.3% West Kempsey — 5-14: 14.2%
15-19 5.9% / 7.3%
Frederickton — 15-19: 5.9% West Kempsey — 15-19: 7.3%
20-24 5.2% / 5.7%
Frederickton — 20-24: 5.2% West Kempsey — 20-24: 5.7%
25-34 9.7% / 10.5%
Frederickton — 25-34: 9.7% West Kempsey — 25-34: 10.5%
35-44 7.8% / 9.9%
Frederickton — 35-44: 7.8% West Kempsey — 35-44: 9.9%
45-54 10.8% / 10.5%
Frederickton — 45-54: 10.8% West Kempsey — 45-54: 10.5%
55-64 11.8% / 11.6%
Frederickton — 55-64: 11.8% West Kempsey — 55-64: 11.6%
65-74 14.9% / 11.6%
Frederickton — 65-74: 14.9% West Kempsey — 65-74: 11.6%
75-84 9.7% / 8.3%
Frederickton — 75-84: 9.7% West Kempsey — 75-84: 8.3%
85+ 8.2% / 3.9%
Frederickton — 85+: 8.2% West Kempsey — 85+: 3.9%

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

Who lives together

Household composition, 2021 Census.

Frederickton 39.2% lone person
Frederickton — Lone Person: 39.2% Frederickton — One Parent Families: 24.6% Frederickton — Couple Families: 30.8% Frederickton — Group Household: 2.8% Frederickton — Other Families: 2.5%
West Kempsey 42.5% lone person
West Kempsey — Lone Person: 42.5% West Kempsey — One Parent Families: 29.7% West Kempsey — Couple Families: 21.7% West Kempsey — Group Household: 3.4% West Kempsey — Other Families: 2.8%
Lone Person One Parent Families Couple Families Group Household Other Families

Who owns and who rents

Occupied private dwellings by tenure, 2021 Census.

Frederickton 24.2% renting
Frederickton — Owned Outright: 43.1% Frederickton — Mortgage: 32.7% Frederickton — Renting: 24.2%
West Kempsey 40.7% renting
West Kempsey — Owned Outright: 34.0% West Kempsey — Mortgage: 25.3% West Kempsey — Renting: 40.7%
Owned outright Mortgage Renting

Qualifications

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

Frederickton West Kempsey
Certificate III & IV 19.4% / 15.8%
Frederickton — Certificate III & IV: 19.4% West Kempsey — Certificate III & IV: 15.8%
Advanced Diploma / Diploma 5.4% / 4.0%
Frederickton — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 5.4% West Kempsey — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 4.0%
Bachelor Degree 3.6% / 4.0%
Frederickton — Bachelor Degree: 3.6% West Kempsey — Bachelor Degree: 4.0%
Graduate Diploma / Certificate 1.2% / 0.8%
Frederickton — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 1.2% West Kempsey — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 0.8%
Postgraduate Degree 1.2% / 0.7%
Frederickton — Postgraduate Degree: 1.2% West Kempsey — Postgraduate Degree: 0.7%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (19.4%).

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.

Frederickton West Kempsey
England 2.3% / 1.6%
Frederickton — England: 2.3% West Kempsey — England: 1.6%
India 1.1% / 0.5%
Frederickton — India: 1.1% West Kempsey — India: 0.5%
New Zealand 0.6% / 0.6%
Frederickton — New Zealand: 0.6% West Kempsey — New Zealand: 0.6%
Philippines — / 0.8%
Frederickton — Philippines: not among its largest West Kempsey — Philippines: 0.8%
Scotland 0.4% / 0.2%
Frederickton — Scotland: 0.4% West Kempsey — Scotland: 0.2%
Germany 0.3% / 0.3%
Frederickton — Germany: 0.3% West Kempsey — Germany: 0.3%
Brazil 0.4% / —
Frederickton — Brazil: 0.4% West Kempsey — Brazil: not among its largest

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (2.3%).

What people live in

Occupied private dwellings by structure, 2021 Census.

Frederickton 94.2% houses
Frederickton — Houses: 94.2% Frederickton — Flats / Apartments: 3.3% Frederickton — Townhouses: 2.5%
West Kempsey 88.5% houses
West Kempsey — Houses: 88.5% West Kempsey — Flats / Apartments: 9.1% West Kempsey — Townhouses: 2.4%
Houses Flats / Apartments Townhouses

Property market

Frederickton West Kempsey
Median house price $535,000 $470,000
Median unit price —
same for both
Median land price — $357,500
Typical days to sell (houses) 83 days
from 21 sales
 38 days
from 44 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.

Frederickton West Kempsey
3 bed $530K / $475K
Frederickton — 3 bed: $530K (21 sales) West Kempsey — 3 bed: $475K (67 sales)

21 vs 67 sales

4 bed $585K / $547K
Frederickton — 4 bed: $585K (13 sales) West Kempsey — 4 bed: $547K (15 sales)

13 vs 15 sales

Zoning mix

Frederickton has more rural and farming land (83% vs 43%); West Kempsey has more land zoned for conservation (13% vs 2%).

Frederickton West Kempsey
Rural and farming 83% 43%
Residential 11% 31%
Environmental 2% 13%
Parks and recreation 0% 9%
Infrastructure and transport 3%
same for both
Commercial 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

Frederickton West 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.

Frederickton West Kempsey
Houses — 5.2%
$500/wk on $499K
Units —
same for both

Ranking within NSW

Frederickton West Kempsey
House price Higher than 18% of NSW Higher than 13% of NSW
Income Higher than 18% of NSW Higher than 9% of NSW
Schools — Higher than 50% of NSW
Walkability Higher than 55% of NSW Higher than 83% of NSW
Affordability Higher than 68% of NSW
same for both
EV adoption Higher than 7% of NSW
same for both
NBN connectivity Higher than 64% of NSW Higher than 71% of NSW
Rental yield (houses) — Higher than 97% of NSW

Liveability

West Kempsey is more walkable (55 vs 10); West Kempsey scores higher overall (26 vs 19).

Frederickton West Kempsey
Grade D
same for both
Score 19/100 26/100
Socio-economic band high-need area
decile 1/10
same for both

Risk profile

West Kempsey carries more crime risk (96 vs 75).

Frederickton West Kempsey
Bushfire Low
34/100
 Low
37/100
Crime High
75/100
 High
96/100
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 0
within 5 km
 4
within 5 km

Schools

Frederickton West Kempsey
Inside the suburb 1 4
Rated above peers 0 1
Rated at peers 0 2
Rated below peers 1
same for both

Schools in Frederickton

  • Frederickton Public School Government · Primary below peers

Schools in West Kempsey

  • St Joseph's Primary School Catholic · Primary above peers
  • Kempsey West Public School Government · Primary at peers
  • St Paul's College Catholic · Secondary at peers
  • Kempsey High School Government · Secondary below peers

Amenities in the suburb

Frederickton West Kempsey
Supermarkets 0 1
Cafes & restaurants 2 3
Parks & reserves 0 10
Childcare 4 7
GPs 0 2
Pharmacies 0 1
Hospitals 0 1
Police stations 0 1
Banks & Bank@Post 0 2
Waterways 3 1

Mobility

Frederickton sits further from the CBD (431.5 km vs 423.9 km).

Frederickton West Kempsey
Walkability score 10/100 55/100
Distance to Sydney 431.5 km
+2% vs other
 423.9 km
Drive time (normal traffic) 285 min 286 min
Public transport score 23/100
Bus
 63/100
Bus
Peak arrivals per hour 4.2
7-9am + 5-7pm
 53.5
7-9am + 5-7pm
Median peak wait 3 min
scheduled, not actual
 0 min
scheduled, not actual
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.

Frederickton West Kempsey
Car (driver) 86.0% / 81.2%
Frederickton — Car (driver): 86.0% West Kempsey — Car (driver): 81.2%
Car (passenger) 5.5% / 10.0%
Frederickton — Car (passenger): 5.5% West Kempsey — Car (passenger): 10.0%
Worked from Home 6.9% / 3.4%
Frederickton — Worked from Home: 6.9% West Kempsey — Worked from Home: 3.4%
Walked Only 0.9% / 4.2%
Frederickton — Walked Only: 0.9% West Kempsey — Walked Only: 4.2%
Bus 0.7% / 0.9%
Frederickton — Bus: 0.7% West Kempsey — Bus: 0.9%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (86.0%).

Setting

Frederickton West Kempsey
Elevation 6 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
same for both
Distance to the ocean 16.9 km 18.0 km

NBN connectivity

Frederickton West Kempsey
Connectivity score 42/100 63/100
Most common technology Fixed wireless Fibre to the node
Full-fibre (FTTP) share 17%
671 premises
 33%
2,508 premises

Council rates

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

Federal electorate

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

First Home Owner Grant

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

Tags

Frederickton

Acreage Affordable Retirees

West Kempsey

Affordable Large Blocks Parks

More comparisons

Other comparisons with Frederickton

Frederickton vs Collombatti Frederickton vs Kempsey Frederickton vs Austral Eden Frederickton vs Pola Creek Frederickton vs Bellimbopinni

Other comparisons with West Kempsey

West Kempsey vs South Kempsey West Kempsey vs Greenhill West Kempsey vs Collombatti West Kempsey vs Kempsey West Kempsey vs Euroka
Full data on Frederickton Full data on West Kempsey
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.

Save this page for later

We'll email you a link to this page so you can finish reading it on any device. We use your address once to send it and don't keep it.

or