Kempsey vs South Kempsey

In both, most homes are detached houses. In Kempsey, about half of households rent and most households are people living alone. In South Kempsey, most households own their home. Houses cost more in South Kempsey: a median of $415,000, against $375,000 in Kempsey, and rent is higher there too. On these figures, Kempsey tends to suit renters and people living alone, while South 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

South Kempsey

ahead on 3 of the 6 things we measure here

  • has more schools inside the suburb (4 vs 0)
  • is already more of a family suburb (56% vs 40%)
  • has more separate houses rather than flats (90% vs 68%)

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

First-home buyers

Kempsey

ahead on the one thing that separates them

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

Weighs house prices and mortgage stress.

Renters

Kempsey

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • has a bigger rental market to choose from (54% vs 34%)

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

Commuting to the city

Kempsey

ahead on 2 of the 3 things we measure here

  • is more walkable (15/100 vs 0/100)
  • has a shorter drive in (284 min vs 289 min)

Weighs distance, drive time, and walkability.

Downsizers and retirees

Kempsey

ahead on 3 of the 5 things we measure here

  • is more walkable (15/100 vs 0/100)
  • has more GPs (4 vs 0)
  • has more units and townhouses to downsize into (32% vs 10%)

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 1.9%)

Weighs population growth.

Where they sit

Kempsey 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.

Kempsey 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.

Kempsey South Kempsey
Walkability 15 / 0
Kempsey — Walkability: 15/100 South Kempsey — Walkability: 0/100
Safety 0 / 3
Kempsey — Safety: 0/100 South Kempsey — Safety: 3/100
Low fire risk 100 / 33
Kempsey — Low fire risk: 100/100 South Kempsey — Low fire risk: 33/100

Demographics

South Kempsey has more residents (2,604 vs 483); South Kempsey has higher household incomes ($55,848 vs $45,812).

Kempsey South Kempsey
Population 483 2,604
+439% vs other
Population trend (2016 → 2021) +1.9% +13.1%
Median age 43 42
Median household income $45,812/yr $55,848/yr
+22% vs other
Median weekly rent $253/wk $270/wk
+7% vs other

Age profile

Share of residents in each band, 2021 Census.

Kempsey South Kempsey
0-4 5.0% / 5.6%
Kempsey — 0-4: 5.0% South Kempsey — 0-4: 5.6%
5-14 11.2% / 15.4%
Kempsey — 5-14: 11.2% South Kempsey — 5-14: 15.4%
15-19 5.6% / 7.0%
Kempsey — 15-19: 5.6% South Kempsey — 15-19: 7.0%
20-24 5.8% / 4.6%
Kempsey — 20-24: 5.8% South Kempsey — 20-24: 4.6%
25-34 13.5% / 10.5%
Kempsey — 25-34: 13.5% South Kempsey — 25-34: 10.5%
35-44 10.8% / 10.8%
Kempsey — 35-44: 10.8% South Kempsey — 35-44: 10.8%
45-54 14.7% / 12.9%
Kempsey — 45-54: 14.7% South Kempsey — 45-54: 12.9%
55-64 16.6% / 14.2%
Kempsey — 55-64: 16.6% South Kempsey — 55-64: 14.2%
65-74 10.1% / 11.6%
Kempsey — 65-74: 10.1% South Kempsey — 65-74: 11.6%
75-84 6.8% / 6.1%
Kempsey — 75-84: 6.8% South Kempsey — 75-84: 6.1%
85+ 1.2% / 1.4%
Kempsey — 85+: 1.2% South Kempsey — 85+: 1.4%

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

Who lives together

Household composition, 2021 Census.

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%
South Kempsey 34.7% lone person
South Kempsey — Lone Person: 34.7% South Kempsey — One Parent Families: 24.9% South Kempsey — Couple Families: 31.2% South Kempsey — Group Household: 7.1% South Kempsey — Other Families: 2.2%
Lone Person One Parent Families Couple Families Group Household Other Families

Who owns and who rents

Occupied private dwellings by tenure, 2021 Census.

Kempsey 53.6% renting
Kempsey — Owned Outright: 30.4% Kempsey — Mortgage: 16.0% Kempsey — Renting: 53.6%
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

Qualifications

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

Kempsey South Kempsey
Certificate III & IV 15.1% / 15.6%
Kempsey — Certificate III & IV: 15.1% South Kempsey — Certificate III & IV: 15.6%
Advanced Diploma / Diploma 5.8% / 5.0%
Kempsey — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 5.8% South Kempsey — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 5.0%
Bachelor Degree 5.2% / 5.1%
Kempsey — Bachelor Degree: 5.2% South Kempsey — Bachelor Degree: 5.1%
Postgraduate Degree 0.6% / 1.2%
Kempsey — Postgraduate Degree: 0.6% South Kempsey — Postgraduate Degree: 1.2%
Graduate Diploma / Certificate 1.0% / 0.3%
Kempsey — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 1.0% South Kempsey — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 0.3%

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

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.

Kempsey South Kempsey
Philippines 0.8% / 0.8%
Kempsey — Philippines: 0.8% South Kempsey — Philippines: 0.8%
England 0.6% / 1.0%
Kempsey — England: 0.6% South Kempsey — England: 1.0%
China 1.0% / 0.3%
Kempsey — China: 1.0% South Kempsey — China: 0.3%
Germany 0.8% / 0.4%
Kempsey — Germany: 0.8% South Kempsey — Germany: 0.4%
New Zealand — / 1.0%
Kempsey — New Zealand: not among its largest South Kempsey — New Zealand: 1.0%
Nepal 0.8% / —
Kempsey — Nepal: 0.8% South Kempsey — Nepal: not among its largest
Thailand 0.8% / —
Kempsey — Thailand: 0.8% South Kempsey — Thailand: not among its largest

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (1.0%).

What people live in

Occupied private dwellings by structure, 2021 Census.

Kempsey 68.0% houses
Kempsey — Houses: 68.0% Kempsey — Flats / Apartments: 27.0% Kempsey — Townhouses: 5.0%
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

Kempsey South Kempsey
Median house price $375,000 $415,000
Median unit price $330,000 —
Median land price — $320,000
Typical days to sell (houses) 85 days
from 7 sales
 52 days
from 28 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.

Kempsey South Kempsey
2 bed $370K / $402K
Kempsey — 2 bed: $370K (5 sales) South Kempsey — 2 bed: $402K (10 sales)

5 vs 10 sales

3 bed $375K / $408K
Kempsey — 3 bed: $375K (8 sales) South Kempsey — 3 bed: $408K (43 sales)

8 vs 43 sales

Zoning mix

Kempsey has more land zoned for conservation (34% vs 11%); South Kempsey has more rural and farming land (64% vs 52%).

Kempsey South Kempsey
Rural and farming 52% 64%
Environmental 34% 11%
Residential 1% 14%
Infrastructure and transport 5%
same for both
Commercial 4% 0%
Industrial 0% 4%
Parks and recreation 3% 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

Kempsey 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.

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

Ranking within NSW

Kempsey South Kempsey
House price Higher than 12% of NSW Higher than 13% of NSW
Income Higher than 7% of NSW Higher than 16% of NSW
Schools — Higher than 28% of NSW
Walkability Higher than 65% of NSW Higher than 35% of NSW
Affordability Higher than 69% of NSW Higher than 80% of NSW
EV adoption Higher than 7% of NSW Higher than 8% of NSW
NBN connectivity Higher than 68% of NSW
same for both
Rental yield (houses) — Higher than 94% of NSW

Liveability

Kempsey is more walkable (15 vs 0).

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

Risk profile

South Kempsey carries more bushfire risk (67 vs 0).

Kempsey South Kempsey
Bushfire None
0/100
 Moderate
67/100
Crime High
100/100
 High
97/100
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
 3
within 5 km

Schools

Kempsey 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 Kempsey

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

Kempsey South Kempsey
Supermarkets 5 0
Cafes & restaurants 9 1
Parks & reserves 4 3
Childcare 2
same for both
GPs 4 0
Pharmacies 3 0
Banks & Bank@Post 5 0
Fuel stations 6 5
EV chargers 0 1
Waterways 1 10

Mobility

Kempsey South Kempsey
Walkability score 15/100 0/100
Distance to Sydney 423 km 421.4 km
Drive time (normal traffic) 284 min 289 min
Public transport score 45/100
Bus
 47/100
Bus
Peak arrivals per hour 12.2
7-9am + 5-7pm
 21.8
7-9am + 5-7pm
Median peak wait 2 min
scheduled, not actual
 1 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.

Kempsey South Kempsey
Car (driver) 64.2% / 81.3%
Kempsey — Car (driver): 64.2% South Kempsey — Car (driver): 81.3%
Walked Only 20.3% / 3.5%
Kempsey — Walked Only: 20.3% South Kempsey — Walked Only: 3.5%
Car (passenger) 10.6% / 6.4%
Kempsey — Car (passenger): 10.6% South Kempsey — Car (passenger): 6.4%
Worked from Home 4.9% / 8.3%
Kempsey — Worked from Home: 4.9% South Kempsey — Worked from Home: 8.3%
Bus — / 0.6%
Kempsey — Bus: not among its largest South Kempsey — Bus: 0.6%

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

Setting

Kempsey South Kempsey
Elevation -1 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
 34 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
Distance to the ocean 16.5 km 13.7 km

NBN connectivity

Kempsey South Kempsey
Connectivity score 55/100 54/100
Most common technology Fibre to the node
same for both
Full-fibre (FTTP) share 19%
678 premises
 26%
1,298 premises

Council rates

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

Federal electorate

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

First Home Owner Grant

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

Tags

Kempsey

Affordable Easy Commute

South Kempsey

Acreage Affordable

More comparisons

Other comparisons with Kempsey

Kempsey vs West Kempsey Kempsey vs Frederickton Kempsey vs East Kempsey Kempsey vs Austral Eden Kempsey vs Pola Creek Kempsey vs Hampden Hall

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 Euroka
Full data on Kempsey 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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