Kempsey vs West Kempsey

West Kempsey is the younger of the two, with a median age of 40 against 43 in Kempsey. In both, most homes are detached houses. In Kempsey, about half of households rent and most households are people living alone. In West Kempsey, most households own their home. Houses cost more in West Kempsey: a median of $470,000, against $375,000 in Kempsey, and rent is higher there too. On these figures, Kempsey tends to suit renters, people living alone, and buyers on a tighter budget, 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 5 of the 6 things we measure here

  • has more schools inside the suburb (4 vs 0)
  • has more childcare (7 vs 2)
  • has more parks and reserves (10 vs 4)

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 $470,000)

Weighs house 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 41%)
  • has cheaper rent ($253/wk vs $290/wk)

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

Commuting to the city

West Kempsey

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • is more walkable (55/100 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

  • Kempsey has more units and townhouses to downsize into (32% vs 12%)
  • West Kempsey is more walkable (55/100 vs 15/100)

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

Kempsey 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.

Kempsey 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.

Kempsey West Kempsey
Walkability 15 / 55
Kempsey — Walkability: 15/100 West Kempsey — Walkability: 55/100
Safety 0 / 4
Kempsey — Safety: 0/100 West Kempsey — Safety: 4/100
Low fire risk 100 / 63
Kempsey — Low fire risk: 100/100 West Kempsey — Low fire risk: 63/100

Demographics

West Kempsey has more residents (5,073 vs 483); West Kempsey rents higher ($290/wk vs $253/wk).

Kempsey West Kempsey
Population 483 5,073
+950% vs other
Population trend (2016 → 2021) +1.9% +3.1%
Median age 43 40
Median household income $45,812/yr $48,100/yr
+5% vs other
Median weekly rent $253/wk $290/wk
+15% vs other

Age profile

Share of residents in each band, 2021 Census.

Kempsey West Kempsey
0-4 5.0% / 6.5%
Kempsey — 0-4: 5.0% West Kempsey — 0-4: 6.5%
5-14 11.2% / 14.2%
Kempsey — 5-14: 11.2% West Kempsey — 5-14: 14.2%
15-19 5.6% / 7.3%
Kempsey — 15-19: 5.6% West Kempsey — 15-19: 7.3%
20-24 5.8% / 5.7%
Kempsey — 20-24: 5.8% West Kempsey — 20-24: 5.7%
25-34 13.5% / 10.5%
Kempsey — 25-34: 13.5% West Kempsey — 25-34: 10.5%
35-44 10.8% / 9.9%
Kempsey — 35-44: 10.8% West Kempsey — 35-44: 9.9%
45-54 14.7% / 10.5%
Kempsey — 45-54: 14.7% West Kempsey — 45-54: 10.5%
55-64 16.6% / 11.6%
Kempsey — 55-64: 16.6% West Kempsey — 55-64: 11.6%
65-74 10.1% / 11.6%
Kempsey — 65-74: 10.1% West Kempsey — 65-74: 11.6%
75-84 6.8% / 8.3%
Kempsey — 75-84: 6.8% West Kempsey — 75-84: 8.3%
85+ 1.2% / 3.9%
Kempsey — 85+: 1.2% West Kempsey — 85+: 3.9%

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%
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.

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

Kempsey West Kempsey
Certificate III & IV 15.1% / 15.8%
Kempsey — Certificate III & IV: 15.1% West Kempsey — Certificate III & IV: 15.8%
Advanced Diploma / Diploma 5.8% / 4.0%
Kempsey — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 5.8% West Kempsey — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 4.0%
Bachelor Degree 5.2% / 4.0%
Kempsey — Bachelor Degree: 5.2% West Kempsey — Bachelor Degree: 4.0%
Graduate Diploma / Certificate 1.0% / 0.8%
Kempsey — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 1.0% West Kempsey — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 0.8%
Postgraduate Degree 0.6% / 0.7%
Kempsey — Postgraduate Degree: 0.6% West Kempsey — Postgraduate Degree: 0.7%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (15.8%).

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 West Kempsey
England 0.6% / 1.6%
Kempsey — England: 0.6% West Kempsey — England: 1.6%
Philippines 0.8% / 0.8%
Kempsey — Philippines: 0.8% West Kempsey — Philippines: 0.8%
China 1.0% / 0.2%
Kempsey — China: 1.0% West Kempsey — China: 0.2%
Germany 0.8% / 0.3%
Kempsey — Germany: 0.8% West Kempsey — Germany: 0.3%
Nepal 0.8% / 0.2%
Kempsey — Nepal: 0.8% West Kempsey — Nepal: 0.2%
Thailand 0.8% / —
Kempsey — Thailand: 0.8% West Kempsey — Thailand: not among its largest
New Zealand — / 0.6%
Kempsey — New Zealand: not among its largest West Kempsey — New Zealand: 0.6%
India — / 0.5%
Kempsey — India: not among its largest West Kempsey — India: 0.5%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (1.6%).

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%
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

Kempsey West Kempsey
Median house price $375,000 $470,000
Median unit price $330,000 —
Median land price — $357,500
Typical days to sell (houses) 85 days
from 7 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.

Kempsey West Kempsey
2 bed $370K / $406K
Kempsey — 2 bed: $370K (5 sales) West Kempsey — 2 bed: $406K (14 sales)

5 vs 14 sales

3 bed $375K / $475K
Kempsey — 3 bed: $375K (8 sales) West Kempsey — 3 bed: $475K (67 sales)

8 vs 67 sales

Zoning mix

Kempsey has more land zoned for conservation (34% vs 13%).

Kempsey West Kempsey
Rural and farming 52% 43%
Environmental 34% 13%
Residential 1% 31%
Parks and recreation 3% 9%
Infrastructure and transport 5% 3%
Commercial 4% 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 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.

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

Ranking within NSW

Kempsey West Kempsey
House price Higher than 12% of NSW Higher than 13% of NSW
Income Higher than 7% of NSW Higher than 9% of NSW
Schools — Higher than 50% of NSW
Walkability Higher than 65% of NSW Higher than 83% of NSW
Affordability Higher than 69% of NSW Higher than 68% of NSW
EV adoption Higher than 7% of NSW
same for both
NBN connectivity Higher than 68% of NSW Higher than 71% of NSW
Rental yield (houses) — Higher than 97% of NSW

Liveability

West Kempsey is more walkable (55 vs 15).

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

Risk profile

West Kempsey carries more bushfire risk (37 vs 0).

Kempsey West Kempsey
Bushfire None
0/100
 Low
37/100
Crime High
100/100
 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 4
within 5 km
same for both

Schools

Kempsey West Kempsey
Inside the suburb 0 4
Rated above peers 0 1
Rated at peers 0 2
Rated below peers 0 1

Schools in Kempsey

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

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

Kempsey West Kempsey
Supermarkets 5 1
Cafes & restaurants 9 3
Parks & reserves 4 10
Childcare 2 7
GPs 4 2
Pharmacies 3 1
Hospitals 0 1
Police stations 0 1
Banks & Bank@Post 5 2
Fuel stations 6 0
Waterways 1
same for both

Mobility

Kempsey West Kempsey
Walkability score 15/100 55/100
Distance to Sydney 423 km 423.9 km
Drive time (normal traffic) 284 min 286 min
Public transport score 45/100
Bus
 63/100
Bus
Peak arrivals per hour 12.2
7-9am + 5-7pm
 53.5
7-9am + 5-7pm
Median peak wait 2 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.

Kempsey West Kempsey
Car (driver) 64.2% / 81.2%
Kempsey — Car (driver): 64.2% West Kempsey — Car (driver): 81.2%
Walked Only 20.3% / 4.2%
Kempsey — Walked Only: 20.3% West Kempsey — Walked Only: 4.2%
Car (passenger) 10.6% / 10.0%
Kempsey — Car (passenger): 10.6% West Kempsey — Car (passenger): 10.0%
Worked from Home 4.9% / 3.4%
Kempsey — Worked from Home: 4.9% West Kempsey — Worked from Home: 3.4%
Bus — / 0.9%
Kempsey — Bus: not among its largest West Kempsey — Bus: 0.9%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (81.2%).

Setting

Kempsey West Kempsey
Elevation -1 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
 6 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
Distance to the ocean 16.5 km 18.0 km

NBN connectivity

Kempsey West Kempsey
Connectivity score 55/100 63/100
Most common technology Fibre to the node
same for both
Full-fibre (FTTP) share 19%
678 premises
 33%
2,508 premises

Council rates

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

Federal electorate

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

First Home Owner Grant

Kempsey West 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

West Kempsey

Affordable Large Blocks Parks

More comparisons

Other comparisons with Kempsey

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

Other comparisons with West Kempsey

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