NSW · Kempsey Council
Kempsey, 2440
Current weather
16.6°CClear sky
95% humidity · 10.4 km/h wind · 22.8° / 14.6° today · 0.5 mm rain
Updated
Desirability score
- Green suburb
- High desirability
Suburb profile
As a regional hub in Kempsey, Kempsey combines local convenience with the appeal of a smaller community that feels genuinely its own. The community is self-contained in the best sense. Local life comes first, with the region opening up beyond. Long-term locals and family households define much of the community, with family life visible on every street.
Local shops, markets and community spots keep everyday life grounded in the town itself. Local parks and tree cover add a welcome outdoor dimension to suburban life. Public transport is a genuine asset, linking residents to work, study and nearby neighbourhoods.
Housing remains accessible compared with many parts of the state. Active development is adding new homes and refreshed pockets throughout the suburb.
On the desirability index, the suburb sits below average overall, with community and employment and local dining and lifestyle amenities the main drags compared with similar regional towns. Limited access to some essential local services also trimmed the result.
Population
- Population
- 483
- Median age
- 43
- Median household income / week
- $881
- Dwelling vacancy
- 11.1%
- Unoccupied private dwellings
- 25 of 226
- Median monthly mortgage
- $1,170
- Employment rate
- 38%
- Dwelling mix (houses / semi / flats)
- 27 / 10 / 31
Contributes to desirability score · Community (5%)
Employment, household income and age diversity (2021 Census)
Data sources & freshness
- 2021 Census — General Community Profile — Australian Bureau of Statistics · Period: 2021 · Updated on site · 2021 Census release
The 2026 Census runs in August 2026; suburb-level updates are expected from mid-2027.
Housing
- Flats / units (January to March 2026)
- $380
- Houses (January to March 2026)
- $490
- All types (January to March 2026)
- $480
- Rental bonds lodged (January to March 2026)
- 112
Median weekly rent from NSW DCJ rent tables. Figures can be unreliable where few bonds were lodged in the quarter.
Contributes to desirability score · Housing (15%) · Future Growth (7%)
Median price, rental yield and vacancy Recent price momentum
Data sources & freshness
- DCJ rent tables — NSW Department of Communities and Justice · Period: January to March 2026 · Updated on site · Quarterly releases
Crime & safety
- Total offences (Jan 2025 to Dec 2025)
- 85
- Against the person
- 22
- Against property
- 33
- Rate per 1,000 residents
- 176
- Person-crime prevalence
- About 1 in 22 residents
- State safety percentile
- 95.3th (lower crime is better)
- Increase (daily rate)
- +5.2%
Reported offences increased compared with the previous period.
Reported offences by period
Most common offence types
- Breach Apprehended Violence Order264
- Breach Bail Conditions556
- Domestic Violence Related Assault317
- Intimidation, Stalking And Harassment411
- Malicious Damage To Property362
Contributes to desirability score · Safety (18%)
Crime rate and year-on-year trend
Data sources & freshness
- BOCSAR postcode crime statistics — NSW Bureau of Crime Statistics and Research · Period: Jan 2024 to Dec 2024 → Jan 2025 to Dec 2025; Jan 2025 to Dec 2025 · Updated on site · Rolling 12-month windows
Schools & preschools
- Schools & preschools
- 5
- Median school ICSEA (5 schools)
- 849
- Kempsey Adventist SchoolCombined
- Kempsey East Public SchoolPrimary
- Kempsey High SchoolSecondary
- Kempsey South Public SchoolPrimary
- Melville High SchoolSecondary
Contributes to desirability score · Education (15%)
School and preschool counts, median school ICSEA
Data sources & freshness
- ACARA school locations — Australian Curriculum, Assessment and Reporting Authority · Period: 2025 · Updated on site · Annual ACARA release
- School ICSEA scores — Australian Curriculum, Assessment and Reporting Authority · Period: 2025 · Updated on site · Annual ACARA release
Public transport
27 public transport stops in this suburb
- Belgrave St At John St
- Belgrave St Opp Holman St
- Second Lane At Macleay Valley Way
- Smith St After Belgrave St
- Smith St After Stuart St
Contributes to desirability score · Accessibility (15%)
Public transport stop coverage
Data sources & freshness
- Timetables Complete GTFS stops (© Transport for NSW, CC BY 4.0) — Transport for NSW — Open Data Hub · Period: current · Updated on site · GTFS static feed (updated nightly)
Planning & development
Development applications from NSW Planning Portal (lodged 2020–2026).
41 planning-related records
2026· 4 proposals
May 2026
- Change of use of land or a building or the classification of a building under the Building Code of Australia; General industry43 VERGE STREET KEMPSEY 2440Additional Information Requested
April 2026
- Signage; Advertising and signage; Advertising structure; Supporting Development41 BELGRAVE STREET KEMPSEY 2440Under Assessment
March 2026
- Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Registered club1 YORK LANE KEMPSEY 2440Determined
February 2026
- Change of use of land or a building or the classification of a building under the Building Code of Australia; Recreation facility (indoor)34 FORTH STREET KEMPSEY 2440Withdrawn
2025· 7 proposals
December 2025
- Signage; Advertising and signage; Advertising structure; Supporting Development41 BELGRAVE STREET KEMPSEY 2440Withdrawn
November 2025
- Commercial development; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure4-6 SMITH STREET KEMPSEY 2440Determined
October 2025
- Food and drink premise; Take away food and drink; Hours of operation and trading76 SMITH STREET KEMPSEY 2440Determined
August 2025
- Change of use of land or a building or the classification of a building under the Building Code of Australia; Minor building alterations (internal)63 BELGRAVE STREET KEMPSEY 2440Under Assessment
- Erection of a new structure; Community facility; Other InfrastructureBelgrave St, 2440, KempseyDetermined
March 2025
- Signage; Advertising and signage26-28 SMITH STREET KEMPSEY 2440Determined
February 2025
- Shed; Erection of a new structure2 GEOFFREY DEBENHAM STREET KEMPSEY 2440Determined
2024· 4 proposals
November 2024
- Demolition; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Specialised Retail Premises80-82 SMITH STREET KEMPSEY 2440Determined
October 2024
- Shop top housing; Erection of a new structure85 BELGRAVE STREET KEMPSEY 2440Determined
July 2024
- Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Early Education and Care Facility; Centre-based child care9 VERGE STREET KEMPSEY 2440Determined
May 2024
- Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Registered club1 YORK LANE KEMPSEY 2440Determined
2023· 10 proposals
November 2023
- Business premises; Change of use of land or a building or the classification of a building under the Building Code of Australia4 5-7 CLYDE STREET KEMPSEY 2440Determined
October 2023
- Change of use of land or a building or the classification of a building under the Building Code of Australia; Vehicle Sales or Hire Premises129 SMITH STREET KEMPSEY 2440Determined
September 2023
- Office Premise; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Change of use of land or a building or the classification of a building under the Building Code of Australia40 FORTH STREET KEMPSEY 2440Determined
- Co-living housing2 2 GEOFFREY DEBENHAM STREET KEMPSEY 2440Determined
- Business premises10-12 SMITH STREET KEMPSEY 2440Withdrawn
August 2023
- Shop top housing; Mixed use development; Restaurant or cafe; Office premises85 BELGRAVE STREET KEMPSEY 2440Determined
June 2023
- Change of use36 FORTH STREET KEMPSEY 2440Determined
May 2023
- Alterations and additions to commercial development; Signage; Change of use40 FORTH STREET KEMPSEY 2440Determined
March 2023
- Change of use36 FORTH STREET KEMPSEY 2440Determined
January 2023
- Signage77 BELGRAVE STREET KEMPSEY 2440Determined
2022· 11 proposals
October 2022
- ShedRiverside Park Eden Street KempseyDetermined
- Business premises26-28 SMITH STREET KEMPSEY 2440Determined
August 2022
- Alterations and additions to commercial development69 SMITH STREET KEMPSEY 2440Determined
- Other20 REGENT STREET KEMPSEY 2440Deferred Commencement
July 2022
- Take-away food and drink premises67 SMITH STREET KEMPSEY 2440Determined
June 2022
- Alterations and additions to commercial development1 YORK LANE KEMPSEY 2440Determined
May 2022
- Alterations and additions to commercial development118 BELGRAVE STREET KEMPSEY 2440Determined
- Garages, carports and car parking spaces11 AUSTRAL STREET KEMPSEY 2440Determined
April 2022
- Alterations and additions to commercial development2 JOHN STREET KEMPSEY 2440Determined
March 2022
- Alterations and additions to commercial development; Retail premises2 - 14 Belgrave St, Kempsey, NSW, 2440Determined
- Alterations and additions to commercial development4 JOHN STREET KEMPSEY 2440Determined
2021· 4 proposals
October 2021
- OtherBelgrave St, 2440, KempseyDetermined
September 2021
- Alterations and additions to commercial development82 BELGRAVE STREET KEMPSEY 2440Determined
August 2021
- Recreational UsesBELGRAVE STREET KEMPSEY 2440Withdrawn
- Restaurant or cafe5/5-7 Clyde St, Kempsey, NSW, 2440Determined
Contributes to desirability score · Future Growth (7%)
Development and planning activity
Data sources & freshness
- Online DA development application register — NSW Department of Planning, Housing and Infrastructure · Period: 2020–2026 · Updated on site · Daily open-data feed (applications from Oct 2018)
Amenities
23 nearby amenities within ~1.5 km
- Kempsey Coach TerminalBus Station
- Mcallister AutosCar
117a Smith Street
- Natrad KempseyCar Parts
111 Smith Street
- RepcoCar Parts
111 Smith Street
- Kempsey Car Clean & Auto DetailingCar wash
121 Smith Street
- Kempsey Fast FoodFast food
- Coles ExpressPetrol station
- Picnic Table (7)
- RM's Diesel & Tractor ServiceRepair
157 Smith Street
- Moon River Motor InnRestaurant
159 Smith Street
Names and addresses from OpenStreetMap. Unnamed venues show as their type (e.g. Cafe).
Contributes to desirability score · Lifestyle (15%)
Food, shopping, recreation and sport (OpenStreetMap)
Data sources & freshness
- OpenStreetMap amenities — OpenStreetMap contributors · Period: current · Updated on site · Weekly refresh
Parks & reserves
2 parks and public open space in this suburb
- Riverside ParkPark
- Verge Street OvalPark
Data sources & freshness
- Parks & reserves — State government + ABS LGA boundaries · Period: current · Updated on site
Health access
- Hospitals & GP clinics
- 3
- Emergency department
- Not in suburb
- Laverty Pathologysample_collection
- OPSMoptometrist
- The Friendlies Discount Pharmacypharmacy
Contributes to desirability score · Accessibility (15%)
Hospitals and GP clinics
Data sources & freshness
- Hospitals & clinics — OpenStreetMap + state health datasets · Period: current · Updated on site
Socio-economic (SEIFA)
- IRSAD decile (2021)
- 1/10
- IRSD decile (2021)
- 1/10
SEIFA indexes from ABS 2021. Decile 10 = most advantaged / least disadvantaged in Australia.
Contributes to desirability score · Community (5%)
Socio-economic advantage (IRSAD decile)
Data sources & freshness
- SEIFA 2021 (IRSAD / IRSD) — Australian Bureau of Statistics · Period: 2021 · Updated on site · 2021 SEIFA release
Heritage
3 state heritage places
- Kempsey Post OfficeBelgrave Street, KempseySHR
- Kempsey rail bridge over Macleay RiverNorth Coast Railway, KempseySHR
- St Andrew's Presbyterian Church and Hall67 Smith Street KempseySHR
Data sources & freshness
- State heritage register — State heritage authority · Period: current · Updated on site
Hazards
- Bushfire planning zone
- No overlay at centroid
Bushfire overlay checked at suburb centroid via NSW bush fire prone land mapping.
Contributes to desirability score · Safety (18%)
Bushfire hazard overlays
Data sources & freshness
- Hazard planning overlays — State government hazard layers · Period: current · Updated on site
Green cover
- Parks & woodland (OSM)
- 4
- Parks (OSM)
- 4
OpenStreetMap parks and natural woodland features mapped within the suburb boundary.
Contributes to desirability score · Environment (10%)
Parks and green cover (OpenStreetMap)
Data sources & freshness
- OpenStreetMap green cover features — OpenStreetMap contributors · Period: current · Updated on site · Weekly refresh
Desirability Index
- Desirability score
- 36.6/100 — Below average
- National rank
- 4092nd in Australia
- State rank
- 1287th in NSW
- Peer rank
- #194 among Country & regional · Established suburbs
- Cohort rank
- #465 among Country & regional suburbs
- Data confidence
- 82%
Data sources & freshness
- Suburb Guide desirability index — Suburb Guide (derived score) · Period: current · Updated on site · Derived from source metrics
Recent changes
- Coles Expressamenitiesfuel
- Colonial Court Motor Innamenities155 Smith Streetswimming_pool
- Kempsey Car Clean & Auto Detailingamenities121 Smith Streetcar_wash
- Kempsey Coach Terminalamenitiesbus_station
- Kempsey Fast Foodamenitiesfast_food
- Mcallister Autosamenities117a Smith Streetcar
- Moon River Motor Innamenities159 Smith Streetrestaurant
- Moon River Restaurantamenitiesrestaurant
- Natrad Kempseyamenities111 Smith Streetcar_parts
- Park Drive Motelamenities161 Smith Streetswimming_pool
Data sources & freshness
- OpenStreetMap amenities — OpenStreetMap contributors · Updated on site · Weekly refresh
More in Kempsey Council
Other suburbs in the same local government area.
Comparable suburbs
Similar population and socio-economic profile in other parts of New South Wales.