NSW · Kempsey Council
Smithtown, 2440
Current weather
18.4°CClear sky
83% humidity · 12.1 km/h wind · 22.9° / 15.6° today · 1 mm rain
Updated
Desirability score
- High desirability
- Green suburb
Suburb profile
Smithtown is a regional centre in Kempsey that balances local services with a more relaxed pace of life. 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 plenty of young families in the mix.
Local shops, markets and community spots keep everyday life grounded in the town itself. Reasonable public transport access helps with commuting and getting around locally. The area offers approachable housing costs alongside a lifestyle that still feels complete.
Renewal is happening in measured doses, with new development complementing what is already there.
On the desirability index, the suburb sits below average overall, mainly because schools and education and local dining and lifestyle amenities lag similar regional towns, despite relative strength in housing affordability. Limited access to some essential local services also trimmed the result.
Population
- Population
- 625
- Median age
- 43
- Median household income / week
- $1,178
- Dwelling vacancy
- 8.3%
- Unoccupied private dwellings
- 22 of 265
- Median monthly mortgage
- $1,244
- Employment rate
- 48.9%
- Dwelling mix (houses / semi / flats)
- 19 / 0 / 0
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)
- 110
- Against the person
- 29
- Against property
- 42
- 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%
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
- 1
- Median school ICSEA
- 885
- Smithtown Public SchoolPrimary
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
14 public transport stops in this suburb
- Belmore St At Main St
- Belmore St At Main St
- Rawson St At Main St
- Smithtown Public School, Cannane St
- Smithtown Rd Opp Rawson 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)
Roadworks & transport
1 active roadworks / incidents
- Check signage. Exercise caution. Follow directions on site. <strong>Regional Roads - Construction, Rehabilitation & Maintenance Program</strong><span class="ql-cursor"></span>Linemarking - To commenceSmithtown Road12 Jun 2026 – 03 Jul 2026
Data sources & freshness
- Road incidents & closures — State road authority open-data feeds · Period: current · Updated on site · Hourly refresh where supported
Planning & development
Development applications from NSW Planning Portal (lodged 2020–2026).
32 planning-related records
2026· 6 proposals
June 2026
- Demolition; Shed; Erection of a new structure2 VINCENT AVENUE SMITHTOWN 2440Under Assessment
- Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; General industry61-79 RAWSON STREET SMITHTOWN 2440Under Assessment
- Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; General industry61-79 RAWSON STREET SMITHTOWN 2440Under Assessment
May 2026
- Shed; Erection of a new structure; Carport57 MAIN STREET SMITHTOWN 2440Under Assessment
- Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure50 RAWSON STREET SMITHTOWN 2440Under Assessment
- Erection of a new structure; Swimming pool66 BELMORE STREET SMITHTOWN 2440Under Assessment
2025· 8 proposals
October 2025
- Erection of a new structure; Swimming pool4 RUSSELL AVENUE SMITHTOWN 2440Determined
August 2025
- Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Residential Accommodation6 CHURCH STREET SMITHTOWN 2440Withdrawn
- Erection of a new structure; Carport1-3 HOLY LANE SMITHTOWN 2440Determined
July 2025
- Shed; Erection of a new structureBELMORE STREET SMITHTOWN 2440Determined
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure12 VINCENT AVENUE SMITHTOWN 2440Determined
April 2025
- Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; General industry61-79 RAWSON STREET SMITHTOWN 2440Determined
- Erection of a new structure; Earthworks, retaining walls and structural support; Fences; Pathways and paving; Swimming pool13 MORTON AVENUE SMITHTOWN 2440Determined
January 2025
- Shed; Erection of a new structure; Driveways and hard stand spaces24 CROADS ESPLANADE SMITHTOWN 2440Determined
2024· 2 proposals
October 2024
- Demolition; Erection of a new structure; Garage, carport or carparking space4 MORTON AVENUE SMITHTOWN 2440Determined
April 2024
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure1 MAIN STREET SMITHTOWN 2440Determined
2023· 10 proposals
October 2023
- Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure2 CANNANE STREET SMITHTOWN 2440Withdrawn
September 2023
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Erection of a new structure42 BELMORE STREET SMITHTOWN 2440Determined
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure34 MAIN STREET SMITHTOWN 2440Withdrawn
August 2023
- Alterations and additions to residential development9 RUSSELL AVENUE SMITHTOWN 2440Determined
- Shed23 JEFFERY STREET SMITHTOWN 2440Determined
- Demolition; Alterations and additions to industrial development61-79 RAWSON STREET SMITHTOWN 2440Determined
June 2023
- Pools / decks / fencing6 VINCENT AVENUE SMITHTOWN 2440Determined
May 2023
- Pools / decks / fencing; Earthworks / change in levels; Retaining walls, protection of trees3 BELMORE STREET SMITHTOWN 2440Determined
March 2023
- Garages, carports and car parking spaces4 CROADS ESPLANADE SMITHTOWN 2440Determined
January 2023
- Shed13 MORTON AVENUE SMITHTOWN 2440Determined
2022· 4 proposals
September 2022
- Shed8 BELMORE STREET SMITHTOWN 2440Determined
June 2022
- Other50 RAWSON STREET SMITHTOWN 2440Determined
- Dwelling; Demolition6 MORTON AVENUE SMITHTOWN 2440Determined
April 2022
- Shed21 RUSSELL AVENUE SMITHTOWN 2440Determined
2021· 2 proposals
December 2021
- Shed11 HOLY LANE SMITHTOWN 2440Determined
September 2021
- Alterations and additions to residential development62 RAWSON STREET SMITHTOWN 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
56 nearby amenities within ~1.5 km
- Bbq
- Bench (35)
- Cavanagh's Lower Macleay Bus TerminalBus Station
- Belmore St at Main St, SmithtownBus stop
- Main St opp Belmore St, SmithtownBus stop
- Smithtown Rd opp Rawson St, SmithtownBus stop
- Smithtown MotorsCar repair
25 Main Street
- Old School SmithtownEvents Venue
- Parking
- Picnic Table (2)
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
- Fitgerald Avenue ReservePark
- Riverside ParkPark
Data sources & freshness
- Parks & reserves — State government + ABS LGA boundaries · Period: current · Updated on site
Socio-economic (SEIFA)
- IRSAD decile (2021)
- 1/10
- IRSD decile (2021)
- 2/10
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
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)
- 2
- Parks (OSM)
- 2
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
- 29.2/100 — Below average
- National rank
- 5446th in Australia
- State rank
- 1717th in NSW
- Peer rank
- #276 among Country & regional · Established suburbs
- Cohort rank
- #750 among Country & regional suburbs
- Data confidence
- 78%
Data sources & freshness
- Suburb Guide desirability index — Suburb Guide (derived score) · Period: current · Updated on site · Derived from source metrics
Recent changes
- Bbqamenitiesbbq
- Belmore St at Main St, Smithtownamenitiesbus_stop
- Benchamenitiesbench
- Benchamenitiesbench
- Benchamenitiesbench
- Benchamenitiesbench
- Benchamenitiesbench
- Benchamenitiesbench
- Benchamenitiesbench
- Benchamenitiesbench
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.