Moving to Kempsey NSW 2440
What the official numbers say about living in Kempsey — before you pack a box.
At a glance
Housing: buy or rent
Renting? The census median is $253 a week, against a median household income of $881 a week.
Who you'll be living with
Kempsey grew 24% between the 2011 and 2021 censuses (389 → 483 people).
Largest overseas birthplaces: China, Germany, Nepal; most spoken languages besides English: Cantonese, Nepali, Khmer.
On the ABS advantage scale (SEIFA), Kempsey scores below the national average (decile 1 of 10).
The commute
The most common way to work is by car (75% of workers), while 5% work from home.
Nearest train station: Kempsey, 700 m west.
Nearest bus interchange: Kempsey Coach Terminal, 950 m north-east.
Nearest airport: Kempsey Airport, 7.1 km west.
The Sydney CBD is roughly 346 km away in a straight line.
Daily life
Mapped locally so far: 10 schools · 12 cafes & restaurants · 5 supermarkets · 18 parks — see them all on the Kempsey profile.
What's actually nearby
Schools: Saint Joseph's Primary School 850 m · Kempsey East Public School 950 m · West Kempsey Public School 1000 m · Kempsey High School 1.7 km · Kempsey High School Agricultural Section 1.9 km · Melville High School 2 km · Kempsey South Public School 2.2 km · St Paul's College 2.4 km
Groceries: Aldi 300 m · Woolworths 350 m · Millyhill Market 400 m · Coles 450 m · IGA 950 m
Parks and reserves: Riverside Park 500 m · Melville Park 700 m · Verge Street Oval 750 m · Remembrance Park 750 m · Rudder Park 850 m · Sea Street Park 900 m · Hodgson Park 1 km · River Street Park 1.4 km
What you'll see in the garden
Birds recorded around Kempsey, most often seen first: Magpie-lark · Australian Magpie · Torresian Crow · Common Myna · Pacific Black Duck · Rainbow Lorikeet.
How the neighbours compare
The suburbs nearest to Kempsey, side by side.
| Suburb | People | Median house | Advantage | Canopy |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kempsey here | 483 | — | 1/10 | 2% |
| East Kempsey | 1,336 | — | 1/10 | 18% |
| West Kempsey | 5,073 | — | 1/10 | 11% |
| South Kempsey | 2,604 | — | 1/10 | 84% |
| Euroka | 348 | — | 7/10 | 9% |
| Frederickton | 1,452 | — | 1/10 | 40% |
| Yarravel | 1,182 | — | 2/10 | 57% |
Before you move — quick checklist
- Your council will be Kempsey — bins, rates, pets and permits live there.
- You'll vote in the federal electorate of Cowper — update your enrolment address.
- The postcode is 2440 — handy for utility sign-ups and quotes.
- Check street-level details on the full Kempsey profile (map, streets, amenities, wildlife).
Common questions
What is rent like in Kempsey?
The census median rent is $253 a week.
Is Kempsey growing?
Population went from 389 (2011) to 483 (2021) — up 24% over the decade.
How far is Kempsey from the city?
About 346 km straight-line from the Sydney CBD, with Kempsey station roughly 0.7 km away.
Which council area is Kempsey in?
Kempsey falls under Kempsey council and the federal electorate of Cowper.
Weighing up alternatives?
Side-by-side: Kempsey vs East Kempsey · Kempsey vs West Kempsey.
Nearby guides: East Kempsey · West Kempsey · South Kempsey · Euroka · Frederickton · Yarravel.
Keep an eye on Kempsey
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